debra morris sketchblog

Pussy Willow

2012-01-24T10:46:00.003+08:00

Kung Hei Fat Choi
Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year of the Dragon.

Pine Cones

2012-01-07T10:41:00.001+08:00

Wishing everyone a creative, healthy and happy New Year !

Mandarin Oranges

2011-12-21T13:55:00.000+08:00

or are they tangerines?
Still not had much time for sketching...here's some mandarin oranges, which must mean it's nearly Christmas.
Eaten long before I finished the drawing!

Pine Trees

2011-12-21T13:54:00.000+08:00

more attempts at ink painting.....

Spicing up breakfast

2011-12-06T12:15:00.001+08:00

.....with thanks to my lovely neighbour bearing gifts from Thailand
(Heinz Chilli Sauce, the best for breakfast)

Threads

2011-12-02T13:12:00.001+08:00

Just received my Arthouse Sketchbook (Limited Edition) in the post......after resisting earlier this year due to lack of time, I gave way to temptation...... here is a warm up but not in the book.
My theme is.........

dog

2011-11-28T19:35:00.000+08:00

another quick charcoal sketch....more tomorrow

ink dragon

2011-11-28T12:29:00.001+08:00

Still doing my ink painting but not practising ......

Frayed

2011-11-15T11:02:00.002+08:00

...or unwinding, coming undone.......frayed rope I borrowed from my neighbour......

graphite/watercolour on Canson Aquarelle paper

(want to save "end of my tether" for another painting)

Cat

2011-11-15T10:32:00.005+08:00

A quick charcoal sketch (less than 10 minutes) on canvas, work in progress.
I found it liberating to use charcoal after many months of watercolour.
Updates of painting to follow.
This is a sketch of one of my cats, she died last year.
The photo I used she has her mouth open so I changed it slightly, still not quite right
She has her hunting/slightly annoyed/when are you going to feed me look on her face which I saw often

Pumpkins

2011-10-31T15:43:00.004+08:00

Baby pumpkins....

Found this didn't scan all the colour differences on the greens, now add a background or not?
Had a busy month with little time for my own drawing, but working on some commissions. Thanks for your previous comments everyone

Bowl of Lemons

2011-10-16T19:49:00.000+08:00

Zazzle

2011-10-09T16:38:00.001+08:00

You might recognise this........been playing at zazzle.com so no time for drawing this week.
Back to the sketching soon.Thanks for visiting
I still have lots of work to personalise my store and decide what works but here's the Zazzle link if you want to check it out. I'm planning to put more drawings on cards. Any ideas and suggestions would be welcome. I have many ideas but not enough time.
http://www.zazzle.com/debramorris

More seed pods

2011-10-01T12:55:00.000+08:00

Dried chillis

2011-09-28T11:14:00.002+08:00

dried up and wrinkly, suits how I feel.................

Thanks for your comments everyone

Pineapple

2011-09-22T14:06:00.001+08:00

for Mariko

Mid Autumn Festival

2011-09-12T19:00:00.002+08:00

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncake

Champagne Grapes

2011-09-12T14:07:00.002+08:00

I put the background on this picture and regretted it, faded it out with a white glaze.

Wish I'd scanned it before the background but it's always fun to experiment

another feather

2011-09-06T11:03:00.000+08:00

Starfish

2011-09-01T14:06:00.003+08:00

in progress....................

Starfish

2011-08-29T14:50:00.002+08:00

tricky dried sea critters with a pungent odour....(used in Chinese medicine)...moving on to the painted version, which I think will be easier to depict all the texture and spikes

Thai Spring Rolls

2011-08-27T09:24:00.000+08:00

with chilli sauce.....

espadrilles

2011-08-21T17:21:00.000+08:00

New sandals, a gift from France
Merci beaucoup Citine!

Watercolour on 140lb Aquarelle paper 24cm x 32cm

Sushi set

2011-08-17T10:12:00.003+08:00

Just for fun......................an impression of the whole fish feast

Watercolour and Chinese ink on 140lb Aquarelle paper 24cm x 32cm

Sushi Set

2011-08-14T12:05:00.005+08:00

Watercolour and Chinese ink on 140lb Aquarelle paper 24cm x 32cm

I was taken for a delicious sushi lunch at Ten Jaku, Causeway Bay last week.
The selection was a work of art.
I brought home the amaebi (prawn sushi) to draw but added the rest from a photo taken on my iPhone.

Cherries

2011-08-07T16:27:00.000+08:00

Tai Hang, Hong Kong

2011-08-03T12:43:00.002+08:00

Profiteroles

2011-07-28T13:18:00.002+08:00

Haven't drawn for over a week due to stiff shoulder and sore wrist...many thanks for dinner D and for letting me take these home to draw!
( I really should stop that bad habit)

pears and folds

2011-07-17T13:16:00.002+08:00

studies of folds/drapes

2011-07-15T14:43:00.003+08:00

quick studies of draped cloth from a lesson......

