The Fields

I don't seem to get tired of drawing at the Fields, so when Deb suggested an impromptu sketch gathering there, I was eager. There's something about the large expanse of air and sky and the constantly changing panorama of buildings and trees that keep this urban park interesting.

Today's weather didn't match the forecasts and it started with a drizzly, heavy mist. After a while though, the sun came out and the solid gray/white sky changed to clouds with patches of blue. Then the shadows made things look different than how we'd seen them in the beginning. We seemed to have an ever-changing sky show.

Today, I tried to use some of the techniques from Pat Southern-Pearce's activity at the Manchester Symposium. As always, I'm eager to get back to the Fields to try again.

At the Fields in NW Portland

A very nice group of urban sketchers arrived at the Fields to sketch today. The park was filled with activity; like the Ciderfest, children in the play area and people with their dogs. But typically I ignored all that and instead looked out toward the buildings and construction!

The morning sky started out blue with white wispy clouds and then progressed to darker grey clouds with just a bit of wispy white. I tried to capture some of that in this last sketch as it started to rain.

Sketching Outside

Deb and Kalina and I had an impromptu sketch outing on Hawthorne today. Both of them have some lovely sketches and I hope they'll post them. My results weren't so good,  so I'm going to post some other urban sketches I've don't lately that are somewhat better than today's results.  Maybe they'll inspire you to visit one of these places to sketch.

Sitting at a picnic table in the sunshine, I sketched this view of the Pittock mansion.

When I turned around the other way, I could see all of these folks enjoying the view of the mountain and downtown.

I sketched this view from the Fields, just as some of the trees were beginning to get their new leaves. This time, I noticed a little weather data collection device (center). 

I hope you all find some time to sketch outside on our wonderful spring days. Please post them, too!

Last Saturday (11/8) sketching

All of the weather people said it was going to be a nice day on Saturday so with crossed fingers I decided to visit the Fields Park and see what was happening with the construction there.
Susannah joined me for coffee and then went to Jamison Park to sketch while I stayed in the Fields. I did a couple of warm up sketches and then these.

An experiment without glasses. It was difficult though and I ended up finishing with glasses on.

Construction and cranes.

The iconic view of the water tower.

After getting some 360 views from the Fields I moved down toward the train tracks and got this view of the fall color. Amazing that the leaves and color have stayed so long.
It was a great day to be out and sketching!

Going Back to the Fields

Last week, I sketched again at the Fields park in NW Portland, starting with paint. I didn't finish it, so I returned today to finish the painting and to add the ink. I think I was sitting in a spot that was nearly the same as last week, but the weather, the sun, the cranes, the sky and my perception had all changed in a week. It felt kind of like solving a puzzle to try to finish what I was seeing last week. I ended up taking lots of liberties and changing some things  significantly. I hadn't realized how hard it was to return to the scene.

When Deb posts her sketches from today, you are likely to notice that many things are different from what you see here. Don't look too closely!