Quick sketches with a Zebra
Posted: August 2, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized 12 CommentsHere’s another combo that I put together from stuff in my Urban Sketchers goodie bag: a Zebra disposable brush pen and a little Pen & Ink sketchbook. I’m a fan of brush pens because I like a flexible nib or one that responds to pressure. The nib on this pen isn’t flexible but you can make thin or thick lines depending on how hard you press on it or how you tilt it as you draw.
The sketches are ones that I did in the few days after the symposium — on the train to Lisbon, looking out the window at the little towns as the train stopped, waiting in the train station for my son, standing in line at the Monasterio de Jeronimos in Belem, and finally in the plane on the way back to Montreal. Some are one or two minute drawings, some took as long as five minutes. I love having a book on hand for these quick sketches.
Here’s the book and the pen. The paper is too thin for much watercolour but perfect for a bit of marker or quick washes when you want to add a touch of colour to sketches.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Really interesting. Love these. What kind of marker is that? I always go too heavy and get thick ugly lines. Especially with a brush pen.
LikeLike
Hi Judy, That marker is a Zebra pen. The link is in the post, and there’s a photo of it as well. It’s not an expensive marker.
LikeLike
Thanks, Shari. Dumb of me. In my hurry to get to the sketches, I went right past that.
LikeLike
Shari you never cease to amaze …
LikeLike
Well, thanks Joan. I am consistent, if nothing else. I just keep on drawing…
LikeLike
Hi Shari! Very nice sketches! How much time do you usually take to sketch these? I really like the architectural ones (both black&white and the colour one)!
LikeLike
HI Iasonas. Thanks so much! The architectural ones are done while looking out a train window. Both times I drew while the train was stopped, which was usually 2-3 minutes. I tried to quickly draw in the shapes each town and filled in a few lines as we pulled out of the station. I added colour to the second one after we had left the station.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are very beautiful indeed! And I think having very limited timeis a challenge but also an asset…you get to capture the most important shapes letting the viewer fill in the missing details. Very nice work even if it took you a few minutes to complete!
LikeLike
I can imagine how much fun these must have been to do Shari. And for me, Villafranca is just perfect! Quick sketches, long memories.
LikeLike
These are so much fun to do Tony. Especially when you find the right pen that feels good in the hand. It’s funny that the Villafranca sketch caught your eye. After I did it, I thought “Wow, looks like a sketch Tony might do”. And I was quite proud of myself for drawing like you!
LikeLike
How spooky is that! And how flattering too!
LikeLike
Nice quick sketches!!! You were able to get quite a few done.
LikeLike