MJ's SKETCHBOOK

Jun 18

TV sketching As I was going through an old sketchbook, I came across these sketches I made while watching TV last year. We were watching Giuliana & Billand later on Undercover Boss Canada and I decided to sketch while watching. Not an easy thing to do, but it was fun. Now I don’t really have time for TV, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind as something to do to practice drawing people fast. At first I  wasn’t sure this constitute urban sketching, but it does follow the principles…

TV sketching

As I was going through an old sketchbook, I came across these sketches I made while watching TV last year. We were watching Giuliana & Billand later on Undercover Boss Canada and I decided to sketch while watching. Not an easy thing to do, but it was fun. Now I don’t really have time for TV, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind as something to do to practice drawing people fast. At first I  wasn’t sure this constitute urban sketching, but it does follow the principles…

Jun 15

urban sketching in the Walls Notebook I attempted do draw one of the parks along Wellington Street downtown Ottawa during one of my walks with Newton a couple days ago. He was not feeling staying put that day, so I did a quick sketch with a pen and added the leaves and grass in green later on. I decided to draw in my walls notebook to do this sketch. I might try this again. It’s interesting to have different backgrounds and it’s also a good way to actually use the book. 

urban sketching in the Walls Notebook

I attempted do draw one of the parks along Wellington Street downtown Ottawa during one of my walks with Newton a couple days ago. He was not feeling staying put that day, so I did a quick sketch with a pen and added the leaves and grass in green later on. I decided to draw in my walls notebook to do this sketch. I might try this again. It’s interesting to have different backgrounds and it’s also a good way to actually use the book. 

Jun 11

road trip sketching My absolute favorite way to travel to Toronto from Ottawa is flying via Porter. My least favorite way is by car. It’s so long and boring. But sometimes, driving is the best option. In this case, to keep my mind occupied, I tend to doodle (if I’m the passenger of course). On our last two trips to Toronto I started to “draw what I hear on the radio”. It makes the ride a little more enjoyable. I think I just stated a new trend (at least for me) : Road Trip Sketching :) 

road trip sketching

My absolute favorite way to travel to Toronto from Ottawa is flying via Porter. My least favorite way is by car. It’s so long and boring. But sometimes, driving is the best option. In this case, to keep my mind occupied, I tend to doodle (if I’m the passenger of course). On our last two trips to Toronto I started to “draw what I hear on the radio”. It makes the ride a little more enjoyable. I think I just stated a new trend (at least for me) : Road Trip Sketching :) 

TGIM sketchnote 15 This week’s TGIM made me a little teary eyes. It’s very moving and inspiring to see the results of such dedication and hard work. The cycle has been broken. By doing this ET has not only open the door for his family but for many others who like myself who are able to benefit from the TGIMs and break cycles of our own. Who knows how many boys will now be able to have a great relationship with their dads as a result of this and also do great things in their lives. This is truly a beautiful thing.  

TGIM sketchnote 15

This week’s TGIM made me a little teary eyes. It’s very moving and inspiring to see the results of such dedication and hard work. The cycle has been broken. By doing this ET has not only open the door for his family but for many others who like myself who are able to benefit from the TGIMs and break cycles of our own. Who knows how many boys will now be able to have a great relationship with their dads as a result of this and also do great things in their lives. This is truly a beautiful thing.  

Jun 09

jar challenge update 5 The jars don’t lie. There wasn’t much traditional drawings during the month of May. I’ve been working on other projects, but I still want to fill up two jars by the end of the year. We’re already halfway through! So many more things I want to do. But I’ll follow ET’s suggestion, and just shut up and work :) 

jar challenge update 5

The jars don’t lie. There wasn’t much traditional drawings during the month of May. I’ve been working on other projects, but I still want to fill up two jars by the end of the year. We’re already halfway through! So many more things I want to do. But I’ll follow ET’s suggestion, and just shut up and work :) 

Jun 05

ANIMAL CONNECTION 020 : The old lady and her cat I found out about a series of photos of this old lady, Misao, and her cat, Fukumaru that are truly adorable. They are the work of photographerMiyoko Ihara  who followed them for 13 years and created a photobook of their friendship. According to an article on BuzzFeed, the cat was found abandoned in a shed and they’ve been inseparable since

ANIMAL CONNECTION 020 : The old lady and her cat

I found out about a series of photos of this old lady, Misao, and her cat, Fukumaru that are truly adorable. They are the work of photographerMiyoko Ihara  who followed them for 13 years and created a photobook of their friendship. According to an article on BuzzFeed, the cat was found abandoned in a shed and they’ve been inseparable since

Jun 04

TGIM sketchnote 14 This week’s TGIM tip is “Work while you’re at work”. It’s not always easy, especially with so many distractions all around all the time, but it’s simple. It’s really a question of discipline. That’s something I can work on. I’m not at the Ray Lewis level yet, but I’m working on it. One of the main thing I did this year to get there was to cancel cable TV (no more reality shows for me). It helped.  Now I have to be careful while browsing the internet. That can also take a lot of time away from doing actual work.Check out the TGIM video. The preview of the audiobook at the end is intense. I’m looking forward to hear it. 

