Sketch People

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Elisa Choi

“Sketch People” ink on sketchbook

I love sketching people.
I particularly find comfort to sketch them in private like when they are busy or when their backs are turn on me.
There will be times when I find myself sketching them up front.
I caught their eyes staring at me.
For a moment I feel a wash of shame because they might thought that I am being disrespectful.
But those were just my thoughts.
Because who knows what they were thinking. Maybe they like the idea too.
I pretend to draw something else and wait till they’re not looking again.

Sketching people should be done in a quick manner.
It doesn’t have to be a detailed sketch.
It just needs to capture the essence of a person– actions, expressions, postures, clothes, patterns or things.

Have you tried sketching people? How was your experience? Please do share in the comments below. :)

Living in the New Year

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Elisa Choi

When we are feeling the brokenness in our lives, fragility setting in our bones and holes penetrating our hearts, may we never cease to live.

I was taking a very slow walk last week and noticed these beautiful plants in our garden. Despite the many holes and frailties of its existence, the dried sagging leaves and broken core… they are all alive. Full of colors and strength. Living in the New Year. Beautiful. And I just had to capture them with my pen and paint.

I had been in prayer and fasting for the whole week in participation with our Church. However I committed not to a water only fast but rather a lessening my usual portion in eating. I also fasted on social media and the other pleasures of life.

I PRAY whenever the temptation strikes me to eat desserts or surf the net or be excited with the vanities of the world. And it made me realize how we all crave for fleshy needs. We are so used to it that often we choose to allow these to control our lives.

But then I realize that I can live without it. That though I am missing on the latest news and series they are not a matter of life and death. They are not a necessity of life. I realize that these have been holding me up from using my time wisely.

I pray for all people around the world. I pray for healing of broken hearts and lives. I pray for salvation of those who don’t know God yet. I pray and surrender all that is to come.

I offer to God my faith goals for this year. Thankful for the present and living forward. God’s plans will be a joy to behold. And with Him we can do our mission.

Let us be refreshed in His love.

PPF!

Travel Sketches

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Elisa Choi

I managed to squeeze in some sketching time whenever possible during my travel with family.

Sharing a few quick sketches in pen and watercolor.

A sleepy lady at the airport

View in front of our hotel

waiting for boat ride to Cotai Strip Macau

utensils from grandma’s home at N.P HK

I thank God for this blessed trip! Smile!

PPF!

Painting Day 27: Switch Light and Revelation

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Elisa Choi

I painted this study light called Switch Light at our living room. This is used by my Dad whenever he reads newspaper at night while watching T.V. I often imagine having a Switch Light on my bed side table so that I can read without having to open the main light. But I still manage without it.

I have been thinking a lot about how I can step up in terms of my dreams. But really all I could do right now is to keep creating and practicing my craft. Whenever my mind starts to drift away from the present I feel that I quite lost myself in the process. It’s not like to me to go looking at other people’s progress and then desperately trying to do the same thing they do. That’s not even the meaning of success that I know of in my heart.

We are all designed to do something important in this world. Small thing. Big thing. It doesn’t matter to God. What matters is the intention. The heart. The love that goes with what we do.

I believe that there is always a light at the end of a tunnel. God will reveal to me slowly what He wants me to share in this world.

Painting Day 24: Create Wherever You Are

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Elisa Choi

I bring a small sketchbook with me everywhere I go.
Whenever I had the opportunity to sketch, I sketch.
I use a Pen.
And as you can see there are crooked lines and the stem is out of the bottle.
The bottle itself is out of shape too.
There’s no way I can erase those mistakes.
And it’s perfectly okay.
I use a water brush and the water oozes too much onto the paper. With paint too.
It is a mess and I’m thankful I got some tissues.
The paper is not watercolor paper.
Therefore there were marks beneath the page.

Oooh, how I love times like this.Time to just sketch then paint.

Have a lovely day folks.

Painting Day 22: Painting a Snippet

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Elisa Choi

I pick my brush and paint today then sat on the couch to paint a snippet of a scene: our garden. I use watercolor but I use less water. I think I am in love with dry brush for a while.

I simply want colors to speak about what’s in the scene. No sketches. Just random splatter of colors and shapes here and there.

I hope you have a great day filled with love and optimism!

Do what you love. Love what you do.

Category Archives: Sketched Life