May Sketchcrawl Down Limoilou Allies

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Larry Marshall

Some of the most fascinating parts of a city are behind the scenes, the back doors if you will. In parts of Quebec City, most notably Limoilou, these are accessible to the artist through the ruelles or allies. Most parts of Quebec City don’t have them but Limoilou has them and that’s where we’re headed for our next sketchcrawl, on Sunday May 8th. For details of the event, head to Croquistes de Quebec website for details. If you need motivation, here’s a wonderful video that the Ottawa Urban Sketchers did when they did an similar sketchcrawl. See you there.

Birds, Birds, Birds: Sketching While Waiting For Spring

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Larry Marshall

The Croquistes de Québec held their April sketchcrawl yesterday. There were seven of us in attendance. We got to sketch in Les Collections at Laval University. I love sketching there and because it’s not open to the public, it’s a special treat. Big thanks to Yvan Breton who organized it and to Mme. Wagner who permitted us access.

This is a place that is piled to the gills with great stuff to draw, which is great. If there’s a downside it’s that it’s piled to the gills with great stuff to draw. Way too little space holds what used to be displayed at a full natural history museum and a huge collection of plaster casts that used to be used by the art department when they cared about artists learning to draw. Les Collections is a storage facility, not a display museum.

Stillman & Birn Beta, Platinum 3776

I decided to draw some birds because 1) I’m really bad at it and 2) because I’m really bad at it. To do this required that I sit in a very narrow space in front of a cabinet full of taxidermy specimens. Lighting was rather poor so seeing feather tracts and other details was nearly impossible but it was fun to draw them nevertheless. I’ll show you two of my sketches. I started a third but didn’t get a chance to finish it.

Stillman & Birn Beta, Platinum 3776

April Sketchcrawl At Museum Chapel

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Larry Marshall

Spring rains have started so soon we’ll be able to have our sketchcrawls outdoors. On Sunday, April 10th, at 10:00AM, though, the Croquistes de Québec will meet at the chapel associated with the Musée de l’Amerique Francophone. If it’s warm enough the area around the museum is full of sketching targets, but if not we can sketch in the chapel. Some of us have been sketching there throughout the winter and since the place is full of statues, woodcarvings and fixtures that are worthy of sketching. Check the Croquistes de Québec site for details. I’ll include a few of the sketches I’ve done in the chapel as examples of the possibilities. See you there.

Universite Laval Collections Sketchcrawl

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Larry Marshall

The Université Laval Collections reopened recently, having been moved and renovated. This is an extraordinary place that houses the remnants of the natural history museum that used to be in Quebec City as well as an impressive plaster cast collection that the art department abandoned long ago in favor of paint rollers.

We held our March sketchcrawl there, thanks to Madame Wagner, the curator, and Yvan Breton who arranged access for us. Imagine having a large room, complete with tables, chairs and some spot lights and the ability to place one of the museum objects on that table to draw it. It was fantastic!

Me, I sat in the hallway. I wasn’t being anti-social, though. I wanted to draw that mountain goat that sits in one of the collection display windows. Hubert joined me, however, and we had a great time sketching together.

Stillman & Birn softcover Delta series (8×10), Platinum 3776, Platinum Carbon Black

March Sketchcrawl at Les Collections de l’Université Laval

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Larry Marshall

Yippee!!! The Collections de l’Université Laval has reopened following renovations and we’re going to have a sketchcrawl there on Friday, March 11th, starting at 9:30AM. Don’t miss this one. Notice that this is a Friday rather than a Sunday. The collection is not open on Sundays.

Yvan Breton has arranged for us to start the day with a tour of the facility so it’s important for you to be there at 9:30. If you’re unfamiliar with this collection, it contains the contents of the abandoned Natural History Museum of Quebec and thus contains a large number of stuffed animals and many cultural and anthropological artifacts. In addition, there is a large plaster cast collection, another wonderful collection that was abandoned by the university fine arts department when they decided that drawing wasn’t nearly as important as being able to use a paint roller (grin).

There will be a LOT to draw so bring a bunch of paper. You’ll need to bring a lunch as well. I’m excited. How about you? For a complete schedule and directions, go to the Croquistes de Québec website.