My Excuse is 'Scavenger Thursday"

      Went to a really great figure demonstration at OSA today with Craig Srebnik.  He paints in oil but his approach is so universal to any opaque media.  Afterwards headed over to the Leaky Roof on SW 17th and Jefferson for Lunch and libations to fulfill yet another scavenger hunt item...... A Beer! A Mirror Pond, to be more specific.  We sketched away taking full advantage of our model, Loretta!  What a trooper she is. :) !!  It's going to be a warm sunny weekend so I ought to knock a few more off the  scavenger list; stay tuned.

Scavenger Hunt: Portland Sign, Inside Elephant's Deli, Umbrella Man

Since the weather is beautiful, it's been great to get out to draw things on the Scavenger Hunt list. I drew the Portland sign on Sunday and then tried it again on Wednesday with Katharine and Linda (who will post their sketches soon).

I still haven't got it right, but that's enough looking up for a while.

We started the day by having our coffee and sketching inside Elephant's Deli by Director's Square. Drawing a drawing is a good way to warm up.

Color added at home.

We finished by drawing the Umbrella Man in Pioneer Square, the only one who was prepared for rain.

I agree with Katura, who said that this helps us see our city anew. Besides the scavenger hunt items, I've been seeing lots of other views and cityscapes that I wouldn't otherwise have noticed. It's fun!

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.