Paper, Scissors, ROCK your DIY Folded Pen

Sunday Painters, I haven't forgotten about you.

This is what I have been doing today and I thought you might like to try it, too! Recently, some of my urban sketcher buddies have returned from attending the 6th International Urban Sketchers Symposium in Singapore. One of the instructors there taught them how to make a Folded Pen from soda cans.

I couldn't wait to see if I could do it, so I combined a few references I found online and came up with my own process that works so easily! (See links to those references at the end of this post.)

On the premise that a picture is worth a thousand words, here are the materials and steps that I used to make my folded pens. Tap or click to Zoom photos.

Note: If you prefer a shiny aluminum nib, just fold the soda can back the other way.

Here are a few finishing touches and the results!

Please follow these links for printable instructions, templates and YouTube tutorials. Thanks, guys, for the inspiration!

1. Erica, at Paperwhite Studio, offers a free printable PDF with instructions and templates.
2. PopCanPen dot com has step by step photos galore!
3. Here's a video demo for those with a short attention span and lightning fast cognitive ability.
4. I love this video, which shows you how to use your new folded pen!
5. My Instagram post with a photo of my very first one! My grandchildren took it home with them, so I don't have it anymore.

And, finally, an apology to you professional calligraphers out there. I won't be taking over the lettering world anytime soon. I just want to play around with this and see how it might work with my sketches. :)

What are you waiting for? Get some stuff out of the recycle bin and get started!

Stay tuned for watercolor and folded pen experiments!

Bradner P-Patch--Flowers, Funnels and Jello Molds, Oh My!

The arbor entrance on the East side of the garden at 29th Ave S.

Our Seattle Urban Sketchers Friday ad hoc meeting was at the Bradner P-Patch. It is one of 60 community gardens scattered across the city of Seattle. Originally started in 1987 as the Mt. Baker P-Patch, today Bradner has 61 garden plots of 200 square feet each.

The new year of 2013 was celebrated at Bradner Gardens Park with a new artwork on the trellis fence. It is a guardian for the bike rack on the basketball court. Artist is Clair Colquitt.
The official website has a list of the 7 themed gardens and the art installed in them.

I was instantly enchanted by the quixotic figures in the patch...they even have their own windmill!

As with anything for which one grows fond, I have my own nicknames for some of the "scarecrows" and sculptures that I sketched this morning. I even nicknamed a particular part of the garden, and you will see why:

The block headed gentleman with the yellow power tie seemed to be something inspired by Frankenstein, with nearby power lines to zap a bit of  life into him. The Zombie Rabbit (my nickname) may be a better figure for scaring crows than the usual man of straw.

 

Would this be Virginia the "Bride of Frankenstein" with her up-do of twig hair, dangling high heeled boots and pearl necklace? Perhaps she is named after the souvenir ashtray from West Virginia that creates her full lipped smile.

Fascinating and imaginative artwork can be found throughout the garden. Made with repurposed materials like scissors, clothing cast offs, toys, tableware, wheels, gears, broken garden tools, carved wood, teapots and jello molds, these designs enhance the atmosphere of partnership in this garden  between man and nature.

I made the following sketches in a 7x 10" Pro-Art sketchbook with my Micron pen....As in life, no eraser, and I'm serving them up fresh out of the garden before I cook 'em with watercolor and garnish with text.

Actually, my first sketch of the morning was the "Cabbage Patch Boy" with his shiny tea kettle head, overalls and missing b̶u̶n̶n̶y̶  lambie slipper. I nicknamed him after the familiar doll-like shape and the red cabbage patch that grows at his feet. On the same page I drew what seems to be some sort of salmon shaped barracuda mutation with chainsaw spines, an army helmet gullet and a forked tongue. It swims in a bed of lovely pink dahlias, but they have teeth, too!

"The Bride" just wouldn't fit in one piece, so I sketched her twiggy up-do and pearl bedecked gown. Then, I continued with her dangling high heeled boots and nearby accessories of pink cosmos and a purse-shaped wasp trap.

My last two sketches were in the "Garden of the Undead" (again, my nickname, but perhaps this is where perennials grow?). The Zombie Rabbit and aforementioned sartorial gentleman seemed energized by the power lines running through the background. I wonder if they lead to a  plasma-ion generator or perhaps the solar array atop the community building.  (I'm sure there must be a bolt in his neck somewhere.)

All in all, the Bradner P-Patch Garden seems very appropriate for the Emerald City.

The Buoys Near the Boats

Seattle Urban Sketchers brought the sun out again at the Waterfront Activities Center at the University of Washington. In contrast to thunderstorms on Friday and cooler temperatures on Saturday, we found ourselves shedding our layers and searching for shade during our monthly meetup this morning.

