Scavenger Hunt

I'm not in the running for the most Scavenger Hunt posts, but I do want to show my participation. I'm going to try to finish this abbreviated list in the next 7 days.

Benson Bubbler

Blossoms

I often sketch without pencil first and I'm pretty sure these housetops were done like that.

Well, this is the Hollywood Library sign as seen from the attached coffee shop.

This is not a Scavenger Hunt item. It's my sketch from our chilly, but very fun sketch crawl last Saturday.

Palms Motor Hotel on Interstate

I either never have time or can't find a place to park to have a go at the sign;
Thursday I had two tries, before and after a doctor's visit.  The first was hurried and I like it better;
the second I did a set-up, etc, and yet the joy of the image is a bit lost.  Some do best the second time: I find I often do my best work the first time out, and if I don't get it, should just walk away.

 

Above, very fast and spontaneous, no set-up, about 15 minutes. 

I like the dark black ink, even though it bled.
I feel like I captured my feeling for the sign (reminds me of home.)

Below, chose an ink that doesn't run in grey, did a set-up in grey watercolor pencil, 35 minutes,

(cut short by creepy guy deciding to stand and stare at me through the window)
and feel it doesn't hit the mark for me.  Not as much focus on the sign either.

Northeast Sandy Sketchcrawl

We started off today's sketchcrawl at Voodoo Doughnut Too, where the screeching punk music was a perfect fit for a doughnut whose eye had been poked out by a pretzel.

The on-and-off sunlight lured us outside, where I caught some of the iconic building signs in the neighborhood.

Many of the sketchers ended up taking shelter from the cold in a delightful motorcycle coffee bar, which was remarkably cozy, comfortable, and welcoming (especially in comparison with Voodoo!) I was too chicken to draw any of the historic motorcycles, but I did try to tackle the Sandy Plaza building across the street.

Lunch at Pho Gia was super tasty, I'd happily go back there. And even more delicious was the passing around of everyone's sketchbooks, super-inspiring stuff. Thanks, sketchers, for a great morning!

Scavenger Hunt: Food Cart and Portland Sign (sorta)

Tonight I finished off the watercolor sketchbook that I've been carrying around since October of 2012! This painting is a combination of different scenes from various neighborhoods in Portland. Hopefully it captures something of the creative, humorous element of our city. * Esta noche terminé el libro de dibujo con papel para acuarela que he llevado conmigo desde octubre de 2010! Esta pintura es una combinación de escenas en distinctos vecindarios de Portland. Ojalá que capture la eséncia del lado creativo y chistoso de la ciudad.

I painted this with a kind of watercolor that comes applied in a dry layer on sheets of paper, a interesting invention by the "Peerless" company. The colors are super-bright and intense. Normally my instinct is not to go for such a vivid look, but it works so well for this composition. This side of Portland isn't meant to be subtle. * Lo pinté con un tipo acuarela que viene aplicado en una capa seca al superfície de a una hoja de papel; es una novedad hecho por la companía “Peerless.” Los colores son muy intensos y vibrantes. No es mi insinto natural escojer colores tan vivos, pero es perfecto para esta composición—este lado de Portland no es nada sútil.

For the scavenger hunt, this one scratches the food cart off the list. The Cambodian food cart here is so pretty, look for it at SE Clay near 11th, my sketch doesn't do it justice! I've also decided that the "Keep Portland Weird" mural should count for the "Portland Sign" component. (Isn't it fun to creatively interpret the rules of this game?) * Para nuestra búsqueda de tesoro por la ciudad, esta pintura tiene una restaurante móvil (la más bonita que he encontrado ya; mi bosquejo no captura la elegáncia de veras). Y he decidio que la muralla “Keep Portland Weird” merece cualificar como una version del rótulo de Portland tambien. (Es divertido interpretar las reglas en maneras creativas, no?)

Scavenger Hunt Item 19: Rose

OK, I bike through Ladd's Addition so often that I couldn't help amplifying the prompt of "a rose" into "a rose garden." The contrast between the rather battered traffic signs and the fresh vibrant flowers always makes me happy.

Scavenger Hunt: Item 28, "Hung Far Low" sign

Quick-ish watercolor squeezed into a gap in the day. Not quick enough to be loose and free, but not long enough to have all the detail that I was dreaming of putting into it...

The clouds were messing with the light, I think I would like the result better if I had been able to really count on some cast shadows to give things more form. But it was certainly fun looking at all the colors of the old buildings.

If I were to start this one again, I'd do a super-close-up of just the top blue & gold section of the sign against a background of stormy gray clouds. That's the part of the scene that appealed to me most, the vivid colors and interesting geometric shapes superimposed on gray washy chaos.

PS: In the spirit of egging everyone on, I just noticed that I've posted 14 of the 30 scavenger hunt items. Almost halfway there! How y'all doing on your lists?