Mid Week Farmers Market

     Wednesdays Farmers Market is on in the South Park Blocks close to the Portland Art Museum.  I saw the sign yesterday while I went to see Rothko. Decided to come back this morning to do my first Scavenger Sketch.  One down and a bunch to go!

Carrie

Scavenger Hunt, Item No. 14: Bike

Walking home down Belmont last night, I noticed a rather nutty bike parked outside a bar. Quick sketch with a copic marker and a pale gray brush-tip pen caught the gist of it fairly well. A classic example of kids' bikes adapted for adults...with style being a bigger consideration that safety, of course.

Wandering further down the street, there was quite a party going on at the park--at which I sketched this bike that was crazier by far:

OK, it was actually two blue BMX bikes welded together side-by-side; I've simplified it for the sake of clarity in this sketch. The bikes were attached to a giant welded steel dome that I can only describe as a sort of hamster-cage. I suspect that when the riders slam on the brakes, they may well end up doing a full summersault with the cage rolling them in a flip before they come to a landing. (You'll be happy to know that there were two bike helmets hanging from the hamster-ball structure, by the way.)

I had intended to look for a stretched out cargo bike, one of those that hauls a whole heap of children on the front or back, for this element of the scavenger hunt--but these two raised their hands so charmingly, I just couldn't resist!

Scavenger Hunt Musician

A serendipitous encounter with a musician friend of mine at an open mic event at the Raccoon Lodge while drinking the most ridiculous bloody mary I've ever had. It pays to carry a sketchbook with you at all times I guess. These are done in a little pocket size jammer I won spinning the prize wheel at Blick. I have to admit to doing some of the coloring off site. Shane is an awesome musician, and it was a pleasure sketching him whilst he played his sweet sounds. I hope to do it again sometime.

Photoshopped 3 sketchbook pages together. One musician done 3 different ways. Shane Brown rocking out at the Raccoon Lodge. Gouache, pen and watercolor in Canson Mixed Media Sketchbook.

Scavenger Hunt, Item No. 30: Any McMenamin's

My sweetie and I went to the Science Pub at the Bagdad Theater last night. Figured I should sketch the inside of the lobby and theater area, since the venue is run by the McMenamin's chain. (And a lovely example of keeping a historic landmark relevant and thriving, too!)

It occurs to me that I haven't busted out my watercolor kit in many months...indeed, it might almost be a year since I've used them. Very strange. I found it comforting to be doing these sketches in a very dark building, where I couldn't even tell for sure what color paint I was dipping the brush into--it was largely just navigating by lights and darks, come what may. A pleasant exercise in not clutching the reigns too tightly!

To further throw caution to the wind, I whacked the top sketch with a few blasts of blue glitter spray, and dug out the stinky gold paint pen for more bling on the second one. (Neither are actually approaches that I'd recommend in a crowded theater!) But it seemed a good way to keep from taking my return to watercolor too seriously.

Back in Portland and up to the old tricks. Planting my ass in various locales and sketching Commonus Portlandius Urbanatia, or the common Portlander. They are a breed of human often observed abstaining from one or several common food items for unknown reasons. Dairy-free, fat-free, sugar-free, full soy, no meat, gluten absent, lemon zested, breakfasts sound delicious... don't they? Apparently, the new thing everyone can't have is gluten. Five years ago I don't think I had ever heard the word gluten more than once a year, now everyone thinks they can't have gluten. No gluten, but cigarettes, weed, and potato vodka will keep you healthy, or so the Commonus Portlandius Urbanatia believes... as long as you follow up your weekend with a cayenne pepper and citrus filled hydro cleanse. I ask for extra gluten now. I mean, someone's got to do it.

Dragonfly coffee shop awaiting a meeting with some dude. A girl wants her gluten free sweet treat (minus the sweet) and a large man reclines peacefully enjoying the sunshine coming through the window as he reads something on his kindle.

Portlanders like big glasses, scruffy beards, and wind swept hairdos. I like sketching with a bamboo dip pen and trying to come up with new skin toned paint mixtures.

Scavenger Hunt, Item No 22: Beer

The night I saw our list of scavenger hunt items posted online, it totally transformed the way I looked around at the city. I found myself at the supermarket, contemplating the design possibilities of six-packs of beer bottles. What colors, what brands, what light and shadow, would various brands of beer offer as models for a sketch? (I don't drink beer myself, so no loyalty to a particular flavor was there to steer me.)

And then, walking home from the grocery store, I stumbled across an adult dodge-ball game in full swing at the park. Dozens of people, pegging each other with big rubber playground balls, hollering playful obscenities at each other, and yes, drinking beer. When a can at the edge of the tennis court was knocked over and partly crushed by a stray ball, I knew I had some sketching to do!

Welcome to Portland.

Scavenger Hunt: Fountain (Check)

I see that Deb and I are both eager to start the scavenger hunt!

I was downtown today and had some time to wait, so I pulled out my sketchbook and scavenger list and decided to go for the fountain. As a retired teacher, it seemed appropriate to sketch the Teachers' Fountain in Director Square. I don't know that I've ever actually seen any teachers in the fountain.

The sun came out and I got a quick glance at some shadows before leaving. I added the color at home.

                                             One down and several more sketches to go.

Dr Sketchy @ Stumptown comicfest

 Dr Sketchy offered up five models placed throughout the room to sketch. This one above is the only group pose. It was one of the longest at 20 minutes...and I am offering it up as my first installment for the 'scavenger hunt' under the category of ......someone w/ unusual hair. I overheard someone say that his hair was quite a challenge. And I agree. I had attempted it in some of the other sketches that didn't make the cut!

 Here I am testing out my sample of Noodler's Bad Blue Heron ink in a Pilot Penmanship w/ extra fine nib.

 This model had on a wonderful top hat that I had spotty success in drawing.

Stumptown Comics Fest: Fashion Notes

Spent a lovely Saturday afternoon browsing the incredible piles of talent on display at the Stumptown Comics Fest this past weekend. Part of the fun is always seeing what people are wearing! While waiting to meet up with some friends, I did these quick fashion sketches of folks purchasing tickets to the show.

Quite a lot of vintage-inspired outfits, bordering on historical costume pieces, but plenty of punk rock black leather jackets and good reliable trench coats with Batman patches to balance out the tweedy vibe. 

My friend Isabel was in the spirit of fancy hats with a twist of Victoriana that day, so I'll share this fast (but more detailed) sketch I did of her at breakfast before the event.

Scavenger Hunt Blog Challenge

Portland Urban Sketchers have been challenged to get motivated to not only get out and sketch on location, but to also POST TO THE BLOG!

Here are the rules:
Get out and sketch as many things on the Scavenger Hunt List below (one item per sketch, please) and then Post to the blog. The person with the most scavenger hunt items posted on the blog by September 1, 2012 will get a prize. (this challenge is currently open to members of the google group and those that want to be a contributor to this blog.)



The Scavenger Hunt List:
streetcar
elk statue
umbrella man
inside elephant's deli
food cart
lamp post
fountain (any)
fire hydrant
musician
dog with its owner
someone wearing stripes
the Bike Pile
a watercraft of some sort
a bicycle
Portlandia
'3 Groins in a Fountain'
a bridge
Benson bubbler
a rose
Mt. Hood
coffee
beer
something with a bird on it
The Pigs in NW
someone with unusual hair
the Gondola
Portland sign
Hung Far Low sign
Farmer's Market
a McMenamin's place