Parking Lot Vines

The only nature sketching I've been privileged to do lately is sketching some overgrown brush and vines at the edge of a parking lot. I've sketched it a number of times already and these are my two favorite sketches. At first, I thought it would be a very mundane subject, but I've come to see now that there is more life there than meets the eye. Just the other day I saw a female cardinal hopping around.  
©2012 Carolyn A Pappas, 8-17-12 Nature Sketch. Pen and ink in 6 x 7.5 inch sketchbook.  
©2012 Carolyn A Pappas, 9-5-12 Nature Sketch. Pen and ink in 6 x 7.5 inch sketchbook.

Drawing Vines - Carolyn Pappas

I bought some new pens recently, and I went outside this morning to try them out by drawing some vines. I was using Copic drawing pens which are disposable fountain pens with metal nibs. These pens aren't waterproof, which isn't a big deal for me at all, but I had a hard time using these pens. The ink would just stop flowing at random moments and certain parts of the paper would become marred because I had to go over it multiple times to make a mark. It's too bad really, because it was so nice outside and I'm sure I would have had more fun sketching if I had a better pen in my hand. On the other hand, I'm glad I got a chance to get outside at all though, because it is supposed to rain here all next week.