Portland Skies

It seems like the sky is putting on quite a show lately. We've had big puffy, cumulonimbus clouds one moment and dark, ominous thunderclouds the next. With these sketches, I was initially drawn to the architecture but the clouds kept catching my eye.

The first one, of Big Pink and the Portland Spirit, I drew beside Andrea on the rock, adding most of the color later.

The next was on Directors Square, looking toward Elephant's Deli--and the sky.

Milwaukie and Portland Waterfront

I was in Milwaukie when I drew the inside of my car.

I got into a zone for this one.  The water was slapping under the rock I sat on - there was a feeling the rock might break away and float off into the river.  It didn't though.

 Relaxing times continued here - Vicky and I chatted while we both sketched the Portland Spirit.

Lovely day.

Sketch of the Day, Day Two.

Hi Folks,

I've recently taken a vow to sketch at least once a day, intending to kick-start my creative engines. This sketch was drawn during my lunch break, in downtown Milwaukie, outside of the Painted Lady Coffee House. It was a lovely day for hanging out and sketching!

Cheers,

M.H.

It's been a long time since I was last out sketching around town. I played hookie from work and did this quick sketch of the water tower on top of Centennial Mills. I left off the grafiti because I didn't have much time.

Happy Spring

This week's sketching opportunities

Happening this weekend:

Friday:

6pm Drink & Paint 2, Collaborative painting potluck with Drink & Draw.

Saturday:

10am **NOW CONFIRMED** Sketchcrawl - Eastside Esplanade/Morrison Bridge, gathering at Water Avenue Coffee, with guest sketcher

Sunday:

7pm Dr. Sketchy - Firefly edition. Crush Bar, 7pm - 10pm, $10. Models will be dressed as Inara and River Tam! Should be a fun one, and I might have to watch some Firefly this weekend to prepare.

Milwaukie Sketchcrawl

A wonderful sketching session with lots of new and regular sketchers. Seemed like the weather cooperated and I spent my time outside sketching. Started with a couple of thumbnails to get warmed up. I know this is supposed to help but most times the thumbnails don't seem to have much to do with the resulting sketch.....but then maybe I am missing something.

Ink and watercolor

Ink

First on the agenda was to visit the corner store that still has it's soda fountain intact (we had to ask a local to direct us to it). Although it is no longer a drugstore but a Collector's Mall it was still fun to see the old fashioned soda counter and stools done up in Turquoise....A treat!

Ink and watercolor

Ink and watercolor

Ink and watercolor

Milwaukie fun!

What a lovely day to get out and explore the charming town of Milwaukie! It was great to meet so many people at the gathering, and an extra bonus to get sketching insights from folks who knew the ins and out of the town. Probably wouldn't have found the pond behind the library if it hadn't been for that insider tip at breakfast!

Plus, there was a nice mossy lawn for the kiddo to roll around on...

...and baby geese just around the corner!

Reminder - Milwaukie sketch crawl this weekend + June sketch crawl preview

Saturday, May 17 - Downtown Milwaukie

Keeping with the southeast theme, let's go to historic downtown Milwaukie in May.

• 10:00 am: Meet at Spring Creek Coffee - 10600 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Portland, OR 97222
• 10:30 am: Wander around downtown Milwaukie - Main Street, Dark Horse Comics, statues, etc.
• 12:30 noon: optional meeting at Pietro's Pizza to share sketchbooks. - 10300 SE Main St, Milwaukie, OR

Here's a map - I don't know if this is really the best way to walk around the area we'll figure it out.

Looks like a bunch of buses go near there, including the 70 and the 33.  If anybody wants a ride from downtown, let me (Andrea) know.

View Larger Map

Saturday, June 21 - Director Park, downtown Portland
The June sketchcrawl is planned for Saturday, June 21 (the summer solstice!) in Director Park at SW Park and SW Yamhill.  There are many drawing options around there including the new skyscraper that's under construction on the neighboring block.

My Italian Sketchbook

Here are a few sketches from my recent trip to Italy. There are more on my blog, if you're interested. http://draw2c.blogspot.com

At the Roman arena in Verona, we were more impressed with the exterior than the interior, until one of the visitors stood in the center and treated us all to a spontaneous aria.

It was off-and-on rainy in Florence, but we had a very nice morning in a quiet garden where I sketched across the Arno. In the upper left of the sky, you will see a mosquito.

While I sketched the Brunelleschi sculpture, two Italian women watched and then humorously, we all three tried to have a conversation as they looked through my sketchbook, making all the appropriate gestures and sounds.

As I was sketching this, my stomach lurched when I noticed the tiny people looking over the top of the duomo--not for me.

I decided that half of this very elaborate church with so many different styles, was plenty for me to draw.

This last sketch isn't mine at all. It was drawn by Laura, from Madrid, who I caught sketching me in the Florence airport as we waited for our flight. It was an hour late, but she and I had a delightful conversation about sketching and art, her studies in Florence and her future as a children's book illustrator. In the meantime, I hoped to make an Urban Sketcher of her.

Later, on the plane, the woman across the aisle from me was sketching her daughter, so once again, I had another lovely conversation about sketching and art. 

It was a terrific trip, made even better by sketching.

MOHAI, Seattle, and Gabi's exhibit...Drawn to Seattle

This excellent excursion, organized by Kalina and the Seattle sketchers, didn't start well for me on Saturday. I neglected to read the small print about where to pick up the Bolt Bus and so Curtis and I missed our 6:30am departure. Finally got it straightened out but by then Kalina was by herself on her way to Seattle and Curtis and I were hoping to be able to squeeze onto the 8:30 Bolt Bus. We did do that but that meant I would miss the sketching session planned for the morning. Oh well....now I know better!
When I got to MOHAI they were just setting out their sketches so I got to see the mornings results. MOHAI is a great place to sketch at in inclement weather (did I mention that it was raining?) with great big windows on the ground floor looking out at the boats docked at Lake Union. Check out the Seattle Sketchers blog for their sketches...they have already posted! seattle.urbansketchers.org

Waiting in Starbucks across the street for the Bolt Bus at SW 6th and SW Salmon.

Several of us felt it necessary to sketch this icon...but as Frank Ching said "it was difficult to get the proportions right". And I followed suit there and made it too tall.... so as a remedy I just folded up the paper to correct! Easy.

All the above views are out the window on the second floor of the museum. After lunch several sketchers gathered here to hang out with Frank Ching (artist in residence this weekend) and sketch the sights and doings going on there (you will see more of this on the Seattle site).

Here are some random shots of the exhibit. A spectacular exhibit that showed Gabi's sketches through several different types of presentations. Some of my favorites were the big enlargements.....don't know the exact dates of the showing but if you can make it up there it is well worth the trip!

 A wonderful thank you to Kalina and Katie (our Seattle transit guide) for all of the arrangements for this treat!