Sketching People in the City Workshop

On Friday 4/13, I did a workshop at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in collaboration with the NYC Urban Sketchers and the New York Public Library.  The workshop was about sketching people on the move and at rest.  It was an hour and a half long presentation and I believe it went well.  The materials include a ballpoint pen and a sketchbook which we asked the participants to bring one for themselves.  Before I went through my presentation, I asked the participants to say their name, their skill level of drawing a figure on a scale of 1-5 (beginner to intermediate), and their goal coming into this class.  I saw a mixed set of skill levels but in the end, they were able to get a grasp of what I discussed. And boy they did shine based on the results of what they produced in such a short time.  Am very happy with the results and proud of what they did!

My workshop schedule.

Introduction to the workshop.  (Thanks Aaron for the pic!)

Well done and beautiful work!

Participants hard at work doing the first exercise.

Another view of the participants hard at work.

New Art Materials

I recently received a new set of Sharpie Creative Markers (Acrylic) which I really like. I put them to a test after seeing an inspirational exhibit by Patricia Abad at MoMA PS1 in Astoria, Queens. 

My sketch of Nadina

Patricia Abad's Artwork

The Central Synagogue

On March 16, 2024, the NYC Urban Sketchers group got a special permission to sketch inside the Central Synagogue on Lexington Ave for about two hours after their morning Sabbath service.  This was the second time I've been inside a Synagogue because of the Urban Sketchers connection.  Up on the balcony, I sketched what was before me using a recycled brown stock paper we normally discard in the office.  I think this experiment turned out well.

Enroute to JFK from EDI

Thankfully, my flight out to LHR from EDI wasn't until noon and the tram ride to the airport was just a little half an hour.  There were a few other spots in Edinburgh I hadn't seen like Calton Hill and the Holyrood Palace so I did it in a hurry before my departure for the airport.  A decent walk from where I was staying but the weather was nice and it wasn't that cold and the sun even came out briefly.  

At the Holyrood Palace

The magnificent view of the city from atop the Calton Hill.

Of course, I had to sketch the tram ride and the airplane view at the airport.

In the short few days of stay in Edinburgh, I walk away richer in experience and feeling grateful and happy to see such a beautiful city filled with rich and interesting history.  Glad I was able to visit and do a "sketching holiday" in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A Vacation in Scotland: Part VI: Day 5

On my last day in Scotland, I took a day trip by Rabbie's Tour called "The Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands Tour".  To get to the Loch Ness, we traveled about three hours one way including a couple of stops along the way.  We first stopped at Callander, Scotland for a quick breakfast of coffee and pastry before the bus made the ascent to the Glencoe Scottish Highlands.

At Callander, Scotland for a quick breakfast stop.

The landscape views and the mountains are breathtakingly beautiful!  I made some quick sketch impressions of what I saw but it will never be the same as what visually stunning natural treasures these are.

The majestic Highland Mountains.

Spectacular views of the mountains.

Fresh air and rejuvenating sights!

Then we got to Loch Ness where I took the one hour boat tour on the lake, hoping to see "Nessie", but just the same, "Nessie" was a no show!  

A boat trip to see "Nessie".  

The closest "sighting" of Nessie.

At a little waterfalls area that's so peaceful and nice.

The trip was long but seeing the country side was a refreshing break from the familiar modern city sights we are all accustomed to seeing.  It was a long day and I thought I'd get myself a nice dinner before leaving this magical city of Edinburgh the following morning.

I enjoyed that last dinner in Scotland at a Whiski Bar and this interesting view.

A Vacation in Scotland: Part V: Day 4

It rained heavier that Sunday morning but it eventually let up to a light drizzle.  To get to the other museums, I saw a different path leading to it through the train terminal. I saw a nice spot inside the Waverly Terminal where I did a sketch of the platform before heading to the National Galleries of Scotland.  

The other street leading to the Waverly Station from the hotel.

Inside the Station for some challenging perspective sketch.

My other planned activities that day were to join the Edinburgh Urban Sketchers meet at the National Museum of Scotland from noon until 2:30 PM, eat a pulled pork sandwich at OINK Hog Roast shop on Victoria Street and then visit the St. Giles Church before it closed for the day.  Checked off everyone of them and even got to see a free concert at St. Giles Cathedral.  Got inside the church in time before they closed and saw a music rehearsal going on.  It turned out that there would be a free Classical Baroque Music concert at 6:00PM.  They told everyone to exit the church and wait outside until they reopen at 5:30 PM.  And when they did, I made sure I got a front row seat.

A quick sketch in one of the galleries.

The main performance.  It was a fun exercise in sketching live musicians.

The OINK sandwich shop. The place was tiny and packed with patrons when I got there.

The whimsical clock tower that I sketched which came out to be so complex and difficult to make sense of especially when there wasn't much time to finish it.

My interpretation of the scene.

Amazingly beautiful museum in the heart of Edinburgh.

 

A Vacation in Scotland: Part IV: Day 3

I had a late start getting out of the hotel but I made it to Ocean Terminal, by tram, where the HMS Brittania Museum is docked.  Got to do a commuter sketch in Edinburgh!

First page sketch on this new sketchbook was on the bridge.  I must have spent a leisurely time doing so that I forgot there were other sections of the ship to see.  Note: I chose to use my phone and internet connection to listen to the tour audio guide but my connection was so bad, I had to ditch the effort.  Instead I just walked through the whole tour in a hurry.  In hindsight, I should have taken their audio unit instead.

On the return trip back to the Center, I got off at St. Andrew Square, walked into the park with the light drizzle falling.  Found a Costa Coffee shop and went inside asking the two ladies behind the counter if okay to stay in one corner as I sketched the scene.  They were nice about it.

I walked back to the tram station and saw an interesting building across the street.  I had to sketch it!  It was the Royal Bank of Scotland building.

From here, I walked toward the concert venue before it start at 6:00pm.  It must have been an easy 30-40 minute walk.  It was a Candlelight concert with a quartet on strings playing a tribute to Coldplay songs.  Of course, I made some sketches before and during the performance.  No photos or videos allowed but I saw several people do it anyway.  Me, I was happy with my sketches.  In fact after the program, I got a nice complement from the lady that sat next to me.  She said she also draws.

After the concert, I walked about 30-40 minutes finding a suggested restaurant in another neighborhood but I ended up going inside Henderson's, an upscale vegetarian restaurant.  Well, I did enjoy the main dish and the time I sketched while they prepared my food.  After dinner, I showed this sketch to the lady at the desk and was delighted to see it.  She also asked permission to take a photo of it.

On the walk back to the hotel, I saw this interesting restaurant.  I had to take a picture of it because an Urban Sketcher friend of mine in the West Coast share the same name.  I eventually emailed her the photo, much to her surprise.

Lastly, a couple of blocks away from the hotel, there were two red telephone booths that I had to sketch.  In the background was the John Knox House, Moubray House, and the Scottish Storytelling Center.  It was getting late and some few passersby had to stop and look at what I was doing.  A full day of sketching but I really enjoyed all the sketches I did on that day.