Bridgetown

Summer is ending and the trees along the Portland waterfront are starting to change colors. One day last week, I got a little sunburn drawing the Marquam Bridge...

and the next day, the blue sky was obscured by some very unusual clouds...

If I had painted those clouds, it would have just looked like I had no idea how to paint clouds--which is basically true.

Luckily, the sky cleared somewhat when I added the paint to my sketch of the Hawthorne Bridge...

and by the time I left, even the geese were enjoying the day.

By the River, Now and Then

A couple of weeks ago, it was a beautiful day by the Willamette River. At a picnic table with some other sketchers, breeze in the air, coffee at hand, I drew the Hawthorne Bridge.

Hawthorne Bridge

Almost exactly a year ago, on another beautiful day, I drew from the same spot. Looks a little grayer, though.

We went down to the docks to draw the dragon boats, but drawing more than one made for a busy composition. I tried to lighten the boats in back and emphasize the lines on the front boat, but it's still pretty cluttered.

Last year's attempt was much simpler:

I wonder how I'll draw them next year?