Sketching In Limoilou

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Larry Marshall

Our group wanted to sketch some more in the allies of Limoilou. I’ve written about our previous sketching sessions there. This part of the city was built mostly during the period where alleyways were used for garbage collection, electric wires, and other services.

But while the rest of the group headed off to the alleys, I decided to draw a chapel on 3rd Avenue. I’ve wanted to sketch it for a long time and think most about the idea when there are no leaves on the trees as this affords a better view of the building. But trees are nice too and this is what it looks like in July.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (5x8), Esterbrook J9550, diluted DeAtramentis Document Black

Stillman & Birn Alpha (5×8), Esterbrook J9550, diluted DeAtramentis Document Black

When I finished I wandered around the alleys looking for the group. I found them and they were all finishing up drawing an alley scene. I only had a few minutes but I documented this gaggle of sketchers.

Fetes de Nouvelle France Sketching

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Larry Marshall

LtoR – Celine, Pierre, Yvan, Larry

Tomorrow starts a five day event called Fêtes de Nouvelle France. This is to commemorate the founding of Quebec but also a celebration of an earlier time of 3-cornered hats and beautiful clothes. Truth be told, the dress donned by participants varies from that of a peddler to that of a king and this provides infinite sketching subjects for those who can sketch while people are wandering around. They do sometimes stop to pose for people taking photos and sometimes actually stop and talk to one another. All these things help as we try to capture them on paper.

On Sunday, the last day of the event, the Croquistes de Québec will hold their August sketchcrawl event an I encourage any and all to show up to sketch with us. It’s always a lot of fun. If you come to the event on any other day, look for the fat guy with a sketchbook in his hand and we can sketch together.

Gallerie-Margalis Revisited

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Larry Marshall

Previously I posted some sketches I did at an event hosted by the Charlesbourg Watercolorists at Gallerie Magella-Paradis in the north part of Quebec City. I guess Yvan and I didn’t make too much of a nuisance of ourselves because we were invited back when the group decided to do it again. I don’t really have much to say about the day that wasn’t said the first time we went except that these folks are really nice and the weather much better than the first time we attended.

Here are the sketches I did, all in a Stillman & Birn softcover (5.5×8.5) sketchbook. I used an Esterbrook J2048 pen with DeAtramentis Document Black ink. Clicking on them will make them larger.

Drawing In Artillery Park

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Larry Marshall

“Artillery Park” is a name given to a cluster of buildings that used to be an ammunition factory but that now is a mix of a tourist spot, a park and two small museums. It’s also going to be the site of our Fêtes de Nouvelle France this year. But on this day, it was where Yvan and I went to sketch. There are a bunch of nice scenes to be had there and we’ve both sketched there before, but we’ve yet to wear it out so we aimed our pointy devices at it again.

Photo by Yvan Breton

Photo by Yvan Breton

I chose to draw the backside of a small administration building that features a couple really humongous chimneys. Why they’re so big I haven’t a clue as the building itself isn’t that large. But I thought it made for a nice scene. Besides, the city had set up signs for me so I’d have a protected place to sit while drawing.

I had a lot of fun with this sketch but confess that I struggled with the perspective of those big chimneys for some reason. Just couldn’t ‘see’ them right.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (6x9), Esterbrook J2048, DeAtramentis Document Black

Stillman & Birn Alpha (6×9), Esterbrook J2048, DeAtramentis Document Black

July Croquistes De Quebec Sketchcrawl

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Larry Marshall

A month ago I wrote about sketching at Jardin botanique Roger-Van den Hende. That incredibly long name is attached to a very large arboretum that is a really, really great place for a sketcher. And this month’s sketchcrawl, organized by the Croquistes de Quebec was held at this little piece of heaven.

What was fun this Sunday was that in addition to a dozen sketcher, we shared the arboretum with a group of watercolorists and another group of people doing crochet. If that weren’t enough, a large group of students came to the garden. They were a group of French immersion students who were on a mission to use their vocabulary to talk about plants and flowers.

All of this is to say that I did a lot more talking than I would at most sketching sessions and so my sketching time suffered. Still, I found a place that was out of the crowds and I plunked myself down in front of this neglected potting shed and drew it.

Stillman & BIrn Alpha (5.5x8.5), Esterbrook J2048, DeAtramentis Document Black

Stillman & BIrn Alpha (5.5×8.5), Esterbrook J2048, DeAtramentis Document Black

We had some new people at this sketchcrawl and so there was a lot of sketchbook sharing so we could get to know one another better. This is one of my favorite things about sketchcrawls and they seemed to enjoy it as well.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (5.5×8.5), Esterbrook J2048, DeAtramentis Document Black

It was getting late when I sat down to draw some lilies. I only got the ink drawing done by the time it was time to leave. I thought I’d show you that as well as the sketch after I added some color to it at home. Do you ever get a chance to sketch in botanical gardens?