Happy Halloweeeeeen Urban Sketchers!

I did this sketch of my friend's front yard while visiting them in Chicago.

They live in Lincoln Park neighborhood which is full of lovely old brick town houses

that have gates and small city front gardens. They love Halloween as much as I do!

Some More Fall Color in Ladd's Addition

From Saturday's sketch-in in Ladd's, seeking trees to throttle into submission on paper: a maple, a conifer, a leafless something, and some shrubbery.

I liked the watercolor paper in my new little sketchbook.

My newest tactic is to have one page open for watercolor and another for pen or pencil, so the w-c can dry a little between meddlings. This time of year, the page stays damp longer. So this one is the pencil attempt at an elm in fall color:

It was more of a study of structure than anything.

It needs to be said that I'm in a Trying Different Things mode right now. I'm working to get past the idea that every page has to be perfect. What a silly idea, anyway. But how do you know what works if you haven't tried what doesn't work so much?

Trees and more trees

Our Saturday outing in Portland's Ladd's Addition was set up to have a conversation (with some visuals) and then go out to do trees. Some of the usual faces and some new sketchers were in attendance.

Some of our sketchers efforts

Some of the sketchers

All told there were about 12 sketchers on this slightly chilly and cloudy morning....setting out to enjoy the bold fall color around us.

I was influenced by the examples that Kalina had brought (Shari Blaukopf's trees especially). My efforts, like most first attempts weren't exactly what I had been hoping for, but at least I got to concentrate on this new approach and try it out.

Ladd's Addition - watercolor

A group of shrubs in Ladd's Addition circle- watercolor

Fall Trees

The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more.-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well, I've been wondering a lot about trees lately-- specifically how to draw and paint them.  Saturday's focus really helped me understand how others did this, even if I haven't got it all down myself. Thanks to everyone for your contributions and especially to Deb for agreeing to lend assistance. I appreciate having all the  examples and even tracing paper to use.

Here are my sketches from the morning.

(I made this extra large so that you can see Kalina sketching:)

If you care to see a summary of what I gleaned from Saturday, it's on my blog http://draw2c.blogspot.com.

Again, the turn out was great. It's so fun to sketch and talk with everyone and share all our wonderful, diverse results.

Ladd's Addition and Trees, also Drink & Draw at the Art Museum

Another great turn out at Palio's and Ladd's Addition.  Numerous people brought pictures and books about drawing trees.  The weather was cloudy but the trees in the Rose Circle Garden were glowing.

Two names kept turning up around me: Shari Blaukopf and Danny Gregory.

Questions arose about achieving inner peace through drawing.  I do know that I forget about anything else but what I'm looking at when I draw.  I think if I sit there long enough it becomes relaxing.

I spent too much time with the books people brought to sketch more than this.  I never quite made it outside.

These are sketches from last night's Drink and Draw meetup at the Art Museum free night (draw), followed by the Rogue Brewery (drink).

Centennial Mills Building

I have sketched this wonderful tower and building many times.

I never get tired of it. This time I tried it on some #140lb.Rough watercolor paper which

was in a handmade journal. I think I like the texture with this industrial subject. It may not

work as well with other subject matter. Done on another beautiful fall day! We need to enjoy them

while they last.

Reed College

I really enjoyed the sketchcrawl at Reed College on Saturday.

It was great to see such a wonderful turnout of old and new faces.

I was attracted  to this arch by the sun shining brightly on the other side.

It seems a classic in university architecture of that age. 

Catch 'em while you can!

For some reason, this image wants to post sideways, but given the subject and my note on the page, I don't suppose it matters.

Working in colored pencils yesterday.

Reed Sketchcrawl

Here are my sketches from our wonderful sketchcrawl at Reed College.

One of the faces on the old residence hall

Old Residence Hall doorway (Doyle)

Anna Mann building

I agree that we had a great turnout and it was a terrific place to sketch. It could be fun just to sketch all the various gargoyles around the campus.

Saturday, 10/26: Sketch trees in Ladd's Addition!

Autumn is here and the trees are simply glorious! Let's get together and practice techniques for drawing trees. (Or, if that's not your thing, come anyway and sketch delicious chocolate cakes or Halloween decorations on front porches or whatever strikes your fancy.)


Meet at Palio Dessert & Espresso House, at 1996 SE Ladd, at 10am for drinks and chats. Deb will bring books and worksheets on tree drawing, and you are welcome to share any books, references, and ideas you have on the topic as well! We'll fan out into the lovely historic neighborhood to sketch autumn trees, then meet back up at Palio at 12:30 to share sketches.

Also, mark your calendars: our friends from Portland Drink & Draw are planning another Zoo Sketch on Sunday, November 10. Full info here.