Chicago's Chagall Oasis

Chase Plaza, Chicago

It was a beautiful day in Chicago today. I sat in Chase Plaza with a couple of other Chicago Urban Sketchers and was taken by the color and texture of the garden. It almost over powered the Chagall mural. You can see a hint of it here, peaking out among the trees. The plaza is a beautiful oasis in a bustling city.

Of course, I can't sketch the city without a few quick reminders of the endless cast of characters that add so much to the city's story.

360° and 365 Days a Year!

Recently I was discussing my favorite places to draw in Chicago, places that I return to and sketch at least once a year. I have quite a few! It dawned on me, I also have favorite things that I draw over and over again. The Hancock Tower is one of them.

Northwestly view from Olive Park

The Hancock Tower is the fourth tallest building in Chicago and surely one of the city's architectural icons. I don't know if it's one of my favorite building to draw, but from the number of times I've sketched it, it sure calls out to me. Though sometimes it plays hide-and-seek, it's always there for me to draw.

It's my directional beacon. It's also my neighbor, greeting me when I look out the window.

Looking East

Good morning, Chicago!

It's always there, calling me home.

Seasoned Seasons

The Newberry Library, Chicago

Where has summer gone? This is a quick sketch of the Newberry Library from Washington Sq. Park in Chicago. I walk through this park often. I think I've sketched there in every season. Every corner gives you a totally different Chicago vibe, skyscrapers, quaint townhouses, highrise condos, traffic, bikes, the homeless, the wealthy and always dogs and squirrels!

What simple graces will autumn bring for me to discover and sketch?

How to Choose a Model for Sketching

Saturday was Worldwide SketchCrawl. It was also the regular gathering of Urban Sketchers – Chicago. We originally planned to meet at Cloud Gate, (a.k.a. The Bean) Anish Kapoor's iconic sculpture in Millennium Park. Chicago's weather being what it is forced us indoors at the Chicago Cultural Center on the other side of Michigan Avenue. 

There is so much going on at the center that it's hard to focus. After viewing two art exhibits on display I settled down in the center section on the first floor. Despite the glorious mosaics and architecture, I was pulled toward the floral arrangement that added a touch of spring to my tired-of-winter-gray eyes. Then Jodie, another USk–Chicago sketcher, came along and sat next to the flowers and began to sketch. Perfect! That settled it, two lovely subjects to sketch that weren't going to move for a while! Just before it was time to reassemble as a group in the main lobby, Mary Beth came along and sat on the other side of the table. I managed just a quick sketch of her. 

Thanks to Alex Zonis, here's a panorama of the motley crew.

Sketching a Bird's Eye View

What a glorious afternoon! Thanks to Carole Hennessy, the Illinois Artisans, our Monday sketching group had the opportunity to sketch in the Cook County Law Library in the Daley Center. The views were magnificent, so magnificent in fact that I abandoned my usual people mode and went for the vista. The colors of Lake Michigan were almost like the Caribbean and the variety of architecture was overwhelming. I wish I could have sketched the smell of being surrounded by books. It added a cozy feel to the wild blue yonder.

Since it was a library we curbed our usual chattiness. Interestingly, we all got a lot more sketching done. What fun a day!

Down by the Riverside, Urban Style

DuSable Bridge-Michigan Ave.

This is a quick sketch I did last Saturday while waiting for the water taxi. I was headed to Chinatown to meet up with Urban Sketchers-Chicago. I love the mad rush to get as much done as you can and not knowing when you'll run out of time. There's no  time for fussiness,  just see, scribble, and paint, see, scribble, and paint some more! This was about ten minutes and I did punch up the color a bit when I got home.

It's also the very last page in my pocket-sized Moleskine that I've been carrying around with me for awhile. Another feeling I love - cracking open a brand new sketchbook!

Saving Summer

Lincoln Park Zoo

Today, our Monday sketch group went to the zoo. It was a perfect afternoon even though I think I spent more time soaking up the sun than sketching! It's hard to believe that summer is over. Even so sketches like this will remind me in January that the sun does shine in Chicago!

When my children were little I would read the book Fredrick by Leo Lionni. It's about a mouse that stored up memories of summer to savor when winter hit. I still love that book! I wonder if my kids remember it. 

#6 Catching Up – Almost!

Navy Pier from Lake Shore Drive

I had an early appointment the other day on Lake Shore Drive. Well, actually my husband did, I just went along for the walk. This is what I saw. It almost looks as cold as it felt!

The task at hand was a layered landscape using glazes.

Not Just Another Day at the Field Museum

Bird Habitats – Field Museum Chicago

Last Sunday, Urban Sketchers-Chicago went to the Field Museum to sketch. What a day it was! When we planned the outing to the Field we didn't realize that the Bears would be playing the Ravens at Soldier Field which is right across from the Museum. The buses, trains and parking lots were jammed, noisy and loud! And, I might add, fun. This was only the beginning of our adventure.

 It seemed we no sooner settled into sketch the Bird Habitat when we evacuated to the lower level. A tornado watch had been issued (that means a tornado had been spotted near by) and for safety's sake we were asked to stay in the Siragusa Center, the Museum's indoor picnic area. During our forty-five minute stay everyone celebrated a fellow evacuee's birthday by serenading him with Happy Birthday. We sketchers also worked on our barely started sketches from upstairs. It wasn't until later that I realized that I had totally missed a unique opportunity to sketch this rare urban experience in the Museum.

