Sketching At The Mt. Herman Cemetery

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Larry Marshall

Last Saturday our sketching group, Le Collectif, held a sketching event at the Mt. Herman Cemetery. It’s located just south of Sillery and stretches down to the cliffs overlooking the St. Lawrence. This cemetery is nearly 200 years old, and contains, mostly, the remains of British, Scottish, and Irish people who did much to grow Quebec into what it is today. And as you wander the rolling hills of the cemetery, below its canopy of old maples, ashes, and elms, you can’t help but be drawn to the names on the headstones, many dating to the middle of the 19th Century.

It must have been the case that marble was a lot cheaper back then than it is now as there’s a lot of it in this cemetery. Tall, statuesque monuments, requiring a team of people to put in place, have stood for 100 years or more and they provide enduring symbols of what materials and craftsmanship can accomplish.

Our trip coincided with a memorial/commemoration of the retirement of the last of five Treggetts, that have acted as directors of the cemetery. This was a bonus on the day as I got to meet Mark Brennan, the new director, his right hand, Maureen, and several other fine people who didn’t seem put off by my poor French and even allowed me to speak some English. Oh…and they gave use cookies and coffee.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (10×7), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

But it was sketching we came for so it was sketching we did. The morning was cold, wet and windy so actually sitting down to sketch was a struggle, and bordering on foolhardy. Ultimately I came across this scene and set about putting pen to paper. There are dozens, if not hundreds of scenes like this so I hope to do more sketching here before it becomes too cold for outdoor sketching.

Moleskine watercolor book (3×5), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbn Black

The cold morning fatigued me and it was hard to get onto the next sketch so I was slow in doing so. Besides, the other sketchers were scattered around the grounds and I wanted to say hi and see what others were doing. I’m nosey that way. So, I did a lot of walking instead of sketching and it was fun. I did sketch this headstone, dated 1871.

Moleskine watercolor book, Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Fernande, my regularly sketching partner was there and we ate lunch together and chatted about the day. By then the sun had come out and it sort of revitalized us a bit. After this late lunch we started looking around for something that plucked at our 2PM sensibilities and I found it in this modest headstone, made of large, cast stones with a Celtic circle and plaque attached to it. I found three in the cemetery that used similar construction, though each was unique. I’m doing the ink-sketch-a-day event that’s going on right now so I approached this as an ink-only sketch, including a lot more hatching than I would normally add. Then I decided to add some color anyway.

By the time we finished it was time to head up for the memorial. Sadly, the time we were given for this was 3PM but by 2:40, when we arrived, the service was over. We were, however, in time for coffee, cookies, and comraderie with some very fine folks. Thanks, Mark and Maureen. We had a great day.

Short Cruise Sketching

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Larry Marshall

After a week of frightfully cold weather, things warmed up in Quebec City. In fact, we’re experiencing weather that’s more like it should have been in mid-August, when we were all wondering when summer was going to start.

Given the date, and given that the trees measure day length very well and are starting to look like autumn, I’m taking advantage of every one of these warm, sunny days. Late last week I went for a really long walk and mid-walk I climbed onto the ferry that crosses the St. Lawrence between Quebec City and Levis just to get out on the water.

I headed for the top deck so I could sit outside, catch some rays and experience the high seas, or at least my version of it. Below me was this scene and, of course, I had to sketch it. It was the only sketch I did that day but it was a glorious day.

Monologue 4×6, Pilot Falcon, Noodler’s Lexington Gray ink

The Value Of Sitting

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Larry Marshall

I’m a street sketcher. I wander my city looking for things to sketch. I’m not too picky and actually shun the things tourists photograph. I guess I’m more of a “mundane sketcher” as I like the challenge of creating something that looks good from something most wouldn’t even notice.

But there are times when I “can’t find anything to sketch.” I put that in quotes as it’s a common phrase among sketchers that really makes little sense, but the person saying it knows exactly what they mean. Yes, there are trees, planes, trains and automobiles to sketch but nothing is speaking to them.

