Sketchbook art

This year I've spent a lot of my time in between multiple sketchbooks, playing around with watercolor, pencil, and gel pens. 

I leaned heavily into surf art and making my characters look more realistic and three-dimensional. I read a book about Leonardo da Vinci, and his illusion of depth stuck with me. 

Relievo - a technique in which figures look solid as if they will jump off the canvas. Leonardo used shadow, light, and perspective to achieve that. 

So I have been trying to incorporate it more into my art. I started painting with more light and shadow and practicing drawing in different perspectives. 

At the end of the year, I attended life drawing workshops and learned to draw faster and more efficiently. It translates so well when drawing surfers and different turns. 

I have learned a lot this year, and I can honestly say that all those hours of practice I've put into my sketchbooks have improved my art so much and helped me bring my ideas to life. 

Lara Mercedes xo