Just a few days before I left for Italy, I went to Portland, OR to be with my daughter while she had surgery (totally successful and not major) and for the immediate recovery period. The day before, she and I went out to sketch together... she's a wonderful artist.
I had not had time to even look at these Portland sketches when I got back. But I have now added some color and scanned them, so here they are, in Cretacolor oil pencil, two kinds of brush pens, and Ecco pigment pen, with watercolor washes.
Tiny glimpses of Portland, Oregon, voilà!
Cecelia and I went to Oui Café to sketch and here are my two results. I always (after all these years still) surprise myself with how differently I respond, stylistically, depending on the drawing tool I am using. These two show that difference clearly.
En route to Portland, I took a moment to sketch two men opposite me in the American Airlines lounge. People in this situation are almost always oblivious to their surroundings, so the sketching is easy, if not astoundingly dramatic. My pencil drawings, (as here, using a Big Fat Black Pencil from Jerry's Artarama) tend to be more muscular than my pen ones. Multiple Personality Syndrome or just highly adaptive? Feel free to weigh in ;D.:
Jamison Square is near the hotel I stayed in. Cecelia and I first had affogatos at a nearby café and then we sat outside and drew.I was smitten with the bear and seal sculpture.
Next up, more sketches from Italy. I am thoroughly enjoying this brief, quiet interlude between work and travel. Stay tuned, my buddies!
Ann, I'm so sorry you couldn't get the email option to work... I've tried it a few times since you wrote and I had no trouble. I hope others will tell me if they have the problem you had. As for the palette on that sketch... I'd have to look back at Schmincke's brochure if I still have it, or my own notes about it. I did a brief search the other day and couldn't lay my hands on it. Next week, when I get back from a trip, I will look again at the sketch and should be able to tell you something from just careful looking. I have not had the time to do that yet. Thank you for your interest.
Posted by: Laura | November 10, 2014 at 06:11 AM
Dear Laura: I could not get your email link to work, so I am posting a question here. I loved the watercolor you did in 2007 of the red and white camillias in a glass. Can you tell me which reds, greens and purples you used from Schmincke. I am assuming it was Schmincke. Thank you. Ann Gorgone
Posted by: ann gorgone | November 05, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Thank you SO much, Christina and Kate! I love having friends ;D. Kate, Cecelia has a very distinctive style, doesn't she?
Posted by: Laura | November 02, 2014 at 02:46 PM
I really like the line weight in the bear picture. You're so talented - whatever the medium you still create great drawings!
Posted by: Christina | November 02, 2014 at 02:29 PM
I love seeing how different your images are! Maybe that's why I can't settle on a single medium or combination, that multiple personality thingie we share. These are So exciting...and oh my YES, Cecelia's quite wonderful, isn't she!
Posted by: Cathy Johnson (Kate) | November 02, 2014 at 02:09 PM