Virtual Sketchcrawl #12 - Winter

Please join us for our twelfth virtual sketchcrawl on Saturday, January 16th.

This month, let's sketch a winter scene.  Maybe a bleak gray landscape, maybe a cheery fire - whatever winter means to you.  And if you'd like, let's this once put the pigments away and do it in black and white.

Sketch by Kay French, from the Fehrenbacher Hoff

If you decide on sketching an outdoor scene, then feel free to sketch any time between now and the 16th, to find agreeable weather.  In any case, please post on the 16th, by:

(1) posting to this blog

(2) emailing to our mailing list, or

(3) posting in our Facebook group

As always, this challenge is optional, and you can be as strict to the subject or as loose as you like. Your participation is welcome whether you choose this challenge or not-- just make sure to work from life and to include contextual information, so it stays in the realm of urban sketching!

PS. Is there interest in getting together virtually on the afternoon of the 16th?

Retro Tuesday - Tree dressed up for the holidays when I was, like, 4.

I've been doing a lot of painting from photographs lately.  The rain, the cold, and I've painted so many inside things that I don't feel like painting those anymore.  So maybe this doesn't count for urban sketching, but I did pick this photo because of the theme.  Fun times!  Thank you for organizing! - Andrea Matthews

Virtual sketchcrawl - Trees dressed up for the holidays

I did this one last Saturday, in an unexpected sunbreak.  

It's a tree in my neighbor's front yard, which he dolled up something special for the season.  I stood on his parking strip, and we had a long-distance conversation between the street and his porch.  (And then he waited patiently until I'd finished, so he could come out and rake up his leaves.)

While I was there a hummingbird - a male Anna's - came to investigate the tree, probing every single ornament, in hopes it was a flower or a feeder.  And then flew away in a huff.

Then, this morning I braved the iffy weather, dodging both rain and other people, and walked down to Pioneer Courthouse Square to sketch the tree. 

I haven't been downtown in ages.  The number of empty storefronts is scary.  And these colorful circles are painted in the square and on the surrounding sidewalks.  I assume that they're social distancing markers.

Virtual Sketchcrawl #11 - trees decorated for the holidays

Please join us for our eleventh virtual sketchcrawl on Saturday, December 19th.

This month, let's sketch trees and shrubs that are dressed up for the holidays.  Possibly the big tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square, or maybe whatever's been decorated in our own neighborhoods.  Even the tree standing up in our own living room.

Sketch by Ellie at Pioneer Courthouse Square

And this month, we'll try something a little different.  In the interests of avoiding both crowds and rain, we can do the sketches anytime between now and December 19th, indoors or out, day or (brrr!) night, and post on the morning of the 19th, by:

(1) posting to this blog

(2) emailing to our mailing list

(3) posting in our Facebook group

As always, this challenge is optional, and you can be as strict to the subject or as loose as you like. Your participation is welcome whether you choose this challenge or not-- just make sure to work from life and to include contextual information, so it stays in the realm of urban sketching!

There will be an optional zoom get-together at 1pm on the 19th, to share sketches, or to just see each others' faces again.  To forestall zoombombing, the details will be posted in this group's mailing list.

See you soon!

Blue Friday

While some folks might have been out walking off their turkey dinner, I took my little rowboat and sketchbook out to Swan Island and enjoyed a surprisingly warm morning. No gloves needed to hold the pen!

There is so much to see and sketch there, from a guy making chainsaw art on the beach, to industrial architecture, to the dry docks raising massive ships out of the water (pictured below). 

 

Virtual Sketchcrawl #10 - food prep or aftermath

I'm not cooking ahead for Thanksgiving, but I did have some parsnips and a carrot that needed to get eaten up.  So I decided to roast them.  I laid them out (artistically) and did a quick sketch while cooking some bacon in the preheating oven.

And then, while those were roasting, I opened and cleaned an acorn squash, to bake for later.

Virtual Sketchcrawl #10 - food prep or aftermath

Please join us for our tenth virtual sketchcrawl on Saturday, November 21st.

This month, the suggested theme is food preparation or its aftermath.  Thanksgiving is approaching, and even if we won't be having large gatherings this year, I'm sure that we'll still be cooking. 

Sketch by Vicky at Tabor Bread

As always, this challenge is optional, and you can be as strict to the subject or as loose as you like. Your participation is welcome whether you choose this challenge or not-- just make sure to work from life and to include contextual information, so it stays in the realm of urban sketching!

We will start at 10am.  At noon, which is when we would normally be meeting up for lunch to share sketchbooks, we'd love to see your sketches online in whichever forum feels comfortable for you:

(1) posting to this blog

(2) emailing to our mailing list

(3) posting in our Facebook group

See you there!

Nature preparing for Winter- pdxusk challenge #9

 This coastal town (Bristol RI) has not seen a real change in leaf color yet. There have been a couple of high gusty wind events though earlier this month that have contributed to some leaf loss and maybe that is why the color is not very brilliant....there just aren't that many leaves.

I chose this scene because of the very extreme difference in scale between the very tall tree and the houses underneath it. I may revisit this scene sometime in the future to see if there are any color changes.

 

Nature preparing for winter at Farragut Park

 It was a mini sketch crawl between me and my friend Kristin.  We sat 6' apart at a picnic table, wearing masks, and did some art together.  Eventually we were covered in shadow, and it got a little too cold for us.  By that time 2 hours had passed.

Not sure why there was a lot of brush around - possibly it was fallen branches from recent windstorms.

 The other day I sketched while waiting for lunch at Sea and River, a newish Burmese Sushi place up NE Glisan and 69th.  

Yesterday,  I took a walk to RoseCity Golf Coarse and sketched. I was surprised how friendly and interested the golfers were.