Scavenger Hunt from Life #166 July 25 - Aug 06 2025

Joan - Cool digi of guy at the pool. Is background a brush

Pine Cone - Nice find on swallow’s nest and well rendered. Nice hatching on the rock wall.

Ai, Jo, Jade & others lurking 👋🏽

Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
 
Jade — Thanks so much ☀️ Nice work with a difficult hand pose! Cool start for this event 👏

Ai — Love the movement of your watercolor matcha sketch, and equally love the serenity of the lines of your still life + hand sketch. Very cool sketch of your neighborhood park, with its friendly “ghosts” and “spirits” 😃 Beautiful soft shades of greens and blues, with touches of pink and yellow - lovely work.
I don’t know how you can sketch the complicated temples in your country… they look impossible, but you sketch them beautifully, and I’m so grateful to learn about your culture through your delightful artwork ☀️
Congrats on decluttering 👍
Tasty looking gouache sketch, super detail, and now I’m hungry lol.

Joan and JoC — Thanks so much !!! ☀️ That would be fun to make a T-shirt from SH stuff someday - I did that ages ago with my first-ever sketch in Corel Painter (then called “Fractal Design Painter”), and I loved the whole process. Have you ever tried it ??? Yours would all be beautiful on T-shirts, etc.

Joan — Cozy home scene, beautiful foliage, and the wild chaos of your waterfall sketch is exceptional. Another in my looooong list of Joan favorites that I love looking at over and over 😂
Congratulations and happy dances that your paintings sold 🎨☀️💫 The new owners will enjoy them for years to come 👏👏👏👏
Yay, the Neocolors are back, love your hand and art supply. Good sketch of the guy by the pool, you really caught a mood there.

Fletch — Thanks so much… I’m glad you were okay with the v.eye 😅 You were the person responsible for making my life so much better by convincing me to get an iPad Pro and the Procreate app, so I really wanted to use them for your event 😍 But I remembered too late that abstracts aren’t your favs, and worried that I had chosen poorly when I decided to sketch the eye.
Now almost a decade later, I don’t know how I could have survived becoming homeless if I didn’t have my iPad Pro to turn to. Thank you forever for encouraging me to take that step 🙏
Good job on your hand sketch, and your choices for contrast. Very instructive 👌

JoC — Thank you again - I always love experimenting with brushes, so I’m glad you liked the lines above the eye.
Your hands are always excellent, and holding the utensils brings a facination to the sketch 👋
 
Pine Cone, how cool to have all those swallow's nests to sketch...what a great find! I like how you captured the look of the top edge of the wall. Nice!! Thanks for all your kind words. You're a great cheerleader!

Fletch, thanks. I think the background was a texture. I was hoping to make it look like a wire fence, but I couldn't get the diagonals to run the other way to cross those.

I did a few indoor sketches before hitting the pool to stay cool. I was in the water too long to ever have a chance to sketch there today.
11 - place setting - sketch & wash pencil dry

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12 - round - continuous line with neocolors and sketch & wash pencil added later

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Pine Cone - I am happy and proud for any way I supported your amazing spirit.

Joan - I asked about the background because I thought it gave a cool fence effect. Think you achieved the look with out the cross hatch. Nice work on the place setting. Did anyone ever tell you continuous line is suppose to be a challenge? LOL.

#2 curved - peeler. Actually Joan you gave be this idea with your pen sketch as it made me immediately think of the peeler. Initial layout with .5mm mech pencil than several grades of B’s to get the contrasts that alluded me with the hand yesterday. Same pocket sketchbook.

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Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
 
4 - “bird” - duck on a pond

I finally got a tiny pocket sketchbook 😄 The paper is a little nicer than the other one I’ve been using, but this one is even smaller. So I decided to maybe start Phase 2 of my Re-learning to Draw Program. For Phase 2, I’ll start trying to draw things that aren’t too complicated, but allow me to focus on more than just lines and ellipses.

— Pentel mechanical pencil (0.5)

— pocket sketchbook by Daler Rowney (from WalMart)
— (3.5” x 5.5”) (89mm x 140mm)

— freehand

I went back to the indecipherable pond, hoping to sketch the flower plant that I didn’t have a chance to sketch last time. But there were fisher people there again, so no luck.

