portrait study

Floaters by Andrea Carlisle

My dear friend Andrea just had a short story published in an online literary publication.

Check it out here: http://www.melusine21cent.com/mag/node/123

Sketchbook Pro doodle

Couldn't make it to the Sketchcrawl yesterday, I had to work. So I downloaded a trial copy of Sketchbook Pro and played with it last night. This was pretty fun and no mess to clean up.

Sketchbook Mobile on iPod Touch

It started out on my ipod touch using Sketchbook Mobile. I then emailed it to myself and finshed it with Sketchbook Pro trial.

Sketchbook Pro on PC

Urban Sketching Class Nov 14 2009

This is from the Urban Sketching class this week. We walked downtown to Pioneer Courthouse Square, where workman were busy putting up the city's Christmas tree. I've never seen them do this before but, since large Fir trees aren't as full as your typical living room Christmas tree, they add extra limbs to fill it out.

Kurt, having drawn here several times before, had some great suggestions on compositions that had very interesting perspective views and, of course, I ignored him and chose this rather dull view to draw.

Along the Kuilau Ridge Trail - Kaua'i

I just got back from two weeks on Kaua'i Hawaii. While there my daughter and I hiked the Kuilau Ridge trail. This is a view looking back along the trail we just traversed.

Urban Sketchers Class Oct 31

This is my first day back to class after missing 2 weeks for vacation. We drew inside because of rain.

Kauai

Sorry for the poor photo. I'm posting this from Kauai Hawaii where I've been on vacation with my family. I haven't gotten as much time to draw as I thought I might but it's good to be away.

Kauai is really really beautiful and there's lots to do, but, be warned, bring earplugs to block out the incessant crowing of the feral roosters that have overrun the island. They crow all day and night often from right outside our bedroom window.

Urban Sketching Class week 4

This week, Kurt led us on the streetcar to the downtown area. I've never done any sketching in this busy part of Portland.
This is the Arlene Schnitzer Concert hall, home of the Oregon Symphony. When I moved to Portland in 1981, this was the Paramount Theater. It was renovated and reopened in 1984 as part of the Portland Performing Arts Center. The sign that had the name 'Paramount' was retained but the lettering was changed to read 'Portland.'
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This is one I posted last week with a little lipstick and rouge added.

Paper study

Trying out different papers for sketchbook binding. I've been using, almost exclusively, Fabriano Artistico 90lb watercolor paper for binding my sketchbooks but wanted to try some other papers. This is Rives BFK, a printmaking paper. I didn't expect it would work that well but heard another artists say he used it in his sketchbooks. It's a bit soft and I wouldn't want to try to do any erasing on it but it worked ok for a quick ink and wash drawing.

Apologies to the model for making her appear cross-eyed.

Urban Sketching Class week 3

For this week's class, we stayed right outside the PNCA building. My tendency, when sketching, is to find something that interests me and start drawing, adding to the composition as I go. Kurt encourages us to compose before we start. The first hour is for sketching everything in with pencil, making sure everything is placed correctly. The second hour is to complete the work with ink.

I'm being forced to look more carefully.



This is more typical of my way of working. I sat down and thought about what to include in the drawing for a minute then said, screw it, I'm just going to draw the car. Once I got to a certain point with the car, I started to observe what was around it..

Centennial Mills from NW 13th and Raliegh

This was my ideal sketching experience. The weather was right and I was in an abandoned part of town so I wasn't self conscious or hurried. Only 2 cars passed the whole time I was drawing and one was a police car. I was able to relax and enjoy myself.

Urban Sketching Class

Centennial Mills from Tanner Springs Park in NW Portland

This is the product of our first day of urban sketching with Kurt Holloman's Urban Sketching class. Already, working with Kurt has helped me to focus more on accuracy. As you can probably tell, this isn't my usual sloppy drawing. Spending 2 hours on a single drawing is pretty new to me for work done on site. I usually focus on getting an impression down and develop the drawing more in the comfort of my studio.

Well, as I look at this again, it's still pretty sloppy, but better :)

Hall Street Grill

SE 23rd and Ankeny

Beautiful evening in SE Portland. Watercolor, black and white ink.

I'm looking forward to a few months of regular Urban Sketching with sketchbook master Kurt Holloman. I've begun an Urban Sketching class taught by Kurt, who is an Urban Sketchers correspondent and featured artist in Danny Gregory's "An Illustrated Life".

Les Watching

NW 21st and Pettygrove

Two quick sketches done last evening in cloudy Portland Oregon.

Evening out

My wife and I went out for a bite at a local pub. I'm not a very good dinner partner since I just stare into my sketchbook until the food comes.

Diners at the Deschutes Brew Pub

After dinner we walked to another cafe and had a drink at a sidewalk table. I usually go sketching in places where there aren't a lot of people around and it was fun to be in the midst of a busy Friday night in a trendy part of town.

Big Pink from NW 10th and Couch

Digger

Economic recovery? The property across the street has been slated for redevelopment for over a year but no work has been done on it until last week.

NW Portland

I spent the morning trolling the NW Industrial area for sketches.

Esco Water Tower

Under the West side of the Fremont Bridge. This area used to be difficult to get to but, now that they're building condos all along the west side of the riverfront, there is a walk along the river that allows nice views of the river action.



This is on NW 25th and Wilson, looking up Wilson toward the old Monkey Ward, now Montgomery Park.

David Friesen at Jimmy Mak's

Last weekend I went to see the wonderful bassist David Friesen and his quintet.

David Friesen

John Gross

Dan Balmer

White Eagle Saloon

I went to the White Eagle Saloon Friday eventing to hear the Reverb Bros band. It was a fun show with the lead singer's family there to wish him a happy birthday.


The crowd sand Happy Birthday as the band ended their second set.

SE 22 and Gladstone

I found this while trolling around Portland for more squalor to draw. I have no idea what it is but it runs on rails.

Orange Dumpster

Trailers on N Page St

Glacier Concrete Dome at Dusk

Park Kitchen

SE Industrial

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Barbecue

Town & Country: Oregon at 150