Nic's Art Journey

I’ve got a small Moleskine “Sketch” sketchbook. Got it years ago. Never used it. I’m using it now - I’ll fill it with random people. Trying to simplify my lines. Get to a point where I’m not unhappy with my people sketches. Here are a few of my early ones.

I’m trying to simplify my lines, practice people sketching. Get to a point where I’m not disatisfied with including people in my sketches.

We often speak about cognitive overload in digital accessibility. But what is it?

In which I compare WCAG, or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to different levels of a build of a car.

Spent some time gaming with my wife. Then wrapped up the evening with a sketch

Busied my hands by sketching my father’s Scotch dresser, now mine.

Self-advocacy - it is asking a lot of disabled people. It’s often disheartening and exhausting.

I’ve enjoyed watching the show Highway Thru Hell every once in a while. I saw this big red heavy rescue truck parked near the supermarket. I had a few minutes so I sketched it!

Medical Aid in Dying is a heavy topic. But it’s a topic I’m passionate about.

The time when they locked up the elevator for “exercise week” wasn’t any fun for wheelchair users and parents with kids in strollers…

Monochrome study of a landscape view of the Fraser river.

My father send me a notebook he kept from when I was about 7 years old. Going through that is amusing. But also makes me realize I’m doing, more or less, the same thing, all these years later.

The year is young. And I realized there are two aspects of my sketches that I really need to improve: Values, and Perspective.

Nature morte is a thing as old as art itself! Here’s a bit of a play here.

We’re in the middle of a move. We have boxes everywhere. So many boxes. Boxes coming out of our ears.

To keep my brain busy during a long meeting, I decided to paint a Steller’s Jay, based on one of my own reference photos.

Life got in the way of sketching in a big way for the last couple weeks. But I HAD to sketch last night.

I twiddled my thumbs at the doctor’s office. What better way to pass the time than to sketch?

There are so many areas I want to improve in my sketching practice. One might say “too many”!

Am I an artist? Or am I just some guy doing art stuff? I think perhaps I’m a creative and art is one of my outlets.

Squeezed two small sketches on the same page on my errands yesterday. Happy with those.

Stopped in Medicine Hat on our way across Canada a few years ago. The downtown area is FULL of neat buildings.

One of the media that’s intrigued me is dip pen and ink. Here’s my first semi-serious piece in that media.

In a discussion a couple days ago my father called me art illiterate. I don’t think he’s wrong. But does it really matter?

When is urban sketching, urban sketching? Opinions varry, a lot. Here’s my take. Your mileage may vary!

I’ve been asked for tips and hints on how to get started with sketching. While I’m far from an expert, here are some things I wish I’d known earlier on.

Sketching and drawing are closely related. Lots of people use the terms interchangeably. But there are differences between the two.

This is my “ultra portable” sketching kit that I’ve been using for a couple weeks. Ok, so there’s smaller out there. But this is pretty limited. And darn good so far!

So many people tell me I’m talented. Many people on social media say they aren’t talented. I don’t think it’s about talent though. It’s about skills.

Track inspection car I sketched while waiting for take out. It was right around sunset on a cloudy day, so I was losing light quickly.

This is one of my quick on-location series. The line up at the border crossing was very slow to progress. I had time to leave the car in park and quickly sketch my surroundings. Buildings, cars, etc.

I was listening to the Beyond the Lens podcast. One guest said “Embrace the highlights, protect the shadows”. This is a common saying with photography.

I did this one from a photo I took in Paris, waaaay back in 2010!

This is one of my quick on-location series. I did this one sitting in my car before going grocery shopping!

This is my first “quick on-location” series. That tree got my attention.

An old house I did from a photo I took. And when I say “old”, I mean… Built in 1570

Urban Sketchers Vancouver organized a sketch walk with special guest Felix Scheinberger. I was lucky enough to be able to go, and learn a LOT!

First, and hopefully not last, outing with Urban Sketchers Vancouver. We did a sketch walk that afternoon. I spent about 40 minutes on this sketch, while chatting with other people.

I considered calling this one “Hands are hard”…

Should you put down your ink lines first? Or your color first? There are different thinking about this. I typically put down the ink first, and color later. But I’m exploring the idea of changing!

Crossing Utah, we came across Wilson’s Arch. A huge sandstone arch. Took photos. Sketched it years later!

Trying a new thing - A landscape or “hero” image, with a “cartouche” (a small detail highlighted), and some text/journaling.