I wanted to compare the old shell house with the new one, each located on the shore at opposite ends of the boat launching area. I started with the Conibear Shell House on the north side of the shore. Rather than sketch the buildings, I turned my back to the shell house and chose a view across the lake towards Bellevue. Like a giant bee, a yellow helicopter buzzed through the scene. The floating bridge was closed today and I could see at least three cranes along the stretch visible in the middle distance. As I worked, a man launched a paddle board and set out on his knees for the arboretum, navigating his way between the two orange buoys. Now and then a canoe would emerge from the right, through the lily pads and marsh grass.

Looking east toward Bellevue and the floating bridge under construction.

After finishing my first sketch, I was ready to walk along the shady waterfront path, back towards the Canoe House. It was interesting to see fellow sketchers stationed all along the way, focused on their own particular subjects. Zoom to see larger.

Now on the south end of the water sports area, I walked around the back of the old shell house. Many of the sketchers are in the process of reading "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown, and they wanted to be at the old shell house where the US. Olympic Champions did their training. I finally chose to draw the huge white bouys, specked with rust and tied to a tree.

A very nice couple stopped to ask if they could see what I was drawing. In an amazing coincidence, she turned out to be Helen, one of my former watercolor students out for the day with her photographer husband, David Barnes. They settled nearby to eat their lunch and I continued to draw.

I only had time to get the line work and a few tones in before I noticed it was time to share our sketches. As it turns out, David Barnes kindly agreed to take our group photo.

Color added to the "Buoys near the Boats." Watercolor Field Book by ProArt, Micron pen, watercolor and map collage.

I collaged a map section, showing the two docks; Conibear Shell House (in the red circle at the top of the map) and the Canoe House (in the lower right corner of the map, indicated by my arrow).

Still Catching Up with EDIM

Barely a moment to catch my breath, much less find time to really get into sketching mode today. Lots of family staying with us and obligations to fulfill all over the county. All this required a few trips to our backup pantry for supplies. On one such foray I was reminded of a blank spot in my sketchbook for Day 22 of the (long past) Every Day in May 2015 challenge.

EDIM #22-- something hanging on your wall.

I thought that walnut ink and a steel nib were appropriately brown and pointy for my very quick sketch of the daddy longlegs spider, hanging on the back wall of the pantry.

EDIM 22--something hanging on your wall

One last Chance to see the Sketchbook Project in Seattle-Today from 11-3!

Today is the last day of the Seattle leg of the 2014 Sketchbook Project Tour. The Mobile Library will be at the Olympic Sculpture Park pavilion from 11 am–3 pm

The Mobile Library just before opening on Friday.

A line forms right away. You can check in by smart phone if you like.

The museum has tables and chairs set up under the pavilion roof.

We met this lovely married couple and asked them to pose with their books.

Here I am on Friday, checking out my book. Weather should be great today! Photo by MK Buike

 I went back for three consecutive days to sketch this three page fold out at Jennings Park in Marysville last summer. See the location shot I took while painting it last summer, here.

Update: 9:00 pm Saturday

I get an email notification whenever my book is checked out and viewed. Quite a few this tour. Thanks so much to those who took the time to pick out my book and view it. I trust you enjoyed wandering through my sketches as much as I did making them.

There are three more stops in the tour, one in Chicago and two in Ontario. Then it's back home to the Brooklyn Art Library. 

The Sketchbook Project is a Brooklyn-based, crowd-sourced library of over 32,000 sketchbooks submitted by people of all ages and backgrounds from 135+ countries. Each year the Project takes a portion of that collection out on the road in their Mobile Library which travels with over 4,000 books to visit museums, galleries, and other great spaces across the United States and Canada. Explore the collection or contribute to it while the Sketchbook Project visits the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Monday, August 10, at Sue Roberts' Studio

Approaching Guemes Island landing.

I am so glad that I decided to drive up early for our August 10th Anacortes Sketchers' outing! Missy kindly sent me a message about the rain, in case I wanted to wait until after lunch.

Our plan had been to walk on the 11:30am Guemes Island ferry (a 5 minute ride, sailing every half hour) and sketch on the beach while enjoying our own packed lunch. We had an appointment to visit artist Sue Roberts' studio after 1:00pm. I checked the weather and it looked like the rain would stop after 11:30, so I went early, as planned.

As you can see, it was still a bit overcast when I arrived at 11:15 am, but the rain had already stopped. Then I pulled over immediately after disembarking the ferry! Because here was a sweet little red "Gem" just waiting to be painted!

I thought this was the cutest, most colorful thing I would find on the island and set about sketching it immediately! I used my "perfect sketchbook", Micron pen, and my DYI Altoids Mini watercolor kit.

