Spenger’s Restaurant [larger]

Last Saturday, August 25th, was the SketchCrawl #15 event. If you are not familiar with SketchCrawl, you can read all about it here. It’s a great concept: people sketch together in locations all over the world and share the results online. The idea is to get you sketching and it sure does!

In Sur la Table [larger]

I joined the Berkeley group: eleven intrepid sketchers crawling the 4th Street commercial district. We found good subjects to sketch including street musicians, buildings old and new, storefronts, people milling around and hanging out and even a snake and reptile store.

Jana and I sketched together and it was great fun. I wanted to do a number of sketches but spent a lot of time talking to everyone 🙂 , so ended up inking my sketches on site and adding the color later that evening and the next day.

At the end of the day we gathered at Brennan’s and shared sketchbooks over Irish Coffees. It was a blast and so inspiring! If there is one thing I like better than sketching it’s the opportunity to see other peoples’ sketchbooks. It was great to meet new sketchers including Pete, who’s sketchblog I have long followed and admired, and to see friends Jana, Doña and Vern and family once again.

Fabulous sketches were done by the group, many of which can be seen here. And you can view other sketches done all over the world that day right here.

House on 5th Street, Palm Tree [larger]

4th and Hearst [larger]

Down Home Music [larger]

Peets Coffee [larger]

Some Photos of our Day:

Related:

• More SketchCrawls

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My New iPhone (larger)

Noise Cancelling Headphones (larger)

I’ve been neglecting the sketchblog of late; my attention has been consumed by new toys! The iPhone with the Bose headphones has proven to be an excellent pair. Fear not though, I am getting back on track 🙂

By the way, the next World Wide SketchCrawl is Saturday August 25th. I plan to join the Berkeley contingent.

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Continued from: New York Sketchbook 2007, Part One

Columbus Circle (larger)

I spent three days in New York on a solo SketchCrawl, following my nose and travel sketching all the way. It was unseasonably hot, and so muggy that even the locals were whining :). The weather somewhat curtailed my extensive walking plans but I still got quite a bit of exploring in.

I am especially enamored with Central Park. I drew the Columbus Circle scene while enjoying a scrumptious lunch (and air conditioning) at Bouchon Café, located in the Times Warner Building, suspended in an atrium with a huge glass wall looking down on the scene. Later, a barbershop quartet serenaded me as I sat in dappled shade and sketched the Model Boat Pond.

The Tudor City Greens is a small park near the World Trade Center that reminded me of small parks I saw on my Paris trip last year. On a wet, warm night I came across the “Second Avenue Farm”, a corner produce shop (2nd Ave & 50th) and couldn’t resist a quick sketch, even though I was being rained on 🙂 . (continued below)

Model Boat House, Central Park (larger)

Tudor City Greens (larger)

Second Avenue Farm (2nd Ave & 51st) (larger)

Grand Central Station is buzzing, with way more people than I managed to get into my sketch! It is a beautifully restored Beaux Arts building, and features a gorgeous blue-green ceiling with astronomical constellations in gold. While I was sketching two well dressed business men, clearly strangers, conducting a discreet drug deal right next to me!

I enjoy creating illustrated journals on my travels. Doing so gives purpose to my trips, and also helps allay any guilt I might have about the expenses involved 🙂 . These days I am doing the sketches from the front of the books and some writing backwards from the end of the book. When they meet, it’s on to the next book! On this trip, with only four days for sketching, I managed to completely fill one of my sketchbook journals. This pleases me greatly. I start a new book at the beginning of each year and am now into Volume 4 for 2007.

Grand Central Station (larger)

Other posts from this Trip:
     Planes and Trains
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part Two
     New York Sketchbook 2007, Part One
     New York Sketchbook 2007, Part Two

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Poiret Show at the Met

Bouclier Day Dress, 1925 (larger)

Dress Costume, 1911 (larger)

One of the highlights of my trip was the exhibition of Art Deco designer Paul Poiret’s fashions and illustrations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It continues through August 5th and if you have the opportunity to go I highly recommend it.

The show is artfully staged which to my mind is half of its appeal. Stylized manikins in evocative poses convey the playful yet chic appeal of the clothing and stunning hand painted backdrops provide the context for the designs.