Woven Ball

2011-07-06T10:42:00.002+08:00

Woven Ball...had a "don't know what to draw " day, so decided to tackle this with paint........work in progress

Lotus

2011-07-01T12:32:00.001+08:00

Thanks for your comments everyone

Cointreau chocolate coated strawberry

2011-06-28T15:37:00.003+08:00

Kelly's Cointreau chocolate coated (large) strawberries.........these made for a party by my friend, I took mine home to sketch......

More rice crackers

2011-06-28T11:39:00.001+08:00

Time for a snack........

and a big thank you to http://parkablogs.com for adding me to Art Blogs of Note 2011.

Lover's knot

2011-06-24T12:28:00.002+08:00

Lover's knot

2011-06-24T12:16:00.003+08:00

EDM#196

Fisherman's Knot

2011-06-21T13:44:00.000+08:00

again....

feeling tied.....

Knotted ball

2011-06-20T13:39:00.001+08:00

Lantern bug (Pyrops candelaria)

2011-06-19T18:53:00.002+08:00

had to do another of these as the last one was in The Arthouse Sketchbook Project (click for the digitized version) and I've seen a few flying around recently

marbles....

2011-06-19T18:22:00.001+08:00

....not lost them (yet)

Paintbrush

2011-06-17T17:22:00.000+08:00

paintbrush..............

Physalis peruviana

2011-06-17T15:20:00.000+08:00

Another knot...

2011-06-14T18:08:00.000+08:00

Knots

2011-06-14T17:59:00.001+08:00

EDM # 196 knots........................

Watermelon

2011-06-14T15:10:00.000+08:00

No.1 seedless watermelon.........

japanese rice crackers

2011-06-07T18:58:00.001+08:00

a quick rice cracker.....this has been in a packet sitting on my desk for a week or so .....had to sketch it before I could eat it.
A sweet outside with savoury inside.....

Noodles

2011-06-05T13:03:00.002+08:00

Just in case you were getting hungry, soy sauce noodles...see yau wong chow mien

Balcony plant

2011-06-03T12:33:00.000+08:00

Everyday in May # 31 plum

2011-05-31T19:17:00.001+08:00

Thanks for visiting and your comments everyone. There's lots of food that I haven't drawn and want to continue....but maybe not everyday!

Everyday in May # 30 pizza

2011-05-30T14:26:00.000+08:00

Pizza with mushrooms, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and olives..........................

Everyday in May # 29 persimmon

2011-05-29T19:27:00.004+08:00

quick persimmon or sharon fruit.......

......this and the pears done with new MaimeriBlu watercolours......but haven't had time to play yet.
(Big boring cleaning day) At my shop they only had 12 or 45 so I'm testing them on the small 12 set to begin with.

Everyday in May # 28 pears

2011-05-28T21:41:00.001+08:00

Everyday in May # 27 guacamole and salsa

2011-05-27T18:26:00.002+08:00

ingredients for guacamole and salsa.........want to give this one a bright blue background....
thanks for your comments everyone!

Everyday in May # 26 tortilla chips

2011-05-26T14:49:00.001+08:00

nacho cheese tortilla chips......

Everyday in May # 25 lasagna

2011-05-25T21:35:00.000+08:00

last night's mushroom lasagna.......

Everyday in May # 24 mushrooms and chillies

2011-05-24T18:09:00.001+08:00

Everyday in May # 23 nuts

2011-05-23T19:00:00.000+08:00

Almond and cashews.......

Everyday in May # 22 candy

2011-05-22T14:57:00.003+08:00

Jelly Belly jelly beans..........

Everyday in May # 21 mushrooms

2011-05-21T22:15:00.001+08:00

a long day at work....
little mushrooms we get in the village.....work in progress......

Everyday in May # 20 Corn

2011-05-20T15:50:00.003+08:00

Corn...............thanks for your comments everyone, sorry not had time to reply yet!

Everyday in May # 19 papaya

2011-05-19T14:08:00.000+08:00

Papaya........

Everyday in May # 18 feta potato salad

2011-05-18T20:27:00.000+08:00

feta and potato salad with garlic chives and tomatoes.......
....eating pizza tonight but doubt they'll be a piece leftover to draw in the morning!

Everyday in May # 17 potatoes

2011-05-17T19:49:00.002+08:00

Potatoes...going to boil them in the skins now, add a few chopped up garlic chives, feta cheese and mayonnaise
Thanks for your comments everyone, the raclette is a type of cheese, sorry I didn't put it on the post! It is melted in the little pans, you can add mushrooms, potatoes etc.

