Strathmore sketchbook

Le Cirque de Boheme

fountain pen and watercolor in Strathmore w/c sketchbook, 7 X 5″

Bob and I went to La Cirque de Boheme as a holiday treat. I had originally thought I would sketch it live, but quickly realized that the obstacles to sketching in the dark were too great in this setting. I also didn’t want to be looking down at my book and missing any of the delightful performances. So I cheated and took a few flashless iPhone pics. The quality was just barely good enough to serve as a source for drawing, while leaving plenty of room for my own expressive details. The clown/mime was absolutely our favorite act.

Last page of this sketchbook here, for this young juggler of hats and more!

Sketching away the holidays

Japanese brush pen and w/c in Strathmore w/c sketchbook, 5 X 7″

The holidays are officially over now. Today we’ll take down our Bookworm tree and lights. My Strathmore sketchbook, inaugurated in October, is full. The holidays are never a time to get much larger painting done, but they are a perfect time for some quick sketches. Here’s a sampling.

The jury is still out on which of my pens works best. They all have pros and cons. The brush pen, which you see in these images, is the most expressive, but it puts down such a bold line (a bit scary!) and it bleeds, so you can’t paint watercolor over it. unless you want mud.

In pursuit of more colorful subjects I have found the Farmer’s Market to be the most accessible. I went to sketch motion, but ended up sipping my chai comfortably on a bench and opting for a sedentary subject who was easier to draw.

More brush pen sketching at a local cafe hang out. The trick is to stay away from facial features and go for body attitude. All the shading here is the brush pen bleeding as I swipe it with a water brush.

The guy in the foreground was literally close enough I could touch him, but he was more interested in the people ordering their coffee, especially this young lady with the cool boots!

Jazz Sketching

Sharpee ultra fine pen, watercolor in Strathmore watercolor 5″ X 8″ sketchbook

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival started this week and Bob and I went to the Healdsburg Plaza on Tuesday evening for a free concert with the Roger Glenn Latin Jazz Ensemble. The plaza was packed, so while Bob was wandering around with his camera, I scored a bench spot where I could listen, watch the dancers and be enthralled by the steady procession of humanity walking by. I’d brought my sketchbook and, though I felt a bit rusty, got it out and sketched the few folks in front of me who were standing or sitting still. . .in between the people walking by.

Many people come in big friendly groups and stake out their territory with blankets and chairs, wine and finger foods. A rather large percentage of the people there were filming/taking pictures or texting/playing games on their phones. The red hat guy was a thoroughly Latin dude who really knew the moves and had partner after partner dancing with him, all of them giggling and loving it. (impossible to sketch!)

I’m not sure how this lady’s head got so wide, and those ears. . .! Since you asked. . .I added the paint after I got home and while my feet were up and I was watching reruns of Foyle’s War.