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!

A Pause in My Running

This was a short pause in this week's hectic schedule to take my granddaughter to cross country practice. It was a nice way to spend some time soaking up a little fall-like sun and fresh air. I did this quick sketch (15 minutes including assorted chat breaks) with a Tombow marker and water brush. It was nice to leave the running to others! Ahh.

Eureka! Watercolor Pencils

Down on the Farm, Piermont, NH

This is a sketch I did entirely with watercolor pencils. They've been around for a long time but I've never really experimented with them before. I've outlined the tips and tricks I used over at the Urban Sketcher - Chicago blog for this week's Tips & Tricks post. After doing this sketch I've added a few watercolor pencils to my regular out and about sketch kit. I love the texture and juicy yet controlled darks that are possible with the pencils.

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. 

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

My granddaughter, Morgan, nominated me for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. I was happy to accept. I'm also glad it was a small bucket!  A fun time for a good cause. 

Taxi!

What a fun afternoon riding the Chicago Water Taxi with Urban Sketchers-Chicago! There were two sketching-venue possibilities. One was to remain on land and sketch near the Wrigley Building or board the water taxi and ride back and forth to Chinatown. I chose to ride back and forth to Chinatown (twice!).

Once on the boat came the decision, do I sketch the boat and it's passengers or the moving scenery? I went with the scenery for most of the ride. So what you see here is a melding of ever-changing buildings and shoreline. That's Rich and Chris up in the corner. I sketched them the last ten minutes of the trip just before we docked at Michigan Avenue.

It was a good time but all that fresh air knocked me out!

Ditto

© Barbara Weeks 

Every Tuesday Urban Sketchers-Chicago offers sketching tips and tricks on their blog. Four of us take turns writing the Tuesday posts. This week it was my turn again. I figured I'd share that post with you too!

The Urban Sketchers manifesto says “we draw on location”. That may cause a little stage fright, at least it did for me when I first started drawing out in the open. Here are a few things I’ve learned.

Tips:

What equipment? Keep your gear to the minimum. It’s easier to manage in small spaces, easier to keep track of and easier to gather up when the day is done. Check out the USk-Chicago  Pinterest board for sketch kit ideas.

© Barbara Weeks

Where? A coffee shop is a great place to sketch especially when you’re just starting out. So many people are busy on their computers, tablets or phones they don’t even notice what you’re doing. Added benefits - you have a comfortable seat, a table and something to eat or drink!
Outside, try to fine a spot where people can’t come up behind you. Position yourself with a wall, corner or post at your back. It gives you something to lean on, too.

What about the public? People are curious when they see people sketching. They are also usually very complimentary and respectful. Children are fascinated. If you don’t want to be interrupted wear ear buds and listen to music (or pretend to) and avoid eye contact.

© Barbara Weeks

Sketch with friends. There is a comfortability in numbers. The tab “Sketch Crawls” on the Urban Sketchers-Chicago blog’s navigation bar tells you where and when we’re meeting next. Join us.

Benefits:

• Sharpened powers of observation.
•  Learn to work quickly.
• Teaches you to take risks and improvise to get the sketch down. 
•  Overcome selfconsciousness and become a more decisive painter.
• Have fun meeting and learning from other sketchers.
• “Show the world one sketch at a time!”

© Barbara Weeks 2014