Manteau d’Auto Coat, 1912 (larger)

The rooms themselves are dark (to protect the fabrics?) which makes sketching somewhat challenging but does allow for dramatic lighting. No ink is allowed so I penciled these illustrations into my little Moleskine notebook and added my ink and color later in the evening. I decided I really liked my color notes, so went ahead and inked them in too! [cont. below]

Le Butard & La Rosière Day Dresses (larger)

Homage à Rousseau, 1910 (larger)

Téâtre Champs Elysées, 1913 (larger)

Opera Hat (larger)

Mademoiselle Day Dress, 1923 (larger)

Sorbet Evening Ensemble, 1913 (larger)

You don’t have to be into fashion to appreciate this show. It is about clothing, yes, but also about the graphics, shape, line, and color of the Art Deco era in which Poiret flourished.

Next up: New York Sketchbook 2007, Part Two, Out and About in New York.

All posts from this Trip:
     Planes and Trains
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One
     Washington DC Sketchbook 2007, Part Two
     New York Sketchbook 2007, Part One
     New York Sketchbook, Part Two

Posted in Figures, New York, Still Life, Travel Sketching | Leave a Comment » | View 14 Comments »

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Continued from: Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One

World War Two Memorial (larger)

After my stroll through the National Gallery I continued my day by walking the two-mile length of the National Mall. The mall features a series of iconic and monumental American sites, all arranged rather conveniently in a long line. I am not always one for patriotic monuments, but I figured I should visit these once in my life and am glad I did. [cont. below]

Washington Memorial (larger)

Lincoln Memorial (larger)

Einstein Memorial (larger)

It was sunny, getting hotter, and quite dry, and I had trouble keeping my watercolor paint wet enough to behave the way I am used to. So, I ended up doing my ink sketching on site and adding the color later. [cont. below]

Union Station (larger)

At the Lincoln Memorial I sat on the floor in the back of the viewing area and sketched him between openings in the crowd. There is a sign requesting respectful silence, so of course there was a lot of screaming and running about. And the hot dog stand was a much bigger draw than the Lincoln bookstore. 🙂

It was a hoot throughout the day to listen to the other tourists, mostly families. They say the funniest things and at times I felt like I was in a Simpsons episode 🙂 . One thing about traveling alone is that I am more aware of others around me: how they look and behave, and what they say.

The Einstein Memorial is a wonderful, super-sized (and climbable!) likeness of him, hidden from view in the dappled light of large shade trees. The surface of the sculpture is chunky, as if it had been molded out of clay by the hand of someone even bigger than giant Einstein. This memorial is more casual and inviting than the rest; an interesting contrast to the Lincoln statue and, I must say, more to my taste.

The last sketch was done the next day in Union Station while I waited for a train to New York. The station is a beautiful restored space, warm and light-filled, and even the shopping mall now contained within does not detract from it’s ethereal atmosphere. This sketch shows the ceiling of one of the side alcoves; the main space is even bigger.

Next Up: New York Sketchbook, Part One, On to New York.

All posts from this Trip:
     Planes and Trains
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part Two
     New York Sketchbook, Part One
     New York Sketchbook, Part Two

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National Sculpture Garden (larger)

I started a day of sketching in Washington D.C. recently in the National Sculpture Garden, a relaxing place with fountains and plenty of shade trees. Perhaps an odd choice for the US National Sculpture Garden, one of the works is an original Paris Metro gate. There is even an entire café building designed to match! I love the organic, otherworldly lines of these gates, and was happily surprised to find it here. [cont. below]

Thinker on a Rock, Barry Flanagan, 1997 (larger)

Paris Metro Gate, Hector Guimard, 1913 (larger)

Untitled, Alexander Calder, 1976 (larger)

Capricorn, Max Ernst, 1964 (larger)

I then moved on to the National Gallery of Art. Sketching is allowed in pencil only so I added the ink and color to these drawings later on. The Calder Mobile is huge, hangs in a large light filled space, and moves ever so slowly. Fantastic.

The Ernst sculpture sits in the same atrium. Although I liked it immediately, through the process of drawing it I really “got it” so much more. They say that drawing in a museum can greatly facilitate observation and now I understand why. The little details and manner in which this piece is so completely stylized are wonderful. And witty: I was laughing out loud as I drew it. One group came by and pronounced: “it is ugly, we can’t believe that is art, we wouldn’t take it if they paid us”. How original. I however, would love to have it in my front yard and it would look great there too (hint, hint, National Gallery 🙂 ).

