The Pleasure of a Soft Pencil
Though I typically pick up a pen and watercolor when I have time for art, I just really felt like drawing this weekend. A soft pencil, smooth paper, and loose lines were just what I needed. I’ve got 30 bulbs to plant and though each one seems unique and interesting, these five will have to do. The spade is waiting.
Tips and Techniques- Sketched with a Staedtler Mars Lumograph 3B pencil on Canson Bristol 100lb paper.
Drawn In 
These are lovely and I love how you can create inspiration from random objects. I would never have thought of sketching bulbs.
Funny you should say that. I wandered all over yesterday afternoon looking for something inspiring to draw– a big tree, a bird’s nest, a grand view– and came home empty handed. Then I looked down at the bag of bulbs on my back porch, pulled out my sketchbook, and spent a lovely half hour with pencil in hand.
That’s brilliant😀
Lovely, as usual! Just as wonderful to view as your usual ink and watercolor works, because, of course, you have such a skilled and artistic touch!
Yes, I too LOVE the actual feel of the pencil on paper!
Sometimes a pencil seems “lowly,” but it can be quite lovely.
These are beautiful Jean. So delicate and yet robust. Bulbs hold so much promise.Alison
Promise and personality! I wouldn’t mind drawing all 30.
wow! I can feel the “smoothness” …… the “ahhhhh” …… the “satisfaction” of this remarkab
Thanks Barb- I really enjoyed it.
these have such personalities! I love them!!! Deceptively simple too !
Simple form with just enough complexity to be really interesting.
They’re very alive, ready to dance off the page and into the garden. I like the way the little rootlets reach out to each other. And “5 of 30” has a nice ring. The circular composition keeps everything moving. Happiness is a Jean Mackay drawing. 🙂
Thanks– That’s very sweet.
Beautiful! You + a pencil make artistic delights together!
Pencil offers a pretty low pressure way to work. No thought of color, mistakes, or something taking too much time.
these are lovely Jean. I’m in the city today so heading to my favorite art supply and may buy a couple of pencils
I hope you did!
Its wonderful to stumble upon simple but beautiful objects like these bulbs. As you say, every one is different! I love a good pencil too, such a satisfying object to use!
It seems like a quite relaxing tool to me. I especially like drawing with a soft pencil when it glides across the page.
I must admit that I do love the humble pencil as a drawing tool. These are the perfect subjects and so beautifully done.
Yes, the bulbs lent themselves well to pencil. Now,if I could just get them planted!