Who Thinks of Summer in the City as Green?

North Sculpture Garden at the Art Institute of Chicago

It's been along time since I lost a sketchbook but… 

The sketchbook I've been using strictly for urban sketching is gone. I keep hoping I've only misplaced it but I've searched high and low with no success; it's time to move on. For awhile now I've been toying around with the idea of using a square format and working larger when on location. Monday was as good a time as any. 

This is an 8 x 8 Hand•Book I bought the last time I was in San Francisco. It's now been officially designated as my urban sketching book for USk sketch crawls and the Monday Sketch Group. It's a good way to keep a record of our outings. The Monday group met this week at the Art Institute and sketched in the north sculpture garden. We've had a lot of rain lately and also some real summer heat so there were few flowers to be seen but a million lush shades of green. For me the greens even overpowered the sculpture.

Lush greens, loud cicadas, dappled shade and sketching, despite not being thrilled with the sketch, I'll smile when I look back at this page.

Summertime and the LIvin' is…

busy!  In my corner of the world June is a time of house guests, birthdays, anniversaries not to mention graduations and Father's Day!
There are islands of relaxation. Here are two familiar Chicago summer sights – city roses and farmers markets. They reflect a quieter pace than is actually happening in my life! These roses are seen all over the city in backyards on the allies. The Green City Market in Lincoln Park is one of the best farmers markets in Chicago. My husband shops while I people watch and sketch. The amount of sketching I get done is often dependent on the length of his shopping list. I love the chef demonstrations and the music is always fun!

Small Big World

Last week we joined friends for a great evening under the stars at the Pritzker Pavilion to hear the Grant Park Orchestra. It was a beautiful evening. No need for the umbrellas we lugged along with our chairs and dinner! While I sketch often when I'm out by myself or with the Monday sketch group this is the first time I ventured to sketch while out with "people".

Little did I know that Drew Bryant was there too! I love what a small big world we live in and how Flickr shows it to us!

Where's Noah When You Need Him?

We went to the Gospel Fest recently. Good music, good food, good friends but terrible weather! We still had a great time. Actually, it's the Pritzker Pavilion.

This is the first entry in my summer sketch book. It's made with Khadi paper. I'm not used to it yet but I think I'll like it. Have any of you used it? I welcome any tips you may have!