Blog 2
Before I write about my February trials and triumphs, here are the two images from the last two days of January.
When I started the snow-covered fence post, I assumed it would be an easy painting. I was mistaken. It took me a long time to capture the movement in the snow.
The comic drawing was inspired by my Cartooning and Comics class at François Dupuis Recreation Centre on Saturday. I presented Calvin and Hobbes to the students. None of the 8- to 12-year-olds had ever heard of the two characters, but had fun drawing them. With my image, I wanted to demonstrate how you can easily transform a character by changing the hair and clothes. I named my characters Alvina and Hupps.
I am proud of myself for sticking to my personal challenge of painting or drawing in my sketchbook every day. My plan for February was to create only one or two subjects each week, starting with a 10-minute sketch, and then adding ten minutes every day.
However, I adjusted my plan slightly. When I started my first drawing of the month, I drew walnuts for 15 minutes. For the next two days, I added 15 minutes each day. I kept the time constant for the first two days. However, depending on the subject, I spent up to 90 minutes on the third image. As February 1 fell on a Sunday, I created artworks of two subjects each week, followed by a drawing of the characters of the Saturday Cartooning and Comics class I taught.
Here are the collages of my February sketchbook paintings and drawings.
February 1 - 3: Walnuts
I experimented with different drawing materials. I started with an HB pencil drawing on the first day. On the second day, I used coloured pencils, and on the third day, I used watercolour pencils and a water brush.
February 4 – 6: Avocados
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I chose coloured drawings for my avocados. For the first drawing, I used watercolour pencils, but didn’t add water, which makes them look like regular coloured pencils. On the second day, I used coloured pencils. but had more time for added layers and shadows. For the final image, I used watercolour pencils again and water with a water brush to achieve the look of a watercolour painting.
February7: Stevie and Mimi, inspired by Minecraft characters, markers
Drawing Minecraft-inspired characters is a challenge each time because I struggle with the perspective of the block-shaped characters. I adapted the characters to demonstrate to my students how some simple changes can create different, more unique characters.
February 8 - 10: Red pepper
I used watercolour pencils for all three drawings. However, you can still see that I started with an HB pencil line drawing for the first pepper. Each day, I added more layers and details to the drawing. On the third day, I also used a water brush for watercolour effects.
February 11 - 13: First tulip
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I used the same approach for drawing the tulip from the first tulip bouquet I brought home this year. I doubled the time from day 2 to day 3. I had time to add additional blooms.
February 14: Valentine’s Day cats
I outlined my Valentine’s cats in my sketchbook while the children in my class drew cards for their parents. I usually don’t get far with my drawings during class because I observe my students’ progress, admiring the children’s art and encouraging them to tell a story with their drawing by adding additional characters and scenery. Usually, I finish my drawing at home.
February 15 - 17: Open tulip bloom
Drawing the open tulip from the bouquet at its prime proved challenging because I wanted to fill the page, even though the flower would have looked better on a square piece of paper. On the first day, I only had time for a line drawing with an HB pencil because I attempted to capture the many details of the bloom.
On the second day, I used watercolour pencils but ran out of time before I could add more details to the middle of the bloom and any leaves.
Therefore, I tripled the time on the third day and added water with a water brush after I finished drawing the tulip. I even added a wash of watercolour to some of the leaves because I was unsatisfied with the greens I had achieved with the pencils.
February 18 - 20: Shell, with added rocks on Days 19 and 20
The most challenging subject was the shell with its spiky edges. It was also the only time I didn’t use a reference photo. Instead, I had put the shell and rocks next to me on the desk. On the first day, the drawing hardly filled half the page. Therefore, I added two small rocks on the following days, which still left me with a lot of white space.
On the third day, I couldn’t use the still life setup because I wanted to draw earlier in the day, and there were hardly any shadows. Therefore, I used a photo I had taken of the setup. As a result, it was easier to create a bigger shell, but the perspective of the objects in the photo varied from the original setup. Again, I struggled to position the shell and the rocks on my paper. Ultimately, I didn’t have enough space for the stones.
Working from a still-life setup challenges your senses more because you look at a three-dimensional object that you have to capture in a two-dimensional form on your paper, creating the illusion of a three-dimensional object. However, working from reference photos has the advantage that you can refer to the image without variations in light or position of the objects.
February 21: Pete and Sally, inspired by Patrick from SpongeBob, coloured pencils and permanent marker
Creating a female counterpart to Patrick from SpongeBob was delightful. I demonstrated to the children how adding dark outlines can make the characters pop on the paper.
February 22 - 24: Red-pink tulips
When a friend brought me a new bouquet of tulips, I knew right away that they would be my next subject. At the end of winter, tulips help me bring a bit of spring inside. On the first two days, I used coloured pencils. I added a lot of detail to the first fulip, even though I only had 15 minutes for the drawing. However, I only covered half of the page.
Therefore, I added two additional tulips to my drawing on the following days. Despite doubling the time, they lack the brilliance of colour because I didn’t have enough time to add more layers. I usually start my drawings and watercolour paintings very light and intensify the colours by adding more layers. Therefore, on the third day, I allowed myself additional time after the first 45 minutes had passed. It took me 90 minutes to finish the third drawing. I added water to most areas of the drawing with a water brush.
February 25 - 27: Female Cardinal
After a female cardinal looked at me when I entered the kitchen on the morning of February 25, I felt like a sign to draw this Monday Motivation photo as the last three-day project of the month.
Tomorrow, I will create a drawing of Shadow the Hedgehog, a request from the participants of the Cartooning and Comics course at François Dupuis Recreation Centre in Orleans, ON. I will post the image at the beginning of my March blog on March 27, 2026.
I will continue with the same format for March. However, at the end of the month, I have to overcome the first hurdle when one of my friends comes for a two-week visit. Hopefully, my practice will have become a habit by then, to help me persevere.
Do you want to learn something new in March? I invite you to my new German Language & Culture workshops.
These one-hour online workshops are open to all levels. You don’t need to speak any German to participate. Curiosity is enough! Each session combines cultural conversation with a playfully creative element: we draw new vocabulary to help remember words in a visual, fun way.
In March, we will discuss spring traditions in your country and Germany, including Easter (Ostern), Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht), and Dance into May (Tanz in den Mai).
German Language & Culture: Spring Traditions
March 14, 2026
noon (ET)
CAN $5
Please go here for more information and registration.
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