But I noticed there was a place I could sit on the grass, and three ducks were headed towards it. But by the time I got my sketchbook open and found my pencil, the first two ducks had sailed on past me, and the third was directly in front of me, but only for a second.

So in the spirit of these events, I tried anyway. But by the time I did this quick outline, and looked up again, she and her two friends were far away and determined to keep their backs to me 🤪

This poor bird… apparently I forgot her neck (but I’m not entirely sure she had one). And the water ripples are all wrong (I think), and I don’t even know what else is wrong. Total guess with the eye. Body shape is probably wrong. But it made me happy to be there, and to see the ducks (however briefly), and to soak up a bit of sunshine before it got too hot ☀️

SH166 - 4 - duck.png
 
4 - “bird” - duck on a pond

I finally got a tiny pocket sketchbook 😄 The paper is a little nicer than the other one I’ve been using, but this one is even smaller. So I decided to maybe start Phase 2 of my Re-learning to Draw Program. For Phase 2, I’ll start trying to draw things that aren’t too complicated, but allow me to focus on more than just lines and ellipses.

— Pentel mechanical pencil (0.5)

— pocket sketchbook by Daler Rowney (from WalMart)
— (3.5” x 5.5”) (89mm x 140mm)

— freehand

I went back to the indecipherable pond, hoping to sketch the flower plant that I didn’t have a chance to sketch last time. But there were fisher people there again, so no luck.

But I noticed there was a place I could sit on the grass, and three ducks were headed towards it. But by the time I got my sketchbook open and found my pencil, the first two ducks had sailed on past me, and the third was directly in front of me, but only for a second.

So in the spirit of these events, I tried anyway. But by the time I did this quick outline, and looked up again, she and her two friends were far away and determined to keep their backs to me 🤪

This poor bird… apparently I forgot her neck (but I’m not entirely sure she had one). And the water ripples are all wrong (I think), and I don’t even know what else is wrong. Total guess with the eye. Body shape is probably wrong. But it made me happy to be there, and to see the ducks (however briefly), and to soak up a bit of sunshine before it got too hot ☀️

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I think being happy to be there and soak up the sun is as important as drawing if not more 🌞 and I like your picture.. cute and calming.
 
Fletch, thanks. One of my friends that I sketch with a lot does continuous lines a lot. She says she has been doing them for about 30 years so it is like breathing to her. I still have to concentrate so intently to do them. Glad I made you think of the potato peeler for curved. They do look similar in shape.

Pine Cone, sketching animals is hard. They love to walk away and turn their backs on you, and with ducks even upend themselves. A lot of my bird sketching is done by observing and then trying to remember the shape...which isn't easy since my mind seems to retain nothing lately. You did a good job on the shape...and they do sometimes look like their necks disappear. I wonder how they do that. lol Glad you found a happy spot and some sunshine.
 
Pine Cone - As Joan said animals are tough as they do not cooperate. They are always moving and changing directions. Actually it is a good sketch. You captured the subject and the motion. Think if you check definition of a sketch you nailed it. I rarely actually sketch as I always want to add form to the shapes which then leads to more details, revisions, etc etc LOL I should work on just sketching probably get more done as it will not take as long…if I throw away my erasers😎 well lock up the erasers. I have been using pocket sketchbooks for a while now. Most 3.5x5.5 but a couple 6x4 inch. Based on my above confession I have been think of going to 9x12 so I can go bigger and if want to go smaller can always fill a page with small sketches like Robin and EP do.

Speaking of Robin. Fun looking jar of Flax Seed. Do you eat them whole or grind them? We toss a small handful on salads but grind them for many recipes.

Keep sketching and kearning
Fletch
 
Pine Cone, thanks. I wish I could take my own advice sometimes. I know how to do things but don't always end up doing them myself. Ha. I really like your direct lines. Good nests and rocks. Applause. Your duck story made me smile. So hard to remember all the lines after the models take off!! You did well.

Joan, hope the pool kept you cool. Still hot here, too. I like your silverware peeking out of the napkin. Like the clip, book, round, and calculator.

Hi Jade.

Hi Fletch, the peeler looks so real, but artsy, too.

Robin your work always makes me smile. I love the Flax jar. I have one and keep popcorn in it. They close nice and tight, eh?
 
I sketched at Physical Therapy for Gene in the Ohuhu sketchbook with Ohuhu pens and watercolors, about 9 x 6 inches. I wrote Micron on the sketch, such a habit. Ha.
Number 3 rectangle - tissue boxes sides, Number 4 curved - little flower pot and plant about 4 inches tall

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Robin, great idea to use that jar for so many items...especially the hinge. I've been looking for something to sketch where the hinge actually shows. Love your kind of "hatching" on that!!

Fletch, I put ground flaxseeds in our omelets every morning. I don't think Jerry even realized that I add them. lol I had to laugh about locking up your erasers. I feel the same way. That's why I like doing direct watercolors or straight to ink at times. You have to go for it and once you do, it is nearly impossible to change it.

Jo, thanks. We ended up with a high of about 97 here yesterday. I went into the pool (where the water is starting to feel like bathwater) and was in there for about 2 hrs straight. Then I sat in the shade of an umbrella and it was quite comfortable. My evening sketch group was meeting at 6 pm and I debated if I should go. With the heat I've missed too many of my days of normal sketching outdoors so I did go. Only 4 of us showed up, but we were in the shade by the water so even though it was still around 89 degrees we were comfortable since there was a breeze. I like the tissue boxes...hope they are not for tears after pt. lol The flower pot looks so tiny compared to them.

I did this sketch down by the Maritime Museum last evening. I also did a small sunset painting, but I have to finish it. The watercolor wouldn't dry because of the humidity which was fine for the sky part, but the edge of the land kept bleeding into the sky. I need to redefine that a bit and will post it later.
14 - building - watercolors
15 - old trees
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6 shadows
7 table
8 tied
9 i hear light switch click when mashed
( i am from California but i learned here in the south we mash buttons and people are pushy)
10 view from table
11 dry-eucalyptud on shelf
12 corner
13 bent metal chair back
14 sky in picture of woman and dog
15 counter
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Jo - have to go with Joan. The plant looks so tiny next ti the tissues.😎. Like how you ground everything.

Joan - The contrast makes the white wall on the foreground house simply glow! Along with you ‘57 kinds’ of green the effect is bright and cheery.

Robin - a room-scape! So cool. Captured 9 items in a peek into your home.very inviting.

#3 round thinking best way to lose the eraser is to use ink but confidence is nit there yet so lightly sketched cylinder and handle than used ink to give it form. A bit crude but baby steps.

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Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
 
Robin, what a wonderful sketch of the room and its contents!! This really made me smile. :) I can almost feel the breeze from the fan in the window and I want to check out all the things you have hanging on the walls.

Fletch, thank ya! I like your mug with the curved hatching! Cool.

This morning I planned on heading to the farm stand in Sayville. On the way I passed the train station and there were all these people on the platform waiting for the train. I HAD to sketch it and was afraid the train would come mid sketch. These must be some of the city people who were on Fire Island and were waiting for the train back to NYC. Some of them look like they had just stepped off the beach, but I know they must have taken the little bus from the ferry terminal to the LIRR station. I had most of the crowd sketched quickly and added the color once their train left.
17 - view of the people on the train platform - watercolors and ink

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Joan - Love you felt you HAD to psint the scene. Well done. This will sound strange but I keep going back looking at the roof. LOL

Fletch
 
Joan, love the building and old trees. The dark greens really set off the whole scene. Your sketch of the train riders is so good. Lucky to capture them. You got some lighting along with the roof. Nicely done.

Robin, your room scene made me grin. Love all the items and your sketchbook peeking in. Fun finds and lovely sketching and hatching.

Fletch and Joan, the tissue boxes and planter were on different shelves but the planter is about the right size for the lavender box.

Fletch, I like the way you did the mug. Looks great. It will get easier.

Went for the results of our tests a couple of weeks ago. Doc says I am improved in most categories. I was stronger in my hands and legs, guess the PT. Always stresses that we get more exercise and drink more water for our brains. Hmm, I just feel older. Ha.
 
Jade — Thanks for your kind words and encouragement ☀️

Joan — Thanks for your kind comments, and encouragement. After reading what you said about observing and trying to remember the shape, I went back to the pond yesterday, and just watched. It was already heating up, and there was only one duck venturing out into the sunny part of the pond. So I watched her for awhile. She was a lighter color than the one I tried to sketch, so a little easier to catch details, but most importantly, she had a *neck* 😳 (unlike my sketch lol). But you were right, because sometimes she had less of a neck, and then it would reappear. I couldn’t really tell why either. Weird, but wonderful. It was a fun morning, just watching her and enjoying her peaceful nature.
Your sketch of the place setting caught my eye - and very cool continuous line, with and without color.
Your sketch by the Maritime Museum had quite an effect on me. The whole scene looks so kind and protective 🏘️ Got a little misty-eyed.
I’m with Fletch, smiling that you HAD to stop and sketch the train station scene. And Fletch is right about the quality of the roof. Cool sketch, and very artsy to feel that deep need to capture a specific place, with its people, right then.

Robin — Fun flax sketch of a healthy slice of life 👍 And what a great sketch of your “room-scape” (quoting Fletch!!!) Sweet 🏠

Fletch — Thank you so much, and had to laugh about “locking up the erasers” 😂 I think I have the same problem….. except I’m far worse than you lol 😅 Naturally, I had to go look up “sketch” in the dictionary, and oh what a fool I am. I can’t believe that for all these years, I never truly understood what a “sketch” is until you clarified the concept and made me smile ✏️✒️
I’ve been hoarding my 7x10 inch Canson. I do have a single sketch started in it from ages ago, but the paper and extra space are so nice that I want to wait until I’ve made a bit more progress in *re-learning* before I really start using it.
I do have another small sketch ready in the little pocket sketchbook that I’ll post after I photograph it, but you’re right - it’s nice to have a bit more room, and we can always fill the page……
Your sketch of the peeler is very impressive. Superb in every way. I could feel its weight and kept coming back to study it. I’m sorry, but if you used erasers on this sketch, then I say “bring on the erasers”. It couldn’t be better.
I love the way you sketched the mug. Looks classy, and artsy 👍
Thank you again for your kind comments, and the smiles that they always bring ☀️

JoC — Thanks so much, and I’m especially grateful that your PT is going well 😍👏
You have the best tissue boxes 😂 and really nice colors and shapes on this group of fun sketches. I’m probably going to make a little palette in Procreate with these colors, and name it “JoC” so I can remember how these colors go together 🎨
 
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Fletch, lol as soon as I saw the crowd on the platform my car turned into the parking lot and pulled into the first space I could find. I'm lucky I timed it so well. Glad you found something to study.

Jo, thanks. Glad the doctors are seeing an improvement. I'm sure the pt helps.

Pine Cone, thank for all your comments. It is interesting to just observe animals. Their bodies move in unusual ways. The necks of some of the birds can change so drastically. One minute their head seems to be sitting right on top of their body and then they stretch and elongate it like magic. Maybe it is so they can reach out to grab food easier.
 
Fletch - the mug is so demure and tentative....a great sketch with so much feelings!!...thanks!

Joan - I am with Fletch when he says your commentary on the pull to catch the sketch was a fine treat - AND then you did get that crowd sketched!!!! Too cool....Thanks for the positive :love:envy

JoC - what adorable tissue boxes...Sketching them is good idea. I been finding the coolest labels on stuff and sketching them is great way to save. Other wise I would be spending alot of time trying to soak off labels!!!:LOL:

PineCone-really good to see you dropping back in!! Love the swallow nests. Nature is amazing

Ai - loveing all the awesome watercolors with a capital W!

Jade - Hi- hope you get a few more sketches in....don't be overwhelmed by our verbous buddies in here...No worries, but the comments and conversations are enriching, no doubt about it.🙂🙃😉 Good vibes all around.
 
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