Everyday in May # 16 garlic chives

2011-05-16T21:38:00.000+08:00

very quick flowering garlic chives..(gau choi sum)...great finely chopped in salads, omelettes etc.

Everyday in May # 15 raclette

2011-05-15T18:06:00.007+08:00

Raclette for lunch at Luci and Emmanuel's house.......Merci beaucoup mes amis
(and a very special merci et bisous Emmanuel for the inspiration)

this was the hardest so far to resist (and I did eat three when I was sketching!)
Update Here's the link about raclette cheese http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raclette

Everyday in May # 14 cakes

2011-05-14T22:11:00.002+08:00

quick cakes.....mango mousse cake and fruit tart...........

Everyday in May # 13 curry

2011-05-14T07:36:00.000+08:00

Saag paneer, vegetable korma, vegetable biryani and kulchi naan...

Everyday in May # 12 grapes

2011-05-12T09:32:00.000+08:00

Red grapes.......................

Everyday in May # 10 cookies

2011-05-11T22:08:00.000+08:00

only time for quick mini cookies today......

Everyday in May # 10 crackers

2011-05-10T17:51:00.000+08:00

Cheese, crackers, tomatoes and different kinds of sprouts....

Everyday in May # 8 red onion

2011-05-09T21:05:00.002+08:00

A quick red onion

Everyday in May # 8 rambutan

2011-05-08T15:47:00.000+08:00

Rambutan........

top of my list for tough things to draw!

(but I think its an improvement on the last attempt

http://debra.morris.hk/2009/08/rambutan.html)

Here's the wikipedia link for those of you not familiar with it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambutan

Everyday in May # 7 rice crackers

2011-05-07T20:24:00.003+08:00

Japanese rice crackers with peanuts, the perfect snack with a glass of chilled white wine after a long (hot) Saturday at work...might work on it more tomorrow but the chardonnay and dinner is beckoning.

Everyday in May # 6 Sticky Rice

2011-05-06T15:18:00.004+08:00

Steamed glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves.......traditionally eaten around the Dragon Boat Festival.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zongzi

Everyday in May # 5 pain au chocolat

2011-05-05T13:51:00.001+08:00

pain au chocolat......................

Everyday in May # 4 breakfast

2011-05-04T12:25:00.001+08:00

Egg,cheese and vegetarian ham muffin from the Green Cottage on Lamma Island.

Everyday in May # 3

2011-05-03T19:13:00.001+08:00

The last (cheese) straw
I find these hard to resist, unlike the cookies and chocolate egg which are still in my fridge.

Everday in May # 2 Salad

2011-05-02T17:23:00.004+08:00

Going to try and keep with the food theme for the whole of Everyday in May....

.here's something a little healthier

Everday in May # 1 Cookies

2011-05-01T18:09:00.003+08:00

Chocolate Chip cookies..........brought from the U.K.....now to be eaten by my family.

Orchid

2011-05-01T11:48:00.001+08:00

Chocolate Egg

2011-04-23T17:30:00.001+08:00

Happy Easter everyone, thanks for your comments.........

and a big thank-you to Luci for my egg.

Shell

2011-04-23T14:38:00.003+08:00

A different kind of shell.........sketched with my student yesterday.....

Omelette

2011-04-21T14:52:00.000+08:00

Cheese omelette with Thai sweet chilli sauce........

Egg Shells

2011-04-19T11:28:00.001+08:00

Scrambled Eggs

2011-04-17T16:42:00.005+08:00

1000 year old eggs

2011-04-15T19:35:00.002+08:00

A quick sketch of a Chinese way of preserving eggs, the first time I've actually bought them!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg

This is one way I can live without but, makes a good drawing subject, although impossible to get the jelly-like consistency of the pi dan. The other black duck egg I thought would be the same but was extremely runny. (and much stronger egg smell than the other)

Scrambled, fried, omelettes and chocolate to follow.

Bowl of eggs

2011-04-15T12:01:00.005+08:00

...how do you like yours?

Bag of eggs

2011-04-11T18:35:00.001+08:00

Thanks for your kind comments everyone.

Here's a quick sketch in answer to Carol King's question about the previous post

Carol asked " Why are they in a Camembert box? Are you sending them to me? And what happened to the broken egg on the table?" so here's the thinking behind it.

Last week, we bought some eggs from a local shop and they came in a bag full of husks(?) for protection (sketch above). I did think about sketching them then decided it would be crazy.
I later saw some quail's eggs in H.K. and decided to draw them instead.

The Camembert box was a perfect nest along with the husks but I just drew the detail...then I zoomed out but decided it was not quite complete so, cracked (they seem to squash rather than crack) one of the broken eggs......finding it's not a good idea to do this on paper as it absorbs in about 5 minutes (but helps with fast sketching skills).

