Austin Skyline, from Town Lake Park (larger)

Saturday October 25th was SketchCrawl #20. I flew to Austin the night before to meet up with Lisa who drove down from the Dallas area. She got the word out and six local sketchers joined us for the event. What a great day! The weather was perfect and we were able to walk around central Austin and sketch a bunch of great subjects.

At Whole Foods World Headquarters (larger)

Texas Capital Dome (larger)

In the Driskill Hotel (larger)

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Statue (larger)

I had never been to Austin before. We picked the city as our destination because it was easy for both of us to get to and we wanted to spend time there. What a cool place! Here are some photos from the day:

Me, Sketching Stevie

Me, Studying the Dome
(not George 🙂 )

Nancy, Lisa and Anna

Ed and Janet

The date for SketchCrawl #21 has been set: Saturday January 10, 2009. Where will you be sketching?

See Also:

• SketchCrawl #20, Austin Group Sketches
• SketchCrawl #20, 87 Other Worldwide Locations
• SketchCrawl #21, Planning Forums
• My Other SketchCrawls

Posted in Austin, Food, Interiors, Landscapes, SketchCrawl, Still Life, Travel Sketching | Leave a Comment » | View 17 Comments »

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Canyon Road Grid (larger)

Last month I went on a lively trip to Santa Fe with book club friends. There we met up with former member and fellow sketchblogger Lisa Reed and had a fabulous time exploring, eating, sketching and laughing.

I have a bunch of sketches from the trip to share, and thought I’d start off with the grid pages.

The top one is inspired by pages Lisa and I did this spring on a SketchCrawl in San Francisco. These are very fun to do! I draw out the boxes first, and then find little subjects to fill them.

Daily Grid (larger)

The second grid is similar to one I did this summer on a cabin trip, and chronicles each day. This is a great way to capture the often forgotten moments of a trip.

And hey: to all the many of you who have inquired about my whereabouts and well being lately – thank you! I have indeed been busy, but am still here and have much to share. Stay tuned for plenty more sketch-stuff. In fact, next weekend Lisa and I are meeting up in Austin to celebrate the 20th World Wide Sketchcrawl. Care to join us?

Continued:

• Santa Fe 2008 Sketchbook

See Also:

• New Mexico 2007 Sketchbook, Part One: Taos
• New Mexico 2007 Sketchbook, Part Two: Santa Fe
• Other Travel Sketchbooks

And Don’t Miss:

• Lisa’s Santa Fe Sketches

Posted in Food, Landscapes, New Mexico, Still Life, Travel Daily Grids, Travel Sketching | Leave a Comment » | View 13 Comments »

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Still Life: Apples (larger)

Someone said “paint those apples”. So I did.

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The First Sketch (larger)

Inspired by the ongoing Moleskine Exchange projects, Lisa and I decided to do one of our own. She moved away recently, but this is a way we can still sketch together – remotely!

We used the same pocket-sized Japanese-style folding book, but I rebound it with HP (hot press) watercolor paper, as is my preference with the regular books.

We are going to send the book back and forth between us, and when it’s done we’ll scan it and construct a copy so we each can have one. There are no rules: we can do whatever we want – no pressure! – and take as long as we like.

We do have a general theme though: Favorite Things. I started the book off by sketching a flower pot that Lisa gave me before she left. I have four rabbits, so this shape is quite appropriate! This is the same pot that I sketched recently with a few others on the porch.

Lisa has posted about our exchange on her blog, and has now added something to the book for me. I can’t wait to see it!

?        ?        ?

I have been negligent in recognizing the kind ackowledgement from no less than three of my fellow sketchbloggers: the Brillante webblog award. I must really deserve this 🙂 These folks are all inspiring: check out their wonderful blogs and see for yourself!

• Pete Scully: Postcards of the Hanging
• Lisa Reed: How I See It
• Spineretta: The Jacobite Rose

The tradition is that I now nominate some other blogs, but this award has made quite the rounds. So, I will instead recommend a visit to any of the wonderful art blogs listed in the Places to Visit section, just to the right side of this page.

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Christie’s Spring Auction Preview (larger)

I’ve just returned from a short trip to Manhattan for a couple of days of sketchcrawling. The highlight of my trip was getting to meet fellow sketchblogger Shirley and her husband. We spent a lovely day making and looking at art.

We visited the Spring Previews for upcoming Impressionist and Modern auctions at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, where we saw quite a few memorable pieces on their way from one private collection to another. Shirley and I sketched details of some of our favorites. We had a lovely lunch too, and ended the day with a glass of wine and sketch talk while finishing up our pages.

Shirley has quite a number of completed sketchbooks filled with wonderful work. Looking through them was a pure delight and so inspiring! Isn’t it fun to peer into the sketchbooks of other artists?