After we were allowed back upstairs we were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the Zoology Department.  Giraffe vertebrate, elephant pelvises, assorted creepy rodent pelts, it was quite a sight and experience. Thank you, Rebecca!

USk-Chicago had an exciting time but my thoughts and prayers go out to those in our area whose day was filled not with adventure but with tragedy.

Sunshine and Sketching - An Urban Sketcher's Delight

What a gorgeous day in Chicago! Our Monday sketch group chose the Lincoln Park Conservatory as our sketching destination today. We figured we'd be ready for what ever the Chicago weather had in store. It won't be long before we'll be limited to inside venues. The was a touch of fall in the air but the sun was warm. Time flew by!

I usually don't sketch the architecture. People are more likely to catch my attention. But today I decided to give it a shot. It's a little overworked but I had a good time doing it. For me, that's what urban sketching is about – enjoying sketching the moment.

I'm down to the last to pages of my Stillman and Birn hardbound Beta series sketchbook. I prefer the hardbound but no one around here carries them.

Good Morning Chicago!

It's been a very long time since I've been in school or even had kids in school but for some reason, for me, the new year still starts in September! The good thing about this is all my resolutions can get a reboot in January! 

This is a 5 minute sketch done while I sipped my second cup of morning coffee.

Not Old McDonald's Farm

A couple of Saturdays ago this urban sketcher left her studio to visit an urban farm! In an old meatpacking plant in the Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago there is a wonderful place called The Plant. Its mission is to repurpose the old plant into a vertical farm (I love that term) and food business operation. 

The Plant-Outdoor Garden

When it is fully operational one-third of The Plant will be an aquaponic farm system. It's a circle from fish to vegetables to fish. The fish in tanks produce ammonia-based waste that is broken down into nitrates that are fed to the plants growing in water beds. The plants absorb the nitrates and clean the water. The water the goes back to the fish. The idea is to sell both the fish and the vegetables to local markets and restaurants.  The other two-thirds of the building will house sustainable food businesses.

Aquaponics

This is just a hint of what is planned. Right now there's a bakery, a tea brewery, a mushroom farm and the aquaponics has begun. There's an outdoor garden and a roof garden. It has a long way to go but The Plant will have a renewable energy system that will use more than 10,000 tons of food waste from landfills each year to meet its energy requirements. About 125 jobs will be created. There are retail and restaurant spaces planned. Go, take the tour. See the future and be inspired and amazed!

There were nineteen people on the tour with Barbara, our guide. 

At Our Backs

It's been awhile since I've posted, not because I haven't been sketching but because I haven't been scanning. This sketch is from the backlog. It's from the recent Monday sketch outing.

Seven of us met at the south end of Belmont Harbor. We had a good discussion about painting clouds and greens as well as quiet time to paint. The winds were at our back - good fortune - the rain held off until we were packed up and leaving!

For the Birds

What a pleasant afternoon sketching outside the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. Cool breeze, shade and silly geese and a duck for entertainment, a great way to start the week.

Evidence of why I sketch rather than take photos!

Déjà Vu

Chicago is a great city, known for it's architecture, beautiful lake front, museums and colorful neighborhoods. For me, often it's the little things that catch my eye and make me smile. They say it's the little things that make a house a home. Maybe the same holds true for cities!

I wish I had a dollar for every time I painted or sketched these lamp posts! They're all around the Chicago. 

On the Road and Home Again

We made a quick trip to Ohio last week for a family wedding. Since my daughter and son-in-law did all the driving (thank you, thank you!) I spent a lot of time gazing out the window and watching the world go by. It reminded me of twenty-nine years ago when we moved to the midwest from the east coast. I kept thinking, "The sky is so big and the trees are so small!" I still think that and I still think it's beautiful.

Good Morning Sunshine!

We've had so much rain and unseasonable cold here in Chicago! At long last the plants and I could enjoy the morning sun on the deck. I didn't know how much longer they would hold up with out some good sunshine. I didn't know how much longer I'd hold up for that matter! This is a quick sketch of a corner of our "back forty".

Urban Sketching at Camp Nana

The Monday sketch group and several Urban-Sketchers Chicago met this week at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool.  Lily Pond Park, as it's also known, is a beautiful zen-space that few people even know exists. I hate to be selfish but I'm rather glad.

This year our annual sketch outing to the pond coincided with Camp Nana. Camp Nana is the time between the end of school and the beginning of real camp when my granddaughters and I happily (well most of the time) share each other's daily adventures at work and play. On Monday the girls were introduced to urban sketching. They took to it like ducks to water. Geese and goslings, ducks and ducklings, Nana and granddaughters and Urban Sketchers, we all had a marvelous day at the pond.

Date Night

This is a quick sketch from Twelve West, a local  nightclub in Chicago. The band was Rhythm City and this is Conrad Black – Motown and Soul - great for dancing and great for listening!

Monday Sketching Outside!

Our Monday sketch group met at Nookies in Old Town then ventured out into the still-chilly Chicago spring. The temperature was in the 50s but the sun was glorious! This is a sketch of a florist on Wells Street. It expresses my sentiments after the long gray winter.