Holiday Cheer

Surprisingly, the hummingbird stayed on the branch long enough for me to draw some light branches, outline his silhouette and then lay in the wash. Two days later, as I was adding the detail to the branches, the little fellow returned to the same branch!

The day after Christmas, sketching and reflecting on the holiday and memories.

Tis the Season

Satsumas

Providore Flowers

Solstice 

Barb's Bird

Creation and Destruction

I painted a few wreaths...

This was my first one, which has a loose feel to it, but doesn't look like it would hang well.

After painting them, I decided to add shadows, thereby ruining each of them. Luckily, I had scans and one of them became a Christmas card.

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I liked our freeform centerpiece and tried several times to paint it.  

The cedar seemed always to look too much like feathers...

Then, I made one that I almost liked. I made a scan, overworked the page and ended up gluing paper over the damage. Luckily, I had the scan.

This one, I haven't destroyed yet...

...except for eating the muffin.

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I'm not sure whether or not I liked this better before I added the apple tree branches on the right,  but it doesn't matter, because this is what stays. I didn't make a scan.

 

Sketched the day before the election.

Saturday, the Urban Sketchers of Portland had the opportunity to sketch inside an old foundry. I sketched some of my fellow sketchers before tackling the huge press.

              

Fall

Some #Inktober Sketches

Canby Flock and Fiber Festival

Some sketcher friends and I went to the Canby Flock and Fiber Festival this weekend to draw goats and sheep, weavers and knitters, and people who were there to look or to shop. There was a lot going on with numerous sketching possibilities.

We started out in the goat barn where some cashmere goats were being judged. I realized that it takes both patience and strength to keep your goat waiting and looking good while the judges evaluate everything from appearance to texture and luster of the wool.

Then we moved out to the sunshine where there were knitters and spinners and weavers. Some of these people had the same difficulty resisting gorgeous wool and accessories as we sketchers have resisting alluring art supplies.

After lunch, the fatigue set in for some of the humans...

                                                             and some of the animals...

 and probably some of the sketchers.

Sketching in Pretty Spaces

Last Saturday, the Urban Sketchers of Portland held a sketchcrawl that was rained out for most of us. Luckily, Meadow invited us to sketch in her lovely shared studio space. It was cozy and friendly and we even had a nice soundtrack of music to accompany our sketching and chatting. Each direction held views of exquisitely crafted pottery and the tools used to create it. There were colors and textures and patterns, galore--just perfect if you like to get lost in the details.

Unfortunately, I didn't sketch Meadow's wares, which are delightful. If you would like a mug with the Chapman School swifts diving into the chimney, or a little delicate porcelain vase, or any number of other little treasures, you should head over to the Thurman Street Studios--rain or shine. 

Monday, the day was clear and dry asI joined some sketchers at the LanSu Chinese Garden. We warmed up with tea and treats.

Then I sat outside and sketched a  Penjing (bonsai) ginkgo. I had to bend the branches in my sketch to fit it in my sketchbook, but that seems appropriate for a bonsai.

Summer into Fall

Some of the best sketching days are now when the air is cool in the morning and the sun is shining.