Punt is a Fall Word

Our Monday sketch group met this week in Old Town in Chicago. It was a beautiful day in a picturesque spot! When I arrived at our designated meeting spot I was early but decided to start sketching right away. Stool? Check. Palette? Check. Brushes? Check. Sketchbook? Sketchbook? Um sketchbook? Good thing Old Town is known for its great shops as well as its charm. I ducked into a little card shop. On the door was a sign that read "Civility isn't a sign of weakness".  I knew I'd find something I'd like in there and I did.

 I picked up a pad of Italian writing paper that had a nice weight and hand but wasn't too pricey. It took the paint without too much buckling. I'll put the rest of the paper to use for some pen and ink sketches.  All in all it was a very good afternoon.

Thanking Frank

These are little sketches done at our recent USk Chicago meet. So much to see and so much to take in, I opted to sketch some of the details on the Chicago Avenue side of his home and studio. The first is one of the sculptures above the walkway to the hidden door. The second is of the tourists and the reliefs that line the walkway.  I walked across the street for a closer view for  third sketch. It's a detail of the reliefs – the repeated stork motif and lastly a rough rendition of the logo.

Now I must go back to Oak Park and actually sketch Wright's glorious buildings! There was so much to take in at once.  In a five block area there are about seven houses designed or remodeled by Wright. What a feast for the eyes and imagination. The overall feeling of his work is monumental but his attention to detail is what really amazed me. It was a quite a day!

Back to the Bean

Literally…our Monday sketch group met at the Bean in Millennium Park this week and I did this watercolor with my back to the sculpture. I've sketch there quite a few times this summer so this time I chose a different point of view. 

It was a gorgeous day, an early taste of fall, cool, sunny and delightful!

Taken by Surprise!

Last night my painting "Possibilities" received second place in the Illinois Watercolor Society's national juried show "Small Waters"!

The show, which is at the Oak Park Art League, was juried by Suzanne Hetzel. I was honored by her kind words. Actually, I was thrilled! Can you tell?