All posts from this Trip:
     Planes and Trains
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part Two
     New York Sketchbook, Part One
     New York Sketchbook, Part Two

Posted in Landscapes, Still Life, Travel Sketching, Washington DC | Leave a Comment » | View 18 Comments »

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Plane, Oakland to DC (larger)

Just got back from Washington D.C. and New York. I went for business but also had four days to SketchCrawl around. Despite a heat wave I persevered and made a bunch of new sketches. I’ll share them here as I can get them scanned in, but thought I’d start with the travel itself: two airplane trips and a train ride.

Acela Express Train, DC to NY (larger)

Plane, NY to Oakland (larger)

All posts from this Trip:
     Planes and Trains
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part Two
     New York Sketchbook, Part One
     New York Sketchbook, Part Two

Posted in Interiors, Travel Sketching | Leave a Comment » | View 21 Comments »

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Final Design (larger)

Often when I am out and about sketching I run into people who are curious and would like to know more. I give them my URL, but of course they soon forget. So, I decided to make up a “business” card that I could give out. It has proven very useful, both for random encounters and to give to fellow SketchCrawlers.

This turned out to be a really fun project. I ordered the cards online (from Overnight Prints, although there are many companies that do this). They provide a template file (.pst) that can be manipulated in Photoshop Elements. I spent about two hours designing the front of the card, and about a week agonizing over the exact right color of blue for the back!

There are many production options for the cards themselves. I choose heavy card stock with a glossy finish on the front which looks great. On the back is a matte finish: perfect for writing notes.

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Berkeley Shop Window (larger)

I made this sketch from my car yesterday while waiting for an appointment. It was fun to do!

Shop windows are great to draw: interesting and colorful, and they hold still too 🙂 . I did some others on my recent Pasadena trip and also the one below in Italy, in 2001.

Shop window, Santa Margerita, Italy (larger)

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A Line Style Experiment (larger)

I have been thinking a lot about line style recently. I can never predict how a sketch will turn out; some drawings are stiff and labored while others are loose and lively. On any particular day I can tell what my drawing style will be from the first line I put down, but seem to have little control over it.

I thought I would draw a single subject in multiple styles, to confirm for myself which I prefer and perhaps learn to better control my line quality. However, this experiment did not turn out as expected!

The expected best and worst are flipped!

Now I am more perplexed than ever. These sketches are not as varied as I had hoped, and the results are basically backwards from what I expected. The order I drew them may be a factor: I lose focus as I get tired and seem to like the earlier drawings better.

I did these from my parked car. I think I will try this experiment again in a more relaxed setting, and take my time with each sketch.

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Berkeley Public Library (larger)

Here are a couple of Berkeley sketches I made last Saturday in the downtown area, in between errands. The first is the airy reading room at the public library. The building was beautifully renovated recently, and its art deco roots are well preserved.

The library doesn’t have a cafe though, and so on to Peet’s Coffee across the street. I grabbed a quick sketch and a quick cappuccino!

Peet’s, Downtown Berkeley (larger)

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Paul Madonna’s All Over Coffee

Paul Madonna is an artist in San Francisco who does amazing drawings of local scenes. With a loose but detailed focus he captures the essence of the city so well it’s downright eerie. Snippets of text are added on top of the drawings, and they’re published in the San Francisco Chronicle once a week as All Over Coffee. Now, a wonderful collection of his “strips” has been published.

The drawings are rendered in pen and (often coffee-colored) ink. Crisply edged washes glow with light, and occasionally a spot of color is added. Some scenes are tightly focused, but others take in vast expanses of cityscape such as North Beach and Coit Tower: the very area where SketchCrawl 14 took place last weekend.

Details express the quirky uniqueness of each place. The scenery is always still, no cars or people, but perhaps because of a heightened attention to light and shadow seems to grab a specific moment in time. The text, quirky and provocative bits of conversation or story fragments, adds to this transitory feel.

The book includes 150 strips spanning several years, and it is fascinating to see how Madonna’s style has evolved over time. There is also an extensive essay detailing his writing and drawing methods and how All Over Coffee came to be. The book is published by City Lights, the San Francisco Bookstore & Publisher with a fascinating history of its own.

Find out More:

• All Over Coffee Site (check out the cool mouse-over menu!)
• All Over Coffee Archive
• Paul Madonna’s Site
• The Book

Posted in Book Reviews, Landscapes, San Francisco | Leave a Comment » | View 9 Comments »

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