Should we keep the LIFE SKETCHES thread or should we put it on hold for now .. its hard to get volunteers for a list of items .. I know everyone has a hard time coming up with what to put on the list as most items seem to be used already .. should we put this on hold for now ?

Venus and I are coming up with two new threads .. one on cartoons and one on animals ...I have no problem running two even more threads as long as the interest is still there .

If you're having trouble coming up with lists, why not just shorten them a bit?

I agree, I haven't participate at all but, it depends on how people feel. Glad to hear about two other treads.

Personally, I enjoy the life sketching thread. I haven't been participating as much recently, but as my life settles down I am having more free time again.

Here's a fun tool for expanding lists of things: http://labs.google.com/sets

Feed it a list of 5 things and it will return a list of 15 or more items in a similar grouping.

Here's what they do on another website.

They take their life sketches and try to see how many they can incorporate into a pleasant composition.

Example: If this is the list:

Teddy Bear
Lamp
Table
Coffee Cup
Computer
Pencil
Paper
Book
Rug
Pillow

You might take the Coffee Cup and Place it next to the computer with a pencil laying next to it.

You might take the Teddy Bear and lean him against a pillow or a lamp on a table by a book.

Get It?

Just another suggeston if you want to keep it going. It most definitely is a challenge to not just draw the items but to make a pleasing composition of them.

as long as we can keep this going I am good with that .. i got a list from Darus and cyn .. but we are about to end up on page 2 and I fear we wont be seen on the next page .

Personally I am for keeping it. I think sketching from life is essential if we are to progress in all the required skills. It's one thing to follow a reference when it's so easy to build a grid if you're having trouble and quite another thing really exercising your eyes and putting that right side of the brain to work as you would have to in drawing from life.

What I suggest is that we keep it open. Just have a drawing from life thread without a specific list. Anyone who sketches something from life could just post it there and I do suggest that all of us should draw from life, as against from photographic reference or imagination at least once a week although the thread itself need not be started every week... it could be a monthly thread.

I like Roses idea. I tend to forget what is on the list, then don't feel like I can post the sketching that I did do. Of course the list is motivating also. My husband says a list of alphabet items
Week A
apple
acorn
airplane
acorn squash
alligator
ant
artichoke
ax
automobile
ambulance
abacus
asparagus
alto saxophone
ATM
apricot
apple sauce
ape
accessories
aquarium
accordion
acetylene torch
arbor
aspirin
adams apple
adze
and the best part if you find your own "A" item you can sketch it and send it in. Anyone up for B??
Paulette

I like Paulettes Idea to draw things starting with letter A in first week, letter B next, .. etc.

And I love this thread "Painting from life". I am new here and posted only less there til now, but it will change I think.

Or you shorten the list, as s.o. said before. A question - can everyone make suggestions for a list?

ok well we will be keeping it ....and I think I like the idea of giving a list yet I like roses idea of just sketching what you like and posting it . so how about we give like 8 items ...maybe even only 5 and then have open sketch so they can choose their own item .. or two lol ...and to keep this thread on the page we need to keep coming back to it checking out what was posted and comment ....so tonight I will use some of the ideas and put together a list ...thanks you guys for the support and help new thread starts tomorrow so look for it

If you need some ideas for a list, I have some ideas. So let me know if you need them.

Such as I think that the lists should have a wide variety of items ranging in difficulty and most of them should be easy to find and it wouldn't be a bad idea for having something outside, although that might be a problem for some people if there is bad weather so it could be something viewable from a window like a lamp post or a fire hydrant.

those are good ideas .. thank you .. i will use some of them .. matter of fact i will use them when I run out of list so far i have darus and cyn who volunterred a list for me . thank you so much hun .

B List

Bread

Bakery items (he he he yep it's cheatin)

Balls

Broken items

Babies(human,animal,reptile, etc.)

Bed (made or unmade)

Bath Tub

Bath Room( I have sat in the floor in my hallway for a quick sketch of the br for working on perspective)

Bath Tub

Bulbs ( from light to flower bulbs)

Broom

Boy

Bahamas (if you are lucky ebough for a vacation)

Bridal accesories from your wedding (keep sakes)

Blue stuff (ok I was reaching)

Birds (pets or those that visit your feeder)

Bat houses (if you are lucky enough to have one)





Hmm I'll edit and add more later







I always miss the A list LMAO


C List

Cat
Closet
Cleaning Items (fluids rags etc.)
Cloves
Cling Wrap( crumple up into a ball and sketch)
Climbers ( Vines or flowers that climb a trellis or other item / Did my hillbillieness just show or are they not called climbers & creepers? LOL)
Chest
Clock
Calamity ( for those brave enough to show a mess made by children, dogs, cats, etc.)
Cords (phone, blinds, computer, curtain ties, even guitar "chords" )
Curtains
Chemicals ( a bottle of Windex, Bug Spray, anything chemical sittin in your garage or under the sink)


Kim if ya want more specifics you could go with scintific flower names or just their every day names??? I'm sure most of us have flowers or weeds

hey pammy-- how have you been? glad to see you or hear from you again. welcome back
Lori

Hi Lori! I had pc problems but am back now

thanks for all the help ... i will keep this htread and use some of the ideas ... you have all been a big help .

now can you help me with the gone wild thread .. no one is drawing lol

Kim hun I just say give it more time. People are probably just busy. I think its a great thread. I already submitted one picture and I do plan to work on the deer one after I finish my current picture. I am even thinking of doing the deer in water colors not pencils either, I just feel like painting which I haven't done in a while.