Sketcher Gets Rained In

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Larry Marshall

On Thursday, I headed out for a sketch walk and it was kinda cool. There hasn’t been much summer in July for us. I was sort of wishing I’d grabbed a jacket but I figured the walking would warm me up. Then it started to rain and I decided otherwise.

Monologue (4x6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Monologue (4×6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Following a short run while wishing I had my raingear, I ended up in a small coffee/tea place on 1st Avenue. I was the only one in the place. It was not the most arto-genic place I’ve been in but it was dry so I ordered a coffee and took a seat near a window, which didn’t provide a very inspiring view either. Sigh.

Monologue (4×6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

I drew this teapot that was sitting in the window. I drank some coffee and followed up with a poor sketch of this funny-looking lamp. When the coffee was gone and the rain had let up, I decided to head home. There’s always tomorrow.

More Backdoor Sketching

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Larry Marshall

I’m spending more and more time looking at the backs of buildings. If I’m not careful someone will call the cops on me. But there are some areas where these views open onto main streets and so opportunities to be driven nuts drawing porch railings and stairs do exist in Quebec City. Here’s one example.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (9x6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Stillman & Birn Alpha (9×6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Wandering The Streets

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Larry Marshall

This is the time of year when I wander the streets, sketching whatever turns my head. This year has been weird as while typically ‘hot’ is the watchword, this year there are many days when I find myself wishing for a jacket. Today was one of those days.

I came across this odd building in the St. Roch area. Clearly there has been a patchwork of additions to the structure over the years. The principle entry is on the other side of the building and it appears to be a bed and breakfast place now. All the peaks on the roof made it a fun subject.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (9×6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

When I finished I headed downtown and sat in one of the small parks to each lunch. I’m a tourist watcher of the first order, a trait I acquired early on when it was the only way I could hear people talking in a language I could understand.

Monologue sketchbook (4x6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Monologue sketchbook (4×6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

As I ate a very small man sat down on a bench near me. He had on a hat that was far too large for him and this reminded me of sketches I’d seen just that morning. They were in Lapin’s newsletter which presented several sketches of people, drawn with heads much larger than normal, dwarfing their bodies.

I decided to try it with this guy while doing a quick sketch of him. I failed miserably as while I did make his head larger, I didn’t make it large enough to pull off the style. It just looks like I drew the head a bit too large, which, I guess I did. Oh well, turn the page and move on. I include it here only because I do a lot of quick sketches and rarely post any of them.

There’s Always Time To Sketch

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Larry Marshall

Today was the date for an annual gathering of portrait people at a Trait Carré gallery. This is a nice area on the north side of Charlebourg and north of where I live. I hopped on a bus to head there, knowing that it was likely that it would rain. And sure enough, no more than a minute after I got off the bus, the rain started to fall, and fall, and fall.

I put on my rain gear and like the silly sketcher that I am, I was still hopeful that I’d meet a bunch of other likewise crazy people and that we’d sketch together. Did I mention that the event was to be outside? I’m slow on the uptake but it didn’t take long for me to figure out that we weren’t going to be sketching outdoors on this day. I think the street turning into a river gave it away. So, I wandered back to the bus stop, thinking that I’d just grab the next bus and head home.

I wouldn’t even be writing this except for the comment I heard yesterday…and the day before that…and the day before that…and… So many people “want” to sketch but instead they say, “I’d love to sketch but I’m so busy I just don’t have time.” or some iteration of that sentiment. “Geez,” says I.

The truth is, I don’t know what to say when people say this. I’ve been passionate about a lot of things in my life and none of them have been as easy to accommodate in terms of time than is sketching. There’s ALWAYS time to sketch. Maybe if you’re a Systine Chapel ceiling painter you’d have to budget your time but not to sketch.

Dollarstore sketchbook, Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

What’s that got to do with me standing at a bus stop in the rain? Well, I knew I was going to be there for at least ten minutes so I got out my cheap 3×5 sketchbook, a pen and started looking around for something to draw. I admit that the subject matter was somewhat limited but here are two simple sketches I did. I quickly added a bit of color when I got home but the cheap paper is not water-friendly. The two sketches were fun to do. They were good practice for when I have more time. They made my wait time pass quickly and made me regretful when the bus arrived. No time for sketching? That’s a good one.

Dollarstore 3x5 sketchbook, Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Dollarstore 3×5 sketchbook, Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

He Rode A Horse Too Long

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Larry Marshall

When I was a kid, cowboy heros dominated my black and white TV world. Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, The Rifleman, Paladin, Maverick and dozens of others. One of the things that was assumed to be true was that because cowboys spent so much time sitting on a horse, their legs would become bowlegged, like the guy depicted by this woodcarving.

But this post is about another guy who rode a horse too long. Or more correctly, he rode a horse that was too long, at least when I sketched it without spending enough time working out the dimensions of the statue of Simon Bolivar that sits near Quebec City’s justice department (grin).

I’m not proud of this sketch but I thought I’d show it to demonstrate the importance of spending time evaluating all the relationships among parts of your subject before you start drawing it. I’ll do better next time… I hope.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (9×6), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black