Summer is in full blast here and I would not mind spending my entire days in water, cold water that is. How happy I am to have picked swimming again last Fall!!
It reminds me too of my youth in The Netherlands and growing up in a little village there…summer was almost literally spent in the water at the local outdoor pool which was the centre of the universe all summer vacation! And outings were often to lakes or seasides: more swimming!
This drawing also reminds me of those beautiful informative posters hanging in our class rooms with fetching titles like: “What lives in this pond” or ” What swims in the North Sea”. Usually those posters got more attention from me than the teachers…
Some studies of swimming people.
Love and Liefs, Johanna
I like water tooooo!
;o)
I love your sketches. 🙂 I learned to swim in a brook in the mountains. As kids, we moved rocks from where the water flowed down the mountain and piled them up on the other side to try and make the water pool deeper. It worked pretty well, and that was where I learned to swim. 🙂
The Netherlands is the country of canals everywhere, swimming was mandatory at school in my time…before school on your bike to the outdoor pool…really cold! My sons learned to swim before they were 6 years. Your childhood memory sounds so idyllic! And I ma happy you love my work!
Your sketches made me want to begin figure drawing all over again. When we were taught to draw figures it was by using a live model in class and measuring with arms out stretched and a pencil in our hands. It seems to me that you are using cones and circles to draw this well. What is this process or method called? I want to learn to draw in that way.
Ginene
I do not know how this method is called. I learned to draw like that from the start, find the shapes in real and negative spaces and start sketching there. There a lots of online lessons , also on youtube. If you google around, I think you will lots you like! With your eye for beauty, I would love to see work by you!
Hi Johanna,
I love that sketch! It’s ever so enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.
Take care,
Pit
That is great to hear Pit, thanks!
I love your swimming people and your happy fish. Stay cool! it’s hot here, too, but I don’t mind it so much.
Well, I say, there is always someone happy: you in the heat and me come Fall again ;o) I am happy you like my drawings!
So fun. But he’s “gonna need a bigger boat!” 🙂
Did not fit in my sketchbook, but I might draw him again separately. ;o)
Beautiful sketches! I also grew up swimming in the local pool – we had a season pass and we were there in the morning for swim lessons and the afternoons (free babysitting for my mom). So fun! Still love the water, but now it’s mostly on a kayak.
The Netherlands is the country of canals everywhere, swimming was mandatory at school in my time…before school on your bike to the outdoor pool…really cold! And yes, I think my mom was very happy with the pool too ;o) My sons learned to swim before they were 6 years. I used to canoe and loved it. And I am happy you love my work!
Such fun! I could use a good dip in a pool right about now 🙂
Since you are in Cincy, you know ;o) But you grew up here, so you probably whine a lot less than I do ;o)
Love the smiley fish at the bottom (not the blue one, the other one). Aahh, yes, hot summer days and swimming…it’s been many years…I was never able to learn to dive properly…always ended up doing the belly-whack…ouch!! But I had fun trying. Enjoy your swiming, Jo. 🙂
ouch, belly wack!!! That little fish is intriguing. I love that shape but when I try to draw it larger, I cannot get ‘right’ . I will keep playing with it, I wan tto use for a collage.
At the moment all our swimming is happening indoors but we’re all looking forward to summer returning and all trotting down to the beach 🙂
How I miss the beach! But I must admit, even in The Netherlands I enjoyed the beach most in fall/winter…that is not for swimming of course ;o)
…so nice and fresh, and the swimmers, quite masterly!
That is a great compliment, coming from an artist like yourself!!!
I find it so interesting to see how your sketches begin and develop–like you’re sort of playing and exploring and seeing what works.
That is true, i find that this sketchbook project does encourage me to play and explore becuase it doesn’t have to be ‘right’ . You are a remarkable observer Kerry!
Delightful Johanna-absolutely delightful! Like you, many of my summers growing up were spent around water-many family vacations were spent at the lake or the river and then there was the neighborhood pool. Your drawing with its fanciful fish and sea creatures brought back a lot of happy memories. And I can think of two dogs who would love to be in that fishing boat–“helping”–of course! 🙂
Your dogs like the water? Only on very hot days will Charley walk in a river. I used to have a Jack Russell terrier Brit, she loved the water so much, both swimming and canoeing that I had a real life jacket for her. She also hiked in the mountains with me and was my colleague when I worked as a child therapist. And after her retirement she ‘adopted’ and raised Charley as a puppy. She was 18 when she passed away…Charley cried and searched for her for weeks. Sigh…they stay in your soul right? xoxox
Wonderful work, as always. Your sketches bring such a bright note to my day.
Thank you xoxoxo
I don’t like being in water even on a hot day; I’d much rather be on dry land! But I do love your swimmers and the dear fish!
Thank you Clare!
So lovely post again, Johann! Full of summer and nostalgia. 🙂
And yet, I so love water.
I know how unbelievable it may seem, because Estonia is so near to the sea and I’ve spent my last five summers in little island, but I can’t swim!
I have no clue where one A from your name disappeared. 😀
Oh Hanna, not able to swim!! The Netherlands is the country of canals everywhere, swimming was mandatory at school in my time…before school on your bike to the outdoor pool…really cold! Dear hanna, learn to swim, it’s so dangered not to and if you love water, it will make you very happy! And I am happy you love my work!
I always love how much movement there is in your sketches 🙂 Stay cool! xx
Thnak you so much!!!
Love your sketches, particularly the man in the boat with all the sea life below.
Thank you!!!
What happy fish you have there and they don’t seem to mind someone swimming in their pond. Funny how this had an almost Asian feel to me. Maybe it’s the man in his boat and the lily pads.
Well observed: I love the fishes on ancient Japanese block prints and water colors and learned drawing fishes like those! The boat and fisher however is from a photo I took last year in Colorado ;o) I am always so pleased that you look so carefully with such pleasure at my work, Marlene xoxxo
Thank you. I do notice good work. I have no artistic talent myself but certain appreciate it. 🙂
xo
This is just a page in your sketchbook. I love it. If I was a child looking at this, I wouldn’t leave the page–all the under water activity–enticing. I wish I learned about the creatures in the North Sea.
My teachers were less happy with my daydreaming at those posters ;o) And thank you for your incredible compliment!! xoxox
Wonderful sketches, Johanna! Swimming in natural bodies of water in the summer, such as at the lake, is among my favourite activities. Swimming gives me a sense of fun and freedom that your drawings really seem to capture. Take care! Xoxo
I am so happy that my sketches captured your happy feelings! xoxoxo
I found out way too late in life, but not too late thankfully, that I adore water! I cannot pass a puddle, stream, rainfull, river, lake, or ocean without getting into it 🙂
Your sketches bring a smile to my face every time I see them
Thank you Laurie!! xo