July Croquistes De Quebec Sketchcrawl

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 (5.5x8.5), Esterbrook J2048, DeAtramentis Document Black

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?

2016-07-17-57lilies

Backyard Urban Sketching

You don’t have to go far from home to do urban sketching.  All you have to do is get a wife that’s an avid gardener and scenes worth sketching just pop up around your house.  I have one and this is a sketch I did one afternoon.

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

New Pedestrian Bridge Over The St. Charles River

A really nice addition to our city, from the perspective of people like me who walk everywhere, is the new pedestrian bridge over the St. Charles River.  It provides a direct link between one of the major shopping areas and a path up the hill (big hill if you’re old like me) to the older part of Quebec.

I finally got around to drawing it, approaching it as a pen only drawing.  Maybe it would have benefited from color but I like it just the way it is.

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Trinity Church Entry Gate Sketch

Yvan and I had been quick-sketching people at Place d’Armes in Quebec City when the sun just became too much for us so we started walking around.  We decided to sketch the entry gate to the small parking lot in front of Trinity Church.  Mine is rather spartan as my arthritis was acting up and I was having some difficulty directing my pointy device.  Thought I’d share it anyway.

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Posing People Sketching

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

People are not my favorite subject.  Don’t get me wrong; I like people, though modern society causes me to question that regularly,  but what I mean is that I don’t like sketching people.  I do it because they’re everywhere and it’s good pointy device practice, something I need to do a lot.

Every year a local portrait group holds outdoor sessions where people get together to do quick portraits of each other and anyone they can entice from the park where it’s held.  I go because I like the people and the ambiance of the sessions, but prefer to draw whole people rather than floating heads.  This requires that I work pretty fast, faster than I’m comfortable doing.  Maybe that’s a good thing.  Here are a few of the ones I’ve done.

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Esterbrook J-2048