I haven't cooked them yet but would probably boil them...frying something so small would be a nightmare.

I could send them to you Carol but as three broke when I carried them carefully home this may not be a good idea!

My most delicious experience with quails eggs was in Mae Sot in Thailand where they sold them as a snack covered in soy sauce.
Unfortunately, I hadn't just eaten the Camembert but had been saving the box.

Quail's eggs in Camembert box

2011-04-10T17:59:00.001+08:00

Quail's Eggs

2011-04-08T17:15:00.002+08:00

more eggs to follow.......wasn't sure if this was finished but the sun is shining and the sea beckons

Feeling blue

2011-04-05T18:46:00.001+08:00

Preparing a canvas mock up for a still life lesson, which the kids will draw in the style of Giorgio Morandi,
I couldn't get into the subtle colours straight away.......so this was my warm up...or my cool down (and detail down) painted sketch... I couldn't resist a little play with salt on the background either. Not easy to scan work of one colour I've found. It appears much brighter on the scan
Also run out of white paint which didn't help but it was fun....now I have to stop myself dipping my chopstick in the ink!

Learning curves

2011-04-05T08:38:00.009+08:00

I went to my first Japanese painting lesson yesterday and it totally blew my mind.

The biggest two hour learning curve I've had for a very long time

After lots of practise with the paints and inks on soft paper I did one postcard (the postcard paper absorbed in a totally different way to the practise paper)...not good at all but represents something new and exciting to me ...this is the first time I have used a chopstick to draw!

I started out with a western mind but by the end of two hours I was beginning to get the idea behind it.

With my detailed work I'm sure this will be so good for me.

It has made me look at the world in a different way .

Sayaka is a Japanese ink painting teacher, Ink artists' Association Member, and a Special Prize Winner Prize Ink artists' association in Japan.

And an amazing teacher!

Shades of brown

2011-04-05T07:25:00.005+08:00

Water Chestnuts and peanuts..............................

the mai tai were not as fresh as the ones I drew here

quick sketches of peanuts

Oranges

2011-03-27T20:24:00.002+08:00

Oranges ( in progress......been working extra hours this week so a bit lazy today)

Slippers

2011-03-27T10:18:00.002+08:00

Slippers at work, done in my sketchbook, waiting between lessons.

Tomatoes

2011-03-20T15:25:00.006+08:00

Tomatoes on a plate............

Watercolour and acrylic on Canson Watercolour (140lbs) paper 24cm x 32cm

not the easiest of vegetables to paint........................
..............now in the oven roasting with garlic and rosemary

Kiwi fruit and strawberries

2011-03-13T19:23:00.001+08:00

Kiwi fruit and strawberries.......

Watercolour and acrylic on Canson Watercolour paper 17cm x 22 cm

Strawberries

2011-03-13T10:46:00.004+08:00

Six Strawberries..............

28cm x 15cm Sandford watercolour paper (140 lb)

Paints

2011-03-04T18:22:00.006+08:00

A5 Sketchbook (from marumam.japan...a new purchase has quite nice thin watercolour) paper)

Thanks for you comments everyone....this is for Pooja, Nancy,Vicki and Ann.

My basic sketch supplies.

I bought this small (and in-expensive) Van Gogh travel watercolour set half-way through Everyday in May, for convenience, and have been very happy with them. Before that I used anything I had at hand and usually acrylic paint that I use with lots of water.
Many years ago I had a Windsor and Newton tin box but this little set was such a bargain.
I was looking at larger sets last week as it might be fun to have lots of colours, but was recommended professional quality paints as the Van Gogh ones are only student quality (? this could have been a pushy assistant )....the problem with this is the fact that they quadruple in price (and my supplier doesn't sell them individually). Any suggestions?

The main thing I have come addicted to this year is good quality paper and do prefer to do most work on loose sheets...usually Bockingford watercolour paper (Acid free 140lbs).
It saves many problems with rippling, is good for HK's humid climate and is good quality if I sell a sketch.
I tend to work about A4 size or a little larger so the Arthouse Sketchbook was good for teaching me to scale down.
My favourite tool is a 2B pencil...although i sketch at first with HB and sometimes use 4B at the end for darkness.
On my next sketch I'll do a proper step by step but here's a little one for the above to get in practise. Although after stage two I broke up the still life (as I needed my paints etc.....and sat on the balcony in the sunshine......can only do that with an aerial view)
Thanks everyone for making me think about the process, as my sketching time is limited I usually put on the radio and just do it. I'll also be adding details of paper and size on my posts from now on.

Time to clean my paints!!

Bananas

2011-02-27T16:07:00.009+08:00

Banana skin....................got ideas for other slippery things but this suggestion was the quickest

EDM 308 draw something slippery