Sasa's Sketchbook

Ate a lovely chicken salad with parmesan and walnuts - though I must say drawing it was less delicious, definitely not my thing... Anyway, managed to do EDM #135: Draw a salad. (Ink, watercolor, colored pencil)

After Every Day in May 2011, I decided to continue with EDM challenges from where we ended. Unfortunately haven't been that productive, so far done only two... But here is the 3rd one, EDM #134: Draw a familiar person, place or thing, but from an usual angle. So I drew my tea cup (which I have sketched dozens of times, so very familiar), but this time from underneath. I was actually lying on my back under a glass table to sketch it... :-)

EDM # 133: Draw a peach

I have never liked colored pencils, maybe because of those horrible bad quality sets they gave us at school with only six different colors (blue, green, yellow, red, brown, and black). But after seeing so many beautiful illustrations created with colored pencils, I decided to give them another try and bought this 72-color set. Much better, almost enjoyable, but still not my medium, requires way too much patience.

I decided to continue with the EDM challenges where Every Day in May 2011 ended so here is EDM #132: Draw a chain.

This is the Saint Christopher chain my friend Richard is always wearing. (Drawing pen, water color)

EDM #131: Draw a spray bottle

This one was the last EDiM challenge, made it... It was a really great experience. I hope I am able to keep the daily habit at least somewhat.

EDM # Draw some school supplies

My school supplies: pencil, eraser and 'hanzi-paper' to practice Chinese characters.

EDM #129: Draw people doing something

People playing table tennis.

EDM #128: Draw a view through a doorway from one interior room to another.

This is the view from my study to small hall (taking to kitchen on the left) and then dining area. The dining table is usually occupied by my Chinese ink painting stuff. (Drawing pen, water color)

EDM #127: Draw a skyscape

This is the view from my living room window. When the sky is clear like now, you can see the mountains surrounding Beijing. (Watercolor, gouache)

EDM #126: Draw a sponge.

These are still in package. (Gouache)

EDM #125: Draw a bird

Busy today, so this quick sketch will do. (Chinese ink on rice paper)

EDM #124: Draw something yellow

These three objects are always on my desk: hand cream, glue stick and xylitol chewing gum (this time mango taste).

(drawing pen, water color, colored pencil)

EDM #123: Draw a bell.

I bought this bell from a  Buddhist shop near Lama temple. I don't know what it is really used for but the sound is beautiful, high and clear.

EDM #122: Draw something where shade is the prominent part of the subject.

I live by a school.  You can see a shadow of my building on the school  yard.

EDM #121: Draw a coin

This is Chinese 5 Jiao coin.

EDM # 120: Draw a flashlight

When I saw this piggy flashlight at my friend's place today I just had to draw it. (And skipped drawing one of the boring flashlights at my home!)

Running bit late with EDiM but here is EDM #119: Draw some rocks.

I use these stones as paper weights to keep rice paper in place when doing ink painting. They are completely ordinary stones, collected from nearby building site. Only noteworthy thing about them is that they are all different colors and shapes.

EDM #118: Draw some hair

This was a 1-minute drawing from imagination, Chinese ink on rice paper. Looks like 'beach hair'.

EDM #117: Draw something round

I am continuing on Buddhist theme: meditation pillow.

 EDM #116: Draw something green.

This is Green Tara, Buddhist goddess of activity and  youthful vigor.

EDM #115: Draw a shopping cart or basket

Had no time to sketch yesterday so a bit late with this one. Anyway, this is a shopping basket of my little local supermarket (they don't have carts, there is not enough room between aisles).

EDM #114: Draw something ugly you love and keep for sentimental reasons

These are the official mascots of London Olympics and Paralympics 2012: Wenlock and Manderville. I got them from my friend last Christmas. They have tags still hanging from them because my friend says that tags will make them more valuable in future...

EDM #113: Draw a fence.

This is the fence of my apartment complex.

EDM #112: Draw something fresh

Sesame cakes fresh from... wok? I guess that's where they are made because people here don't have ovens. These are great when fresh, when older they get hard.

EDM # 111: Draw a bowl.

I wanted to try something different with background this time. Since Anni (my wonderful Chinese ink painting teacher) gave me yesterday homework to try calligraphy in western alphabets, I decided to add some writing & dots using Chinese ink and water color.

EDM #110: Draw something with flame.

That blue flame of gas stove is so hard to capture.

EDM #109: Draw a clock you have around the house.

This is the only clock I have, made of plywood, bought from Japan.

EDM #108: Draw a light bulb.

I find this drawing quite spooky.

EDM #107: How do you get your news

I watch CCTV 13 新闻, Chinese state news channel. To be honest, not for news but for language practice. The news presenters speak beautiful standard Mandarin... This piece of news is about rising grain prices (had to take a photo of the screen to capture all that text).

EDM #106: Draw something sour.

This vinegar from Shanxi province is quite nice, better than the previous brand I bought. I love dumblings and baozi (steamed buns filled with meat or vegetables), so I use it quite a lot.

I am really enjoying Every Day in May challenge, this is EDM # 105.

These scissors are broken so I use them only to cut open dried Chinese paint tubes when needed. The background is felt that I use for ink painting, it is full of paint dots.

EDM #104: Draw salt and pepper shakers. Well... I don't have a salt shaker (or not a real pepper shaker either), only this opened 'China Salt' bag.

EDM # 103: Draw some exercise equipment.

I try to run at least once a week, often with Beijing Hashers. That's about the only exercise I do these days so drawing my running shoes was a natural choice.

This is EDM challenge #102: Draw a power plug.

In China you can use all these three types of plugs. The one below is the same one we use in Finland, which is very convenient.

I decided to participate EDiM, so my goal is to draw something every day this month. Here is the first challenge (EDM #101): bar of soap. I am using these to wash my brushes.

My another goal is to try to achieve what Chinese call 'satuo' (洒脱), a free and easy style, trying not to be too serious or nervous with your drawing. It is difficult...