Today's sketch for mural in a process.

Unfinished sketch for mural. Used french watercolor set, not mine, though, screwed up by using white on the top of pans, so a lot of colors could not even move. Here just an idea, lots of water, flowers. Its going to be in the dining room.

Simple life.

I used Kuretake pens, all 3 kinds I have and ink  with H20 brushes. Used 3 inks and 3 languages. It didn't fit in the scanner so its a bit cropped, especially on the top, I left a lot of air above books, but if I try the other way, photomerge, I loose color intensity. But it is not that important, when work is done, I loose interest, almost hate it, the process is what its all about.

Light.

Another page from my drawing diary with plan and sketch. Experimented with Kuretake pens, Blackwing pencil and outlined with Rotring Art pen.

Evening tea.

Simple evening, simple tea, simple sketch with Blackwing pencil and Kuretake Twin pen brush for hint of color.

Couch.

Kept shortening Blackwing pencil by drawing a couch and boots. White pen start fading. Really like how Blackwing pencil gliding on paper. Interesting that the word "gliding" sounds very close to Russian гладить -"to caress". I like having associations in different languages, it helps me to memorize words. This how I know few words on many languages.

Stove.

The best spot in the house is this wood stove. Dogs and I where hanging out there. Drew with Blackwing, trying to shorten it by drawing because when new it doesn't fit into my favorite pencil case. My shorter older one I spontaneously present to someone who was heading to art lesson unprepared. Wrote in Japanese "stove" and my name.

House, sketch from the car.

House. Still too much snow. Parked across on neighbor's property, thankfully he was not there. He is a nice guy, writer.  Drew with Kuretake pens and outline with Rotring Art pen. Sketch of pen bled through from previous page, thin paper.

Brushables.

Brushables - really sweet dual point Kuretake pen brush. Drew it with Kuretake pens over pencil sketches with Palomino pencil.

Winter, not far from Ave T.

I drew it on aged piece of watercolor paper, cut it with my mother's ivory knife. I used sepia ink and green Kuretake H20, and for touches of red Twin Kuretake brush pen. I wanted to show sort of nostalgic feeling, when you appreciate every shadow, every crumb of dirty snow and present always turn into past.

Sketching on Sunday.

Went to Metropolitan Museum with a friend. Saw interesting exhibits: Forbidden Garden, Japanese drawings, Sezanne's "Card players". Was totally charmed by Chinese paintings. My friend got me a present, book " How to read Chinese paintings". We drew a little bit, I set off alarm by leaning too much on tatami when looking at the wall covered by gold leaf tiles and the 17 century screen.  We had late lunch, talked, enjoyed a day, forgot about all our problems.

Autopoint pencil and leads.

Sketched with Palomino pencil and drew over old Autopoint pencil with box of Fineline Thin leads using Kuretake Twin pens. What I like about this antique pencil that is so heavy and massive and the lead is so delicate like thin voice in a big body. On the side it said "for Real Thin lead". Along the body of the pencil is a long sign "The Fourth Nat'l Bank-Wichita, Kansas". Sweet.

Glazing in the kitchen.

I did glazing in the kitchen for my friends. I was really happy to do something for my friends who were so kind to me over years. Came home at 130 in the morning. It was fun to eat sandwiches sitting on the step and chatting in unfinished house.

Expression of disapproval.

My best critic.

Lykke Li song.

I follow rivers, Lykke Li.

Questions about my Wyvern Smokers pencil.

"The pocket clip is in a beautiful Art Deco design.
The top of the pencil is used as a pipe bowl packer.  Inside there is a stem which is used for loosening tobacco and clearing tobacco from the bowl.
The stem makes an ideal cigar piercer."

This what I got from other websites. I cleaned insides with needle and cleared a way. I can't disassemble it. I tried different size lead, nothing works properly. Pretty short lead way. 
1.18 mm is too thick.
0.9 mm is too thin.
Eversharp Red Top fits the best, but still too loose and falling out. I am not sure what size is Eversharp Red Top. 
What should I do to find the right lead? It says Pat. 472380 , Wyvern Smokers pencil, Made in England.