Do You See What I See?

It all depends on your point of view. There is nothing like seeing or hearing things from another vantage point. It broadens our horizons. Here's to civil discourse and an enlightening exchange of ideas and if not to agreement then at least to understanding!

I bought these flowers and put them in a simple glass vase. When I looked at it it just didn't work with the rustic feel of the  flowers, so I put the whole thing in a brown bag and tied it with string – much better from my point of view!

Hot Time – Summer in the City

On Monday, Carole Hennessy and I were the only two Monday sketchers to brave the heat and sun. We went to Oak Street Beach, sat at a table under an umbrella, cool drinks in hand, and sketched for two hours. Tough work I know but someone has to do it!

Spread view

Lazy-Hazy Days

Where is this summer going?! What used to be lazy-hazy days of summer are flying by faster every time they roll around! These are a few sketches from the last few weeks. Not all winners but all were fun to do and reflect delicious-though- speedy summer days.

Caldwell Lily Pool, Lincoln Park, Chicago

Glenview  Fourth of July Parade

Seneca Park, Chicago

Tomorrow is the 36 World Wide SketchCrawl. I'm looking forward to, what for me, is the sheer indulgence of sketching ALL day!  It isn't lazy; it could be hazy but it certainly will be perfect summer day! Urban Sketchers Chicago is meeting near the river on Wabash. Check out our USk-Chicago FB page for details if you'd like to join us!

Sweet Home Chicago

This is just a quick doodle of radishes we received from the CSA program we joined for the summer. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Our CSA is Growing Home. Their mission is "to operate, promote, and demonstrate the use of organic agriculture as a vehicle for job training, employment, and community development." 

Once a week we pick up a variety of produce from Growing Home. They select it. It will be interesting to see  if some of the selections are out of our regular picks and will expand out palates. Since I'm a firm believer in"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" it's a perfectly delicious fit!

Hearing the Music

The Green City Market in Chicago is an oasis for me during busy times – if only for a few minutes. And this weekend what a few minutes it was! A musician was playing a drum and encouraging (it didn't take much) the children to join him with tambourines, bongos and all sorts of percussion instruments that he had brought with him. I loved that he sang "everybody's got a beat" rather than "everybody's got the beat". It reminded me of

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Henry David Thoreau

 I managed one quick sketch (and maybe a little dance) while Bob shopped. 

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!

Alternate Universe?

Believe it or not these sketches were done in Chicago over the weekend. The top one was done at the Annual Kids Kite Festival at Montrose Harbor. It's always a great time. Amateurs and professionals alike (Professional kite flyer? Why didn't I hear about that job growing up?) spend the day battling the wind, string tangles and trees for that glorious moment when you catch the wind and soar!

The second one was done on Sunday at Lincoln Square. I met up with Urban Sketchers Chicago and enjoyed a delightful couple of hours. The band, Flon Flon and Musette, were a group of musicians from France. They've just recorded their first album.  It seems I was just getting into the drawing when their set was up! One band member is missing along with assorted limbs and instruments. Ah the thrilling sport of urban sketching!

Very different scenes than downtown Chicago and the NATO protests this weekend–