TGIM sketchnote 14

This week’s TGIM tip is “Work while you’re at work”. It’s not always easy, especially with so many distractions all around all the time, but it’s simple. It’s really a question of discipline. That’s something I can work on. I’m not at the Ray Lewis level yet, but I’m working on it. One of the main thing I did this year to get there was to cancel cable TV (no more reality shows for me). It helped.  Now I have to be careful while browsing the internet. That can also take a lot of time away from doing actual work.

Check out the TGIM video. The preview of the audiobook at the end is intense. I’m looking forward to hear it. 

May 29

week 21 daily sketches For week 21, I decided to practice sketching techniques from the Pencil Sketching book I bought not too long ago. Instead of using a pencil, I decided to use gel pens. I just reproduced some of the drawings that are in the book. It’s one thing to learn from the theories, it’s another to learn from practice and learning from practice is much more effective. I’m hoping this will help improve my sketching technique when I’m out and about urban sketching.

week 21 daily sketches

For week 21, I decided to practice sketching techniques from the Pencil Sketching book I bought not too long ago. Instead of using a pencil, I decided to use gel pens. I just reproduced some of the drawings that are in the book. It’s one thing to learn from the theories, it’s another to learn from practice and learning from practice is much more effective. I’m hoping this will help improve my sketching technique when I’m out and about urban sketching.

May 27

TGIM sketchnote 13 This week’s TGIM sketchnote is a little more colorful. I guess I’m still working on my work :) There’s always something that can be improved. I do critique my own work from time to time, but I never thought about studying my work before and reflecting on it. It’s something I’m going to have start doing. It makes a lot of sense as it’s more constructive than just critiquing the work. 

TGIM sketchnote 13

This week’s TGIM sketchnote is a little more colorful. I guess I’m still working on my work :) There’s always something that can be improved. I do critique my own work from time to time, but I never thought about studying my work before and reflecting on it. It’s something I’m going to have start doing. It makes a lot of sense as it’s more constructive than just critiquing the work. 

May 26

I did a quick sketch of a portion of the Garden of Provinces and Territories not too long ago, where there’s a bronze fountain representing a tree and three opening on the wall in the back for water to pour into a zen inspired water feature. Unfortunately there was no water the day I did the sketch. I’ll have to go back when it’s in operation. 

I did a quick sketch of a portion of the Garden of Provinces and Territories not too long ago, where there’s a bronze fountain representing a tree and three opening on the wall in the back for water to pour into a zen inspired water feature. Unfortunately there was no water the day I did the sketch. I’ll have to go back when it’s in operation. 

May 25

Newton’s self portrait I think if Newton could draw it would more or less look like this :)

Newton’s self portrait

I think if Newton could draw it would more or less look like this :)

May 22

TGIM sketchnote 12 Work! Work! Work! Work! Grind! Grind! Grind! Grind! I’m really feeling this week’s TGIM. It’s not going to happen if you just talk or write about it. I constantly have to watch out for the overplanning side of me where I can end up with a great plan and not much work done. There has to be a point where you just start and adjust as you go because things always changes anyway. With that said, I better get back to drawing :) 

TGIM sketchnote 12

Work! Work! Work! Work! Grind! Grind! Grind! Grind! I’m really feeling this week’s TGIM. It’s not going to happen if you just talk or write about it. I constantly have to watch out for the overplanning side of me where I can end up with a great plan and not much work done. There has to be a point where you just start and adjust as you go because things always changes anyway. With that said, I better get back to drawing :) 

May 20

week 20 daily sketches My favorite one of the bunch this week is “Grumpy the ottoman bird”. We have to keep it off the floor for now because the puppy likes to chew on its wings. 

week 20 daily sketches

My favorite one of the bunch this week is “Grumpy the ottoman bird”. We have to keep it off the floor for now because the puppy likes to chew on its wings. 

May 19

manga inspired portrait I’m a big fan of manga/anime style of drawing. I used to practice a lot when I was a little younger, watching TV shows like Sailor Moon,Dragon Ball and Great Teacher Onizuka. My brother and I would pause the recorded shows and draw them freehand. It’s something that I’d like to get back into sometime in the  near future. I recently did this portrait of my brother in manga style using SketchBook Pro for ipad. I’m a little rusty. It’s a little rough but it reminds me of Riley from The Boondocks :) 

manga inspired portrait

I’m a big fan of manga/anime style of drawing. I used to practice a lot when I was a little younger, watching TV shows like Sailor Moon,Dragon Ball and Great Teacher Onizuka. My brother and I would pause the recorded shows and draw them freehand. It’s something that I’d like to get back into sometime in the  near future. I recently did this portrait of my brother in manga style using SketchBook Pro for ipad. I’m a little rusty. It’s a little rough but it reminds me of Riley from The Boondocks :) 

May 17

Last week I closed my old twitter account to concentrate on my new projects. I feel, focusing on one thing instead of many will help me get more things done. Before closing it, I designed a little header that illustrates my move from the @m2jl nest to the @mjsketchbook. Since twitter is represented by a bird, I imagine my twitter name is a nest.  I really like the idea and wanted to share it with you.

Last week I closed my old twitter account to concentrate on my new projects. I feel, focusing on one thing instead of many will help me get more things done. Before closing it, I designed a little header that illustrates my move from the @m2jl nest to the @mjsketchbook. Since twitter is represented by a bird, I imagine my twitter name is a nest.  I really like the idea and wanted to share it with you.