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!

Coming Attractions!

A Room with a View

Just a heads up for all of you Urban Sketchers and Would-be Urban Sketchers, Urban Sketchers-Chicago soon will be announcing the details for the July 2015 Sketch Seminar. Keep your eyes open on FB, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter! I'll be teaching a class for beginners in Urban Sketching. Come join the fun!

Stealth Sketching at Starbucks

Often when I'm the docent on duty at LUMA I stop in at Starbucks in between tours. It's always a great place to sketch. If you've read this Tuesday's Tips and Tricks over at Urban Sketchers-Chicago you'll quickly see why. You can sit with your back to the wall. You can choose quick sketching with the ever changing customers. If your in the mood for a slow sketch there are plenty of models to choose from.  Everyone is absorbed in their own thoughts or work so they don't notice you. AND you have a table to work on (that's a luxury for urban sketching).

Drawing on the Grid

In my recent Tuesday Tips and Tricks over on the Urban Sketchers-Chicago blog I discuss designing sketchbook/journal pages using a grid. With so many years in print magazine design working to the  grid is second nature to me. I don't think I fully realized how ingrained it is until I remembered this pastel pencil drawing I did some years ago. Everything old is new again.

An Hour and a Half to Visit the South Pacific

The Field Museum- Chicago

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted! So much for that resolution! My plan is to post more than last year so I better pick up the pace!

Today, Urban Sketchers-Chicago met at the Field Museum. I went to the South Pacific to sketch. Maybe I was searching for the sun but I discovered breath taking masks, costumes and musical instruments. The museum was crowded (free to Illinois residents in February and a Saturday) but people were so considerate! If they realized I was working they would make a real effort to say out of my field of vision. I really don't mind people going about their own way while I'm sketching that's part of being an urban sketcher, but thank you!

In this sketch I had fun playing with the textures. I applied the watercolor to the large face mask when I got home.

Sharpening Your Mind’s Eye – Memory Drawing

A visual memory of Barcelona

It's Tuesday Tips and Tricks at Urban Sketchers - Chicago!  Check out the fun games and exercises to improve your observational and memory skills.  Powerful observation and a strong visual memory are a definite plus for any sketcher.

Day 5 – Can Spring Be Far Behind?

Sea Grass – Sarasota

Sea Oats – Sarasota

Amelia Island, GA

Day 5 of the art posting challenge, which is to post 3 pieces of work each day for 5 days and to nominate another artist each day to do the same! Today, I nominate Ronelle Van Wyk to join in the fun. It was Ronelle's beautiful blogs (yes, she has more than one) that captured my attention and got me started blogging, Thank you, Ronelle!

I began this challenge with some bitter cold looking landscapes that put me in mind of Percy Bysshe Shelley's

"O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?"

Today it's so cold in Chicago I'm looking past spring and thinking of summer!