The Audubon Center

There's a nice viewing window inside the Learning Center at the Greