Scavenger Hunt from Life #179: Dec 28 - Jan 9, 2026

Jo, I missed seeing the last set of your sketches. Nice pottery whistles. I have a similar turtle one that I need to find to sketch.

Fletch, lots of detail in the pinnacle in a tiny sketch...maybe 3 x 5.

Ai and all. Thanks for your comments.
 
Joan, great pinnacle sketch. Fun to find the items. You have done a lot.

Hi Ai, Fletch, Robin, Pine Cone, Jade and other lurkers.

We have had a few days of spring or early summer. Warm and humid but no rain. We did accomplish something, errands and mailing items.
 
Here is my 3x5
#4 emblem - USN Chief Petty Officer (CPO) insignia. Graphite in 3x5 sketchbook. Proportions are off but I drew.
IMG_0443.jpeg

Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
 
Last edited:
Jo, I spoke to our friend in Itasca and she said it was really hot there today. Glad you got out to do some errands.

Fletch, love your Naval insignia! Great job on the details.

Sat in my car at the beach to do this. I did it in layers in Procreate and then couldn't get the layers to merge. Grrr... I had to redo parts of it.
18 - odometer - Procreate
IMG_0380.jpeg
 
Fletch, ahhh, love the emblem. Very special and well done for a quick sketch. Thanks for doing that emblem.

Joan, looks like you did great with Procreate on the odometer. I have tried layers in Photoshop Elements but not in my drawing apps. I'm too lazy to learn new stuff. Ha. I like the scene in front of your car, too!

I thought about sketching a lot today ..... didn't get any done. Evil grin.
 
Fletch: Awesome drawing of your USN emblem. It looks tricky, esp. the chain part.. I wish I was near my father. He had been with the Thai Army, and had been to Vietnam war (under Uncle's Sam hiring)... later he was briefly trained at Fort Bragg, NC. in around 1972. He retired as a General; he must have had several of army emblems for me to draw.

Joan:
Welldone digi with Procreate. You learn well so much of layers despite you had a hic-up with it. I never try layers... I hope one day I have more time to explore more digi. The depth is great with distance clouds.

Hello all: I have been busy with works... never get around to do arts in the past couple days... but I do hope to get around to it.
 
Thanks to all for kind supportive comments.

Joan - am pretty sure when you export to .jpg that collapse the layers in that new version but original will stay layered. But to merge layers in your drawing I know 2 ways 1) pinch the layer names together 2) tap on layer name get menu and tap merge down. Pine Cone is the pro so probably has more or better ways. Either way your drawing is great. Highlight on the wheel and super job on sky and trees. Plus details on the dash 👍🏽👍🏽

Ai - your work is missed. Does not matter what country, you do not get to be a general without having earned many emblems and medals. 😁 Would be interesting to see some of you father’s awards.

Jo, Jade, Ned, Pine Cone, Robin and lurkers 👋🏽👋🏽

Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
 
Hi everyone 👋 Thank you all so much for your kind words, healing vibes, and meaningful encouragement ❤️‍🩹☀️

JoC
— Thanks for hosting this event and the one before too 😍 Very cool list, and I learned some new words 😂 And wow, that purple doodad is stellar - what an amazing sketch of a mysterious item 😃 Enjoying your finger painting sketch of the stores across the way 👍 Artful four roses bottle, and beautifully sketched whistles, with depth and volume - so well-loved, and never abandoned ❤️‍🩹

Ai — Your sketch of your dh giving blood is very, very special 💕Thank you for your positive merit vibe - it means a lot ❤️‍🩹 Your cosy sourdough cafe, with a Happy Santa outside 🎅 is a comforting and gentle painting 😌 Thank you!!!
All your scenes have a happy feel to them… from your Santa to the sunflowers… to the canal… to the fantastic light and grace of your suspension bridge painting ☀️😍 and the mystical, enchanted background behind the waiting ships 💛
I hope Iris has fun with her art workshop course - what a thoughtful gift!!! 💝
Be sure to get the rest you need now that you’re back to work 💤

Robin – I’d never heard of that kind of quilt - very cool - and your wonderful sketch of the supplies is beautiful 🧵 lovely sketches from the kitchen in warm, earthy tones ☀️ I agree with everyone that we need to see the quilt as you go along 🙏 Lovely way to give that squashed bow a new and useful life 😂 What a cool newsprint tablet cover 😎

Fletch — Terrific sketches of your washing machine and transparent bag - I’ve been coming back to study how you achieved such excellent tramsparency, WOW 😂👏 And love the recorder piece with its fantastic contrast 😃🌚🌝🌚
Poignant sketch of your USN insignia - the contrast between the bold lines of the main piece, and the gentle drape of the chain through it all, really got to me 👏
LOL, have to agree with you that “still recovering and sitting in cold getting wet is not the brightest move.” lololololol 🤣😁
Thanks for your comments on the special nature of color in our efforts, and about choosing the right ***temperature.*** I’m taking notes, because I think that choosing the right temperature would help my re-learning to draw sketches….. I’ve been stumbling around in the dark in that aspect I think….. I’ve been working on a color sketch for more than a week lol, and I’m really struggling to get the result I want, but now, maybe I see a happy path forward for it, by thinking in terms of color temperature??? 🎨

Joan — Each of your gorgeous winter scenes has its own flavor and beauty 🎨
Also, lovely use of the sketch&wash pencil, and heart-breakingly delicious (and festive) plate of cookies 😋
Wonderful sketches of buildings and establishments, with fantastic details to explore and enjoy (and make me hungry again 😋😋)
Also enjoying your sketches of simple pleasures like the Ziplocs (with JoC’s red and blue stripes), kitchen stuff, etc.

Joan and Fletch — About Joan’s super fun layered Procreate sketch, Fletch’s comments were exactly right. Being able to merge layers has its uses, but exporting does NOT require you to do so. If you want more detailed info, you can check the Procreate handbook on their website, or message me.

Jade — Thanks so much for your well wishes, and I’m so glad you and Bob are still here on the thread 😻🐈🐾 He is so kind and handsome and noble 😻😂❤️‍🩹 Thank him for sharing you with us 😁😉😂

joe1lt — happy new year to you too ! I know you’re busy, but I miss your sketches, and hope Eeyore and friends are okay 😊
 
Last edited:
Jo, thanks. I hate when I do something on Procreate and then lose it before I finish. I really have to learn how to use layers correctly...but I'm too lazy to spend the time learning it before I need it. And then it is too late.

Fletch, thanks for your comment and your suggestions. I had looked on my phone for how to merge them and tried pinching the layers, but obviously didn't do it right. I'll have to play around with it when I'm not actually working on a sketch I need to keep. lol

Pine Cone, once again thanks for all your comments on my work. My problem with Procreate is I never devoted much time to learning the program. Like always I expect to dive right in and that it will come to me. lol I've learned a lot using it, but have no instructions to follow so sometimes I'm flying by the seat of my pants. I'll have to check out their handbook which so far I haven't used at all. I know there are lessons on youTube, but I'm usually in the middle of doing something when I find I have a problem.

Here is a bonus pinnacle continuous line sketch. I went down to the ocean for the first time this year. I usually try to get there on New Year's Day, but this year I wasn't feeling great and it was freezing cold, so I decided to skip going. Today the temperature was about 50° and not too windy so I enjoyed sketching there. I sat in my mobile studio with the windows partly open. I even took a short walk on the boardwalk.
IMG_9023.jpeg

19 - beach shrubs (sub for youpon) - watercolors
IMG_9022.jpeg
 
Joan — Wow, sounds like you had fun at the beach today 😂 I love your fun sketch from there, and your watercolor is alive and welcoming with color and depth 😍

—————————-

I understand about Procreate. It has a lot to offer, but it doesn’t always announce itself very well, at first glance.

Here’s a fun and easy thing to try. It will open up all kinds of possibilities for you……

……. Using an image with several layers already created, go to your layers “palette” (layers list).

……. Tap on a layer.

……. Off to the left of the list, a bunch of options will magically appear.

……. Those options represent possibilities for things that can be done “with” or “to” that layer.

—————————-

Below is a screenshot of my “Canvas Information” for a Procreate piece I’ve been working on.

NOTE: The piece is NOT an art creation, but rather a page with a collage and a bunch of notes. I find it easier to do notes that way because I can order and arrange layers in Procreate far easier than in any “notes” app.

As you can see, I have a zillion layers in this one Procreate piece.

When I get done, I can export the piece as a PDF page right into a note in my “notes” app!!!

***** But the point is, you can use layers, lots of them (if you have enough memory).

And they will make you happy 😂

SH179 - Procreate layers.png
 
Joan: Glad you get to visit the beach, even a few days after the new year. Fantastic continuous lines of the lighthouse and cars. Beautiful wc work of shrubs.

Fletch: If I visit my father again, I will ask if I could see some of his army emblems. I remember from my childhood that I saw one with the parachute sign on it.

PineCone: Thanks for your kind words.
 
Pine Cone, thanks. I will have to try what you suggested.:)

Ai, thanks so much. I usually go to the beach on New Year's Day and it is fun to see all the families and extended families that come out in the cold to do the same thing. Most of the time I take the mile walk to the lighthouse. They serve hot chocolate and cookies to everyone to welcome the new year. A lot of the people actually hang out on the beach on blankets in their warm winter clothing. They picnic and play games. Some hang around in the parking lot tailgating with friends. I missed doing that this year.

Robin, thanks. I'm going to go print out the new list.
 
Coincidentally, I just had a question about layer options myself, and discovered that there is a new version of the Procreate Handbook available…..


And the page that has Layer Options is here. Scroll down for more about the “Merge Down” option that Fletch described earlier…..

 
2 - “cupcake” — i hate ellipses 😁

associations:

….. cupcake
…….. food
……….. nutrition
………….. protein
…………….. protein shake bottle

— virtual sketch
— freehand 🤣

— iPad Pro and Apple pencil
— Procreate app

— My Re-Learning to Draw Program - review Phase 1 (lines, circles, and ellipses)

———————————

Been practicing ellipses for over a week, trying to do a sketch (not this one lol).

Need to practice ellipses.

Must practice ellipses.

I hate ellipses.

SH179 - 2 - i hate ellipses.png
 
Back
Top