Zoo Sketches

It was a surprisingly warm day at San Francisco Zoo: I didn’t even need to keep my gloves on to sketch. It’s a large zoo, and we walked around quite a bit, so I mostly sketched on the go, in a small 6×8 sketchbook with just a fountain pen. Sometimes I added a bit of pastel over the ink drawing and smudged with my fingers for depth and color.

The flamingos always get a color sketch or two when I visit. They’re a fascinating bird to draw with their strange beak and upside down stance. But more importantly, the flamingo pond is right by where you’d break for a meal or a snack. And you can almost always sit in the sun while you draw.

This second flamingo piece is my only watercolor piece from the day: watercolor first on this one, then a bit of line with my Sailor Bent Nib, and last in, gel pen.

Looks like I wasn’t the only one inspired to sketch that day. I love when the kids ask for their sketchbooks. (It doesn’t happen often but I always have extra little books around) I like how simply they capture form and how they selectively add or leave out what they want to. 

Best of all, I love that they just draw and don’t think of it as a special skill you’re born with, a talent you either have or don’t. They draw to record, they draw because it’s fun.