When I find myself in that situation I sit down. Yep, it’s that simple. If I sit, pretty much anywhere, I start to see things I don’t see when I’m walking. I’ll sit and start looking around. Rather quickly, I’ll find something interesting to sketch. Remember, I’m not searching for Mona Lisa. I just want something that motivates me to get out my sketchbook and pen.

This sketch is the result of sitting down in a tiny park along the St. Charles River. I sat on a rock as it was dryer than the benches because it had been raining as I walked. Before I got to add color to this sketch, it started raining again so I had to add the color when I got home.

Stillman & Birn Delta (6×8), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

I was returning from a long walk and I sat on a bench in Parc Brebeuf, along my river (the St. Charles) and decided to sketch this small scene of a part of the river bank. Done quickly, I added color to this one when I got home as well.

Moleskine watercolor sketchbook, Pilot Falcon, Noodler’s Lexington Gray

So, the next time you’re out and looking for something to sketch, sit down. It may help.

Put On Your Sketching Gloves

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Larry Marshall

This is a sketching subject you won’t find Singapore urban sketchers talk about. And people living in the southern half of the US might wonder, “Is he serious?” But here in Quebec, we’re rapidly approaching a time when we get serious about coats and where the notion of sketching outdoors is, well, nuts.

But I like to postpone the inevitable as long as I can and one way is to protect my hands from cold and wind. Heavy coats keep the core warm and I’ve got a ridiculous-looking, but very warm fur-lined leather hat with ear flaps that I willingly don if it allows me to continue sketching outdoors.

But hands are a different matter. I have pairs of heavy gloves but these are useless for drawing as you lose both control and feel of a pen. I’ve tried fingerless gloves and they’re ok but I end up with frozen finger tips. I’ve tried surgical gloves too, and those just don’t do enough to keep out the cold.

One moderately functional solution are these gardening (I think) gloves. I bought them at our Dollar Store for $2. I know…I know…they need to change the name of those places. Anyways, these are tight-fitting nylon gloves. The palms have a rubberized surface with little bumps on them. I’m sure that’s a ‘feature’ if you’re trying to pick up flower pots but those bumps really get in the way if you’re trying to guide a fountain pen across paper.

BUT…if you put the right glove on your left hand (or the other way if you’re handicapped by being right-handed) the rubbery stuff is out of the way, it better protects the back of your hand from wind, and you have a nice, smooth surface through which to grip the pen. It’s not a perfect solution (if there is one, let me know) but these gloves allow me to sketch in colder temps than I could without them.

The Hotel de l’Esplanade

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Larry Marshall

Hundreds of tourists walk by this hotel every day and I’d guess that most don’t even notice it. The building is rather plain, built from large gray blocks. But there is something about it that has always intrigued me. I think it was its sketch potential.

We’re nearing the time that cold starts to limit the days we can sketch outdoors so I decided to put on an extra coat and sketch the Hotel de l’Esplanade. I was sketching with Claudette and she went hunting for her prey while I got started. I mentally zoomed in on the entryway to the hotel and went into the zone so the gnomes that rattle around in my brain could do their thing.

By the time I finished the ink drawing I thought it was time for me to see what Claudette was up to so I didn’t add color, but I did take a few photos for later reference.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (10×7), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Moleskine watercolor book (5×3), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

When I found Claudette she was immersed in detailed sketches of door carvings and fancy door knobs. Not wanting to disturb her I looked around for something I could quickly sketch while she was finishing. I chose this back alley scene, with too many railings to be done in the 3×5 sketchbook I was using. But it was fun and kept me warm while I waited.

By this time we were both pretty cold and the desire for something warm to drink caused us to think of little else besides coffee. It was a great day, in spite of the cold.

When I got home I decided to add color to my sketch so I popped up the photos of the hotel on the computer and went to work. This was the result. Hope you like it.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (10×7), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black