My sketch of the little red "Gem" parked at the ferry line shelter on Guemes.

I ordered fish and chips at the General Store for lunch. Janice and Bonnie were outside on the patio. What a view! It's right across the street from the ferry landing.  When my order came, the cook offered us an unclaimed order of crab and veggie summer rolls that someone had abandoned in their haste to catch the ferry. It was hard to get those two to wait for just a second while I sketched the crab rolls! Refinements added later.

The cook offered us free crab summer rolls with spicy sauce and ice water.

After sharing our lunch, we took off to visit Sue in her studio. I was wrong about the colorfulness factor! This being my first time at Sue Roberts' Tower Arts Studio, I had no idea what wonders awaited me!

Upstairs is a bedroom, converted from the original studio space overlooking the channel. Sue said it was too distracting. So she moved her major work studio down to the main floor.

Every piece of furniture is a delight to the eye.

I had half a man.....I mean, half a mind to cozy up in the reading nook.

 The beautiful color scheme and ceramic sculptures spill out into the garden and landscape outside.

As you gaze around the studio, there is no end to the imaginative collection of Sue's creations.

Everything is uniquely expressive.

 

If there is an earthquake here, heads will roll!

We got a tour of the studio from top to bottom and all around the grounds. Then we set to work.

So many choices of subject matter, both inside and out!

We tucked a couple of Sue's ceramic pieces in with all our afternoon sketches. Thanks to Annette for climbing to new heights for a great shot!

I stayed as late as I could to finish my sketches inspired by the afternoon at Sue's Tower Arts Studio. Color added at home.

Then, Sue gave us hot crab dip, chips, cool beverages and a homemade chocolate apple cake made just for us by Janice. Yum! Thank you, Sue, for an inspirational, fun and colorful summer retreat!

The Sketchbook Project, Summer and the Olympic Sculpture Park

The Sketchbook Project is coming to Seattle Thursday through Saturday, Aug 13, 14, 15----this week!
Thursday night, from 5:00-8:00pm it's part of the Summer at SAM event with music, a free sketchbook binding and sketching project, food trucks and more! More info here.

Aaaaaand, my sketchbook will be there! #S146463 by Michele Cooper (just one "L") It's in the category, "Wanderer", titled "Not all who Wander are Lost."

I went back three days in a row for this fold out at Jennings park last July. 

My sketchbook has quite a few fold outs, so I didn't have this one digitized. So if you want to see it in person in Seattle, better get on over there! I did a quick page through video here, but you know everything is better in person. :)

Fun with Faux Postage

I accessed my crafty side of the brain today, having a little fun with handmade postcards and pretend postage. Can you guess for which post box this is destined?

So much fun! But I spent all too much time browsing Michael's Art and Craft Store today! NOW what am I going to do with all these rubber stamps!!?

Update: As of Monday, 10:17 pm, this image was "Explored" on my Flickr photo stream with 4,738 views and 70 faves! Whoa!

See it here https://www.flickr.com/photos/49222089@N06/20433333191/in/photostream/

Happy Summer Colors

Have I said how much I love summer? I LOVE SUMMER! I love being able to wear sandals and no jacket and sit outside at night and drink mojitos with fresh mint right out of the garden, listening to the sound of our garden fountain, birds twittering as they bathe in our birdbath and most of all the flowers--they make me happy.

I added some flowers from my garden to the bouquets that I brought home from Schuh Farms yesterday. 

We have three Rose of Sharon trees in our garden, this white one, a pink one and a purple one. 

I took my watercolors out of the studio and had fun with flowers today.

Schuh Farms with Anacortes Sketchers

Gravel crunched underfoot as I opened my car door, a cow mooed and giant sunflowers peeked over the top of a ripe cornfield across the street. Anacortes sketchers met at Schuh Farms this afternoon. Now THIS is summertime in Skagit Valley!

Sunflowers and corn grow across the street as they make fresh peach milkshakes at the coffee stand.

Animal, Vegetable or mineral? Take your pick

We had our pick of subject matter: 1) Fresh fruit and flowers, farm tools, antiques, 2) outdoor subjects like the Radio Flyer made into a planter, 3) One of my classroom models showed up with a "Welcome" sign, 4) "The Kid" and his dog drift around the back corner with a fresh load of dill as Janice simply sketches on.
I was standing in the shade across the parking lot, sketching, taking photos and occasionally dodging cars as they backed out.

Sketcher chics admiring the hens.

My two page spread for the afternoon

A little sketching, a little shopping....load it up and take it home!

Today's haul: three sketches on a full two page spread in my Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook, fresh flowers, a bottle of Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad dressing, fresh corn and a pink Adirondack chair for my little granddaughter. Shhhh! She doesn't know yet.