Character sketch for a book I am playing with...

This is a little kid character, meeting the second character of the story. I've been working on the story for about two years, but not continuously. I've drawn this main character probably 1000 times by now. And I really feel like I know him, now. This is a quick sketch, 2 minutes, probably, and it was drawn with a pencil and about 10 inches tall.
-- Ruth McNally Barshaw

Summer Exploring

Over here dreaming about lazy summer days, exploring, catching tadpoles - you know, the good stuff!

A little side eye?

I can't help but love the attitude cardinals exude. When they're around, you better behave!

The Middle

Hairstylist Appreciation Day!

Spring is here!

It's Spring!
Warm temperatures turn our attention to baseball and gardening and sunshine and sketching outside. :)
-- Ruth McNally Barshaw

Happy Easter!

A little chick getting in on the fun. Have a great day!

The Beginning

Sweet Spring Bees

Martha Sue and Helen, taking a mid-morning break from buzzing around, up on Helen's backyard deck for a little visit, and then this happened.

Happy Little Gnome

A happy little gnome for your Friday.

Have a lovely weekend!

-Joy

100 dogs

I was asked to draw a dog for a book. So I decided to draw 100, just to make sure I got the right one down on paper. Then I decided to make it 200 dogs. Here are the first 10:

Maybe cats will get a shot next -- millions of cats. ;)

-- Ruth McNally Barshaw

Characters popping around!

A peek at my desk top. The bear has been around for a while... wonder how he feels about this new character moving in.

National Pet Day Celebration

Sharina is celebrating National Pet Day and also School Librarians' Day since that is what she will be one day.

Setting

This sketch is for a picture book dummy. I'm working out a setting and my main characters in it.

bears

Just some bears hanging around.

Pinata Day is coming...

yikes. thought the happy little piñata. i'm outta here.

Today's sketchbook pages

Today Charlie and I visited our grandson Nick, age 4. The weather was sunny and warm-ish (low 50s) and Nick couldn't wait to get out to the sandbox. And I couldn't wait to start sketching him.

-- Ruth Barshaw