Posts Tagged ‘sketchbooks’

Happy New Year

Posted on: January 9th, 2014 by jmbroekman 2 Comments
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It’s January again

That means, time to start another drawing a day extravaganza.This time, however, is proving challenging at best since I don’t have a studio in which to work. None-the-less, I’m doing my best. Turning my office desk into an everything desk. Really, it’s become more of a drawing table to some extent. Problem is, most of my tools are packed up, and I find myself constantly moving things here there and everywhere.

So the new year has my world turned a little bit upside down. Nothing like a little more chaos to distract me in my quest for moving through the world with more ease. I suspect 2014 will prove interesting in any case. Here’s hoping your year is off to a good start, and that you stay well, warm, and happy.

Swan’s Island Sketchbook

Posted on: September 3rd, 2013 by jmbroekman

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We had the great good fortune to spend the better part of last week with our friends from New Jersey who were vacationing on Swan’s Island. For those of you who have never heard of Swan’s Island, there’s probably good reason. It is up near Acadia, a 45 minute ferry ride from Bass Harbor; once there, you are stranded with almost nothing to do. Just one tiny general store that mostly sells lottery tickets and potato chips. But lobster can be bought right off the boat, and there is plenty of hiking and exploring to be done. Perfect for unplugging and slowing down in a big way.

These are the pages of my little sketchbook that I brought with me and filled up in various spots on the island (the last one was done on the ferry ride back to Mount Desert). We had a lovely time, and are very grateful to Shirley and David, for inviting us. And though Labor day has come and gone, and it is time to get to work, I refuse to call this the end of summer. Next up, I’m hoping for the work to begin on my studio renovation.

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My Left Hand

Posted on: July 16th, 2013 by jmbroekman 3 Comments

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Drawing with my non-dominant hand

By necessity, I have been drawing with my left hand. Even though I don’t play tennis, I somehow (was it the cello practice?) developed a wicked case of tennis elbow, that required a cortisone shot, and some mandatory rest of my right arm. Being the stubborn (or tenacious, however you want to call it) person that I am, I refused to let that stop me from my daily practice of drawing the flowers around me. The three drawings above are of a gloxinia plant that my friend Marcy gave me many many years ago. It continues to bloom several times a year, and just when you think it really is dead for good, it shows signs of life. Can someone clue me in to the lesson in that?!

Summer Solstice Flowers

Posted on: June 21st, 2013 by jmbroekman

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More sketchbook drawings

Summer is officially here. While I mourn the reversal this solstice brings – days getting shorter (albeit slowly, thankfully), I do celebrate the extended warmer days of summer. The late afternoon light, which lingers until after 8:00 casts lovely long shadows across the fields around here. The flowers are blooming right on schedule. Iris’, peonies, evening primrose. The gardens are a riot of color. So welcome after the long grey winter! A few more drawings are on my FB page: JMBroekmanArtandDesign.

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May Flowers

Posted on: May 30th, 2013 by jmbroekman 6 Comments

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Sketchbook drawings

Spring is trying to arrive. The flowers are optimistic, but until today it has been feeling a lot like late winter. Evidently the sketchbook watercolor class found it’s way under my skin. I am still compelled by my new found skills with pen and watercolor. These are drawings I never would’ve imagined possible from my hand. So there you have it, never say never.