Sotheby’s Spring Auction Preview (larger)

More Sketches from New York

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Sketching at the Aquarium

Continued from: Monterey Sketchbook, Part One

Kelp Forest (larger)

Giant Tree Frog (larger)

Sea Otters (larger)

Our sketching adventures continued with more exotic subjects at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. You can’t miss the aquarium’s signature 28 foot tall Kelp Forest tank. And we found these frogs that looked exactly like they were made out of vinyl, except that they moved, so they’re not. The adorable and comical Sea Otters are a favorite of mine, and of everyone else’s too: the exhibit was packed all day.

I was most intrigued by the Giant Octopus, glued to the glass of his aquarium: he seemed to know that was his most impressive view. I was able to get a photo of him and ink in a sketch as well, which I painted later that day. It came out rather abstractly, but I like it.

Sketch, Giant Octopus (larger)

Photo, Giant Octopus (larger)

See Also:

     Monterey Sketchbook, Part One
     Monterey Sketchbook, Part Three

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The Bookcase (larger)

This one was a fun one to do. I was lounging at the home of some friends and had time to sketch at a leisurely pace while New Year’s Day breakfast was being prepared. A rather luxurious way to sketch, I’d say! That’s my friend’s oil painting on the top of the bookcase.

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Picasso Ceramics: Fish, 1951 (larger)

Picasso Ceramics: Double Face, 1950 (larger)

Picasso Ceramics: Head and Face of Bull, 1950-51 (larger)

Picasso Ceramics: Face Pitcher 1959 (larger)

A few weeks ago I went to Las Vegas with a good friend for a couple of days of rest and relaxation and a chance to explore the Bellagio Resort. What a visual feast! Vegas (Update: The Vegas Strip, I mean) is a crazy, tacky place, but I have to say the Bellagio is lovely. I especially like the Chiuhuly sculptures (including the amazing lobby ceiling), and the Conservatory Garden, which was transforming from Fall to Christmas while we were there. We also had a great time eating well, (most notably at Picasso and Olives), seeing "O", people watching, and enjoying the fountain shows.

Picasso, from Photo at Exhibit (larger)

The highlight of our trip though was a small and charming exhibit of Picasso ceramics at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Well-focused and assembled with care, including photos, a great timeline and video, it kept us happily absorbed for an afternoon. In contrast, the Modern Masters show at the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum in the Venetian was a haphazard assortment of barely related pieces, seemingly intended to impress rather than illuminate.

As always in museums, I sketched with pencil then did the ink and color afterwards. I find that when I can finish a sketch all on the same day, the results are fresher. That is not always possible when traveling, but I try!

More information on the Exhibit:

• ARTINFO
• MGM Magazine

Posted in Food, Las Vegas, Still Life, Travel Sketching | Leave a Comment » | View 7 Comments »

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Well it’s happened: I have been at this for a full year!

The experience has been so different and so much more amazing than I ever expected: I am just stunned. Most especially wonderful are all of the great people I have met, both online and in person, as a result of this endeavor.

Because I played around with the blog before publicly announcing it the actual anniversary date is murky. I have decided on today because it was one year ago when I received my very first comment, and from the wonderfully inspiring Jana Bouc no less. Jana’s blog was influential in getting me started on this adventure in the first place, and I have since had the pleasure of sketching with her as well.

It’s been a crazy whirlwind of a year. When I started the blog I hoped that it would get me sketching more, and it certainly has done that. I had no idea though how much work it would be or how hectic it would sometimes make my life. But I also didn’t expect the community, encouragement, new directions and immense satisfaction it has brought to me.

The Crazy Life of the Sketchblogger (larger)

I would like to extend a heartfelt
    * T H A N K   Y O U *
to the sketchblog community: fellow bloggers who inspire me every day, the many wonderful people who leave encouraging comments and emails, and all the folks out there who come by for a visit now and then or read via the RSS feed or the EDM Superblog. It is the human connection of this experience that has been the best reward of all.

And now, I’m off to drink a glass of champagne 🙂

Posted in Food, Holidays, Still Life | Leave a Comment » | View 44 Comments »

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Lunch at MarketBar (larger)

Last Sunday was the 16th SketchCrawl event. My husband and I spent the day in San Francisco sketching and exploring at the Ferry Building. We had a great day!

Lamps at Market Bar (larger)

This historic building has been extensively restored and reopened in 2003 as a food-oriented marketplace. It bustles with energy and activity and the architecture and shops are quite striking. It’s a great place to sketch. There are also awesome Bay views and on Saturdays and Tuesdays, a Farmer’s Market.

We also enjoyed a wonderful lunch outside at MarketBar. The weather was just perfect: a gloriously crisp Fall day.

Frog Hollow Farm: Fruit Stand (larger)

Berkeley BART Station (larger)

Giant Pumpkin (larger)

Far West Fungi: Mushrooms Only (larger)

Related:

• More SketchCrawls

Posted in Food, Interiors, Landscapes, San Francisco, SketchCrawl, Still Life, Travel Sketching | Leave a Comment » | View 8 Comments »

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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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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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