Sketchcrawl 8-9-09

Went on the sketchcrawl again this week. I'd drawn enough whole buildings lately, so I decided to focus on something smaller this week. There was this little area of St. Clair where there was a Psychic storefront, a Subway sandwich shop (below street level), and what appeared to be a very expensive Italian restaurant that had a below street level entrance. I don't know what the pink thing is, but I drew it anyways.

Life Drawing 8-5-09

I had some trouble during life drawing with the gentleman's face. So, after a couple of full body drawings, I decided to use the last 15 minutes to just work on a sketch of his head. This is what happened. Now, you would never be able to identify him from this sketch, obviously. But, I like how it came out sort of cartoonish. I guess a nice accident.

Life Drawing Tonight

Will be going to life drawing for the first time this year. Here are a couple of sketches from the last time that I'd gone. I'm by far no where near the top people there, but I go with a friend and we have fun.

Innerbelt Bridge

Was up at 5:50am for no reason at all. After a quick trip to do paperwork at work, I went over to Steelyard Commons to draw the innerbelt. I took some liberties with the sky (it's actually mostly a hillside behind most of it).

Sunday Sketchcrawl 8-2-09

It sprinkled a bit this morning for the weekly sketchcrawl, but that didn't deter a few of us from still giving a go of out it outside. I started in the car, moved to the street, and then moved underneath a building overhang. I finished it up after I got home from work this afternoon.

Feel free to join us next Sunday from 9am-10:30. Typically, we meet at the West 9th Phoenix Coffee. But, it's also important to check out the group's blog in order to see if the plans for meeting have changed. It's here.

This is the back of some of the buildings running along Superior. I thought it was interesting because of the ductwork coming down, but didn't realize until I was into it that it would mainly be windows. I need to work something other than windows next week.

Rockefeller Greenhouse

Went to the Rockefeller Greenhouse with Tabitha to draw again today. She likes drawing in parks where there are flowers and trees. After several trips in and out of the greenhouse, we figured it was more comfortable drawing outside in the shade near the gazebo. Not realizing that it closed at 4, we didn't have a terrible amount of time to draw, so I focused on this one flower stalk, and she focused on a flower while also drawing a great bee.

It's way more comfortable there once you just ignore the bees. They really have no interest in you with all of those flowers around, afterall.

Weekly Sketchcrawl

Went to the weekly sketchcrawl again this morning. Started out on the steps near the Carl Stokes U.S. Courthouse, and was serenaded by the rapid bells every few minutes while I drew a building down by the drawbridge. A security guard checked on me while I was there (he was probably bored, because there seems to be no one around there on a Sunday morning).

Then, moved to the east bank of the flats where, we settled in to sketch across the river on the west bank of the flats where lovers walk along the river, smelling the unique "fragrance" of the water. We did enjoy watching he mightiest tugboat pull some giant Canadian boat around the crooked turns of the river, as it blocked our view for about 15 minutes.

Crocker Park

Went out to Crocker Park with my friend, Blaine. It was overcast, but the rain held out while we were there. Crocker Park is one of those shopping centers set up to mimic a city, instead of the developers actually developing an existing city.

Mallorca

This is Mallorca restaurant on West 9th as seen from across the street. I played with splattering masking fluid on this one, but I got a couple of major splotches, but not enough smaller ones. I also made a major mess by spilling it. It got all over my erasers. Luckily, I had a lot of paper towels for clean up. I've amassed a major bag of on-site sketching supplies now. I might even get a camper's stool soon.