Introducing the 30 min sketch series!

If you've been reading my posts lately you'll know that I've been trying to draw an owl for a few weeks now.  My most recent attempt has been the best (thank you Brenda Hoddinott!), but I'm finding that lately I just don't have the time I want to work on a finished piece right now.  Summer's almost here and the kids will be home more, more vacation times, more house chores, plus I am in the middle of other projects that are due to be complete soon, etc.  So what can I do to keep my creative side at work that isn't as daunting as a full-fledged finished piece?  30 minute sketches!!

I came up with this not-so-original idea while reading through the Artist's Guide to Sketching.  I can do field studies (drawing outside), which I've always wanted to do, and I can expand on it by trying out different mediums like ink, pencil crayon, heck even taking the paints outside!  I am very excited by this idea and I have already begun.  The following are the sketches I managed in 30 min in pen and ink from my backyard.

Partial shed with poppies - note the poor perspective (apologies for the image quality - I can't seem to get it in landscape format)

Nectarine tree with fruits, columbine flowers, smoke bush.