There's Something about a Pencil

At our regular Monday sketch group, in my quest to loosen up, I started out trying to use only my brush with no pencil marks to guide me. I dove right in painting one of my fellow sketchers. But when all was said and done I couldn't resist adding pencil at the end. It just needed that definition to punch it up a little. I left the other sketch as it was.

We were working at the Nature Boardwalk at the Lincoln Park Zoo. There were lots of tourists and kids enjoying the last days of freedom before school starts. I hope, when they stopped, chatted and commented, we inspired them to give sketching a try!

Not Everyone is a Winner!

Yesterday our Monday sketch group met at Belmont Harbor. Once again we lucked out and the weather cooperated! It didn't start to rain until we were packed up and on our way home. We really have been lucky (so far) this summer. It's either rained in the morning and cleared up in time for our meeting or the rain held off until we were finished.

The luck didn't extend to this sketch but I enjoyed doing it anyway.

Lazy Summer Sunday

This is just a little doodle from a lazy summer day. With all the rain and hot sun our deck garden is quite the oasis in the city. It's a little hard on the flowers but the herbs are going wild. The basil is like a shrub. Yesterday I cut it back and made a ton of pesto. Today it looks as if I never cut it at all!

Fun in the Sun (and Shade)

Monday's sketch group met at Millennium Park. I had a little trouble getting started. I was fascinated with the bright light and deep shade, so I went with it. I seem to be in green mode these days. There were pigeons all over the place until I decided that one was needed to punctuate the sketch. I had to wing it. (Groan)

To Market, To Market

These to sketches are about the Green City Market in Lincoln Park, Chicago. The first one was done last week while I was there. The second one was done at home, today, with a "find" from the market.
The "find" is garlic scapes. Never heard of them? Me either. They just looked so interesting,I bought some to draw. I asked the farmer what they were and what do you do with them, besides draw that is(hum-I hadn't thought of drawing WITH them maybe tomorrow.) He said to use them like a mild garlic, chop them in salad or put them on the grill. Great to draw and even better to eat!

Read and Learn - Live and Learn

Once again the Chicago weather put our sketch group's outing in jeopardy but, once again, in true Chicago fashion, the weather changed. The sun came out just in time. It was a gorgeous afternoon!

We met today at what I've always called "Caldwell Lily Pond Park". The group sketched here last summer. We enjoyed it so much we decided to return this summer. Today I read the sign (imagine -read and learn) and the name is actually "Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool".

What's that they say, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"? Well, this place, no matter what you call it, is beautiful and a perfect place to sketch!

Before the Parade Passes By

We started the day with a quick trip to the suburbs to see the Kohl Children's Museum's float in the Glenview parade. It was the perfect way to start the holiday!

I usually don't add things to the page before I start sketching but I figured why not give a try, it's a day to celebrate freedom!