Sunday, January 02, 2011

a peek inside my sketchbook

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If your haven't already guessed (by my snowy pics in a previous post) I have been in Colorado for the second half of my holiday vacation visiting family. A couple of days ago we were lucky enough to see the King Tut Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum (still remains one of my favorite museums out there).


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Despite a snow storm and having to battle crowds, the exhibit was really amazing, beautiful and inspiring- it was like walking into a tomb full of treasure!


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Unfortunately (for me) photography was prohibited (understandable) and no sketching was allowed- which is always my back up plan when I can't take photos. I could hardly stand it because typically when visiting a museum I take notes, jot down ideas and sketch out things that inspire me and then use these ideas in my sketchbook.


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Luckily my mother in law had a pad of paper and pen in her purse and I was "secretly" able to get some loose notes and ideas down on paper. I used these notes in combo with a little internet research when we got back to the house and went to work in my sketchbook.

Here is a peek inside my King Tut inspired sketchbook pages...


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38 comments:

Lisa Rydin Erickson said...

How stunning!!!

Looks like you drank it all in and it became alive again in your notebook!

kitty said...

Verrry niiiiccee, Alisa. Are they done w/markers or WC?

Moois van mie said...

your sketchbook is amazing ! I'm always very impressed if you show us pictures of it !

Tyggereye said...

ACK!! I'm so jealous!! Lucky duck! I've been wanting to go see that forever. I have been reading and watching documentaries about King Tut ever since studying Egyptian art recently in my art history class. I did a drawing in my moleskine too.

My king Tut

Your pages are amazing!

Judith said...

wow! wow! wow!
It's amazing!

NANCY LEFKO said...

Totally gorgeous. I wish the exhibit would come to the Boston MFA. My youngest is crazy about all things Egyptian. He was King Tut for Halloween @ age 4. I made him a Tut death mask headress and all the pharoah trimmings. I really enjoyed your pages...what a wonderful memento of your visit. Thanks for sharing.

Blondi Blathers said...

Your sketchbook would make a gorgeous coffee table book.

Eden said...

I can understand about the NO PHOTOs...but Geez, they wouldn't even let you sketch!!! Oh-evie!!! Glad you are clever and got some decent sketches in anyway!! Love the way you colored them in! I'd love to see that exhibit too!! When I was 20 I could've seen it years ago, and I thought it would be boring....what did I know???

OrangeFarmhouse / www.moodkids.nl said...

i would love to Find your sketchbook on THE street and see all THE pages befor I turn it in... ;-)

Michelle Frae Cummings said...

beautiful! I do the same thing when I go to museums. Although last year for Mothers day at the Getty, i just took a lot of photo's to paint for later. I live near laguna Beach, another great place full of rich art and museums.

Barb said...

These are fantastic! I can't wait till April when I get to go see the display in St Paul! I knew about not taking photos, but was hoping to take a sketch book. Bummer....

ABCcreativity said...

Awesome!

I went to Egypt last winter... it was so mindblowing to see how many ancient artifacts are in such amazing condition. So inspiring.

cjaxon said...

My daughter is in love with everything Egyptian, mummy, and scarab. We love these pages!

Tracie said...

mmmmm beautiful Alisa! How fortunate you were to have seen the exhibit! I'm obsessed by all things Egyptian...just yesterday I was sketching some Egyptian things after looking at a gorgeous book of mythology.

Judy Merrill-Smith said...

I love your pages! It does seem cruel not to let you sketch -- I suppose they're worried that your sketching will block the flow of people through the exhibit, but still! I'm glad you got to scribble a bit, anyway.

Ariadne said...

Your sketches are absolutely beautiful,the colours fantastic!
Ariadne from Greece
http://AriadnefromGreece.blogspot.com

HollyM said...

Wow, the one of the head is amazing! I saw that exhibit about 30 years ago in New York. I loved it too.

debra cooper said...

We just saw that same exhibit the day after thanksgiving and were completely blown away. The kids and I have been studying egypt for a while but I was completely unprepared for how powerful seeing these beautiful objects in person would effect us. The intricacy of the jewelry, the painted wood still intact...it was mindblowing! I totally didn't understand the sketching ban unless it was just to see to keep the traffic flowing. I was shocked at the number of people waiting in line the day after a holiday! Your sketches really bring back all that beauty!

Janet Ghio said...

Beautiful drawings. I wonder why they didn't allow sketching?

Cassie Shella said...

Love the colors, they are so vibrant. I'm curious as to why they wouldn't even allow sketching at an exhibit that is of historical significance? I'm glad you got to get some things on paper anyways, gotta love prepared mother-n-laws:)

Lindy and Paul said...

Wow, would LOVE to see that exhibit someday! Your sketchbook pages reflecting it are FANTASTIC! Thanks for sharing.

Vanssmomc said...

Your sketches are truly amazing, you are so talented!!

Anonymous said...

Your sketchbook fascinates me! We went to the King Tut exhibit in San Fran a few summers ago. It was amazing. Your sketchbook captures it all so vividly, like I remember it.

katemade designs said...

Your work is gorgeous. My son walked in as I was looking at your sketchbook and I heard, "WOW!" over my shoulder. It's official our family loves your work.

Anonymous said...

Your work has inspired me to go play with my watercolours again!! Lovely! I understand why they wouldn't let people sketch - I've been to exhibitions where the sketchers blocked anyone else's view - not that YOU would have done that! Still, it means a different type of processing than being able to sketch on the spot, and that's sometimes good, too...

Yael said...

Those journal drawings are just MARVELOUS!!!!

Maya Kuzman said...

Every single page is a breath-taker!

iHanna said...

Beautiful sketches! The golden coffin is awesome, I saw the real one in Egypt when I was there among with his treasures!

anna maria said...

Wow, what a sketchbook! I don't think I've ever seen your sketches before, they are fantastic!

Anne-Laure said...

Wonderful colors and subject ! I was wondering when you would show us again several pages of your sketchbook!

Since you made me want to sketch again, I would like to share with you this photo of my "photodiary" :
http://www.annelaurejacquart.com/photodiary_projets-2011-observations-nature_5901

Thanks for inspiration!

brlracincwgrl said...

These are stunning!

You did an amazing job!

denice@inkstitch said...

Alisa you sketchbook peeks are always some of my favorite posts. Thank you for sharing!

Stacey said...

I love your sketchbook.

Anonymous said...

How is it that the pages in your sketchbook do not buckle when you have used watercolor......

Lisa said...

gorgeous! I wish I could just whip up a sketch or two like that!

Rachel said...

Bummer I was hoping for pictures! It is understandable though... I guess... darn it. Love your sketchbook though.. you rebel!

cookjessia77 said...

Just wanting to say thank you for your vimeo...find your inspiration. It's a great inspiration to go find it.

jabbott said...

Your work is so good, you have a good illustrative style you could do childrens books

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