We keep a nice little jar of shells on the counter in our guest bathroom. I probably should have left well enough alone on this one.
Where do I begin?
Well, let’s start with the perspective. Or lack thereof. I clearly was not standing still, or I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing. Or both.
There is very little definition within the jar between the shells. My wife looked at this and said, “looks like there’s a dead perch in there.” Oh my God, she’s exactly right! Oh my, what have I done?
The background/foreground is just a mess. Just shear sloppiness. Sometimes that works out OK for me, but tonight… well, it didn’t.
Sometimes you can save a sketch. Sometimes you can’t. This one, I’m not even going to try. [Sigh]
Funny. I was just talking with a friend of mine today, saying that I need to learn to take the bad days with the good. So, here’s to Karma, I suppose…
Oh yeah, and even though this one ain’t so hot, I’m still counting it against the Everyday Matters Challenge #207 – Draw a Shell.
Now then… move along. Nothing more to see here.
Wow! this is interesting. I wish i had a better photo to examine. Now, I will have to draw my collection in on the window sill. I have picked them all up from the Beach in Lynn, MA on my own. Some where actually, thrown to me by The Seagulls. Now, that is a wonderful gift. A gift from a Seagull. Do you know the Seagulls will take large shells. Fish a small crab or sea shell creature from the sandy wet beach and then hurl it on to the shell to break it open. A grand breakfast Feast. I love watching them everyday.
Sherrie Roberts
It’s not that bad and I bet it looks better to you in the morning
I always think that of my bad pictures 
Oh thank you so much for cheering my morning – I am sitting here laughing out loud! Now you must surely feel some affection towards this little sketch (dead pearch and all) as it has enabled you to write a wonderful blog and provided a good moment to other people!
Ok, we all get frustrated, and Lord knows rarely does my sketch turn out as I wish. You have me a smile this morning, and we all feel your pain AND this is not a horrid sketch at all, great subtle effects, just not exactly what you wanted, Karma teaches us Much
grasshopper
We’re always hard on ourselves I guess. Your shells look fine. Remember you are doing a sketch, not a perfect rendering. If you want, wait a day or so, then return to the piece. Perhaps some darker values? Or not – You decide. Maybe try one shell instead of the whole bowl with all the complications of shape and shadow.
Pingback: A Candle In A Vase « Jeff’s Blog