Sketching In Parc Jeanne D’Arc

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Larry Marshall

We’re in an intermittent rainy period so it’s been hard for us to plan our weekly get togethers but I recommended that we gather at a large park associated with the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. This place is beautiful and in the middle of it is a large statue of Jeanne d’Arc, after whom the park is named. Weather reports said it would be sunny in the morning and that the rain would only come later in the afternoon.

Stillman & BIrn Alpha (8x5), Platinum 3776, Platinum Carbon Black

Stillman & BIrn Alpha (8×5), Platinum 3776, Platinum Carbon Black

So some of us did show up and we were greeted with cool (16-degree) temps and significant winds that made it feel quite cool. All the smart people (ie – everyone but me) wore long pants and jackets. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Undaunted, I sat behind a bunch of tulips and started drawing. The flowers were blowing around and I’m sure my body temperature was dropping. Nevertheless, I did draw three tulips before I had to choose between hypothermia and getting up and walking around.

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Platinum 3776

I visited everyone else, saw what they were drawing and then walked up and down the garden a couple times, half looking for something to draw and half just trying to stay warm. Eventually I decided to do a quick sketch of one of the drinking fountains. I love them but I need more time and temperature to do them justice in a sketch.

I kept moving but at this point my shorts/tshirt garb and frozen physiology had become foolhardy. I certainly couldn’t concentrate on drawing so I was close to calling it quits. One more lesson learned, maybe.

But I saw Hubert sketching and I related to his scrunched down form, head poking out from between the turned-up collars of his vest. It just seemed tell the story of my day and I had to quickly sketch him as well.

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Platinum 3776

More Sketches From Yvan’s Garden

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Larry Marshall

I promised I’d post the rest of my sketches from Yvan’s garden and here they are. We did have a lot of fun that day.

These were in a window box and difficult to draw because they were in the shade. Stillman & Birn Alpha (8x5), Platinum 3776

These were in a window box and difficult to draw because they were in the shade. Stillman & Birn Alpha (8×5), Platinum 3776

This small birdfeeder brought delight in the form of black capped chickadees, gold finches, and sparrows. Stillman & Birn Alpha (8x5), Platinum 3776

This small birdfeeder brought delight in the form of black capped chickadees, gold finches, and sparrows. Stillman & Birn Alpha (8×5), Platinum 3776

I don't even know what this is but it was fun to draw. Stillman & Birn Alpha (8x5), Platinum 3776

I don’t even know what this is but it was fun to draw. Stillman & Birn Alpha (8×5), Platinum 3776

A Look At Part Of Quebec City’s Port Area

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Larry Marshall

I was out walking and took the opportunity to sketch a bit of Quebec City’s port area. This is small portion of it, which is the place where Riviere St. Charles empties into the St. Lawrence River. It’s an ever-changing scene as large ships dock on each side of it for loading and unloading. It’s good to be out in the sunshine again.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (8x5) softcover, Platinum 3776

Stillman & Birn Alpha (8×5) softcover, Platinum 3776

Urban Sketcher Boredom As He Awaits Spring

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Larry Marshall

Have you ever wondered if bears open an eye, look out of their den at the snow and wish that spring would arrive because their stomach is growling? Naw…me neither but that’s how I feel right now.

Our winter has been relatively mild but from the view of this urban sketcher, it’s been very long. Sure, I’ve been going to the museum to sketch but a good portion of the fun of sketching for me is wandering around, looking for something interesting to sketch. I’ve got the darn museum memorized; there are no surprises.

It’s times like this that I wish I liked to sketch from photos, but I don’t. So, for the most part, I’m a bored urban sketcher, doodling just to keep my hand moving. I thought I’d share a few pages of doodles with you. These were all done in a 4×6 Stillman & Birn Alpha series softcover.

As you can see, it’s a melange of tiny sketches, some ear practice and some hatching scribbles thrown in for good measure. Sometimes I’ll fill a whole page with circles or bad ellipses. I do a lot of this stuff on photocopy paper and when sheets are filled they are wadded up and thrown in the garbage. Just for giggles, here is one of those sheets. Sorry for the wrinkles. It was pulled from my garbage can (grin). I also apologize that some of the sketching is upside down. I don’t pay much attention to that when I’m filling these pages since my garbage can isn’t particular. Do you do this sort of thing or am I the only one? I bet I’m the only one dumb enough to share them.

Sketching My Pet Fish

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Larry Marshall

Winter persists. Attempting to maintain a stiff upper lip, this urban sketcher watches TV, reads art books and longs for warmer days. Yesterday, I was watching a spring training baseball game, an indication that I won’t have to wait much longer. I grabbed my small S&B softcover Alpha sketchbook (4×6) and looked around for something to draw.

I decided to draw my pet fish, Oscar. He’s not a real fish; he’s made of plaster. That means less to feed but he doesn’t wag his tail as much as live fish do. Nevertheless, he’s great at posing for a sketcher. Handsome little guy, don’tcha think?

(4x6) Platinum Carbon Black, Platinum 3776, Abrecht-Durer watercolor pencils

(4×6) Platinum Carbon Black, Platinum 3776, Abrecht-Durer watercolor pencils