Monday, October 14, 2013

Another Tremont House


Here's another house within walking distance of where I live.  I really like how the siding is vertical, nice and different from most houses around here. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Clover Avenue


The tan house on the left is where I live, and the green house on the right is another house on the street.  This is a short street, and it'd be great to sketch them all, but so many of them are almost completely obstructed by trees.  That's a good thing, usually, unless you want to get a good sketch of it from across the street.
 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Scranton Road House

This house is on Scranton Road in the Tremont area of the city.  There are a lot of houses of this style, but they all look different.  This one is one of my favorites.  It was such a nice morning today to be outside and sketching, so I "jumped" at the chance.  And, by "jumped," I mean that it took me a bit to get moving this morning, but it's always one of those things that I'm happier when I've gone out and sketched, than if I didn't. 

The sun was getting high in the sky, making it a bit hard to see toward the end, but as always, people were very nice when I'm out and sketching.

It was weird, but then I ran a couple errands, and everyone out and about in Tremont and Ohio City were all so nice today.  At the grocery store, people were dancing around the aisles to the store's music and chatting up with each other.  When I went to go to the bakery (which was closed), people were stopping to wave me in and out of traffic.  The guy at the car wash let me go before him. 

You can't beat these final nice days of the year.  Everyone's a little nicer.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Steelyard Commons

I have to admit, I sketch at Steelyard Commons because it's easy.  It's very close, and I can sketch from my car when it's rainy or chilly.  There are a lot of things down there to sketch, because there are relics from the old steelyard that used to inhabit that part of the city.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Sokolowski's University Inn

I drew Sokolowski's early one Sunday morning.  That way I wouldn't be tempted by the great smells wafting from inside.  It is great food, but it's heavy food.  They serve in a cafeteria line where you get dessert first.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

It's Still Jacobs Field to Us


I usually go to one Indias' game a year.  I do enjoy being at the ballpark, but it's not all that affordable, so I only go when the tickets are free.  I got 2 free tickets from buying gas over the summer from BP, so I invited a good friend to go with me.  We were sitting way up at the top, like may be 8 or 9 rows from the top.  The park isn't all that big, so you could still see very well.

Now, here's the thing about things in Cleveland.  Even though it's been Progressive Field for a couple of years now, everyone in Cleveland still calls it Jacobs' Field, which was its original name when it opened in 1994.  It's not that we're making a statement against Progressive Insurance, mind you.  It's just that we do that with everything.  In fact, old schoolers around here, refer to Macy's as May Company, and those stores haven't been May Company probably for 30 years (and they were Kaufmann's in between), and they referred to Dillard's as Higbees.  Quicken Loans Arena is still call the Gund, and let's face it, that's going to stick because Quicken Loans doesn't roll off of the tongue at all.  I'm sure it's confusing when we give directions to people, because when we tell them to pass Jacob's Field or the Jake, they'll never find it. 

Friday, September 6, 2013

Tim Willis's Robot at MOCA

This is 18 foot robot that Cleveland area aritst, Tim Willis made and set up on Euclid Ave. at MOCA (the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art).  He also had several monster cars and trucks there for people to climb into.

I tried to find a website for Tim Willis, but I didn't seem to find one.  If anyone is aware of where to find a link to him online, please let me know.  I'd like to link here in case people want to learn more about his work.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Wendy Park


Sketching last Sunday along the Cuyahoga River was great.  The weather was sunny, but not too hot, a nice breeze, and some good shade.  Sketched with some of the other urban sketchers, and it was great to see a couple people that I haven't seen in a while.  Wendy Park is an odd location, because it's out in the open, but tricky for people to find. 

You can see how worth it the trip is, though.  The sights of the city are quite amazing.  To the left of what I sketched is Browns' stadium and to the right is the Terminal Tower and more of downtown.  It's hard to decide on one thing to sketch.  One of the ladies also drew some of the fishermen (some of which had more luck than others). 

The only bad part was that I forgot my bagged lunch at home.  :-(



Thursday, July 4, 2013

Garden Walk Cleveland 2013

Sketched out on Clinton Ave. for the Garden Walk Cleveland 2013.  Houses are chosen that have wonderful gardens to be featured on the walk, and people from all over visit private and public gardens.  This house was wonderful, and the owner said that she was quite crafty.  You could tell.  She had paper stars hanging out front, wreaths, and a nice board in the back that explained what all was in her vegetable patch. 

Friday, May 31, 2013

Townhouse Near MetroHealth

Caught a bit of a sunburn..... Not sure what I was thinking when I sat in the clear sun with no sunscreen on.  This building is adorable, and it's on a little side alley near MetroHealth.  I just love how the doors are all different colors and are so vibrant.  The building is a little more orange than I portrayed in the sketch.

I just love walking and exploring, because you can always find the neatest little gems to sketch.  And, it's sometimes something that seems perfectly ordinary, like this row of townhouses.

I did get nervous while sketching, because two people came along and were going to go grocery shopping, and one asked the other, "Should we take the truck or walk?"  I was drawing the green SUV at the time, and I was worried that they were going to haul it away.  But, they decided to walk. . . . .Plus, that might not have been their truck anyhow.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

West 25th and Meyer

Not far from where I live now on the near west side is this great warehouse with a terrific water tower on top.  I've driven by it for years, and I've always wanted to sketch it.  And, as I've learned in the past, never put these things off, because things get torn down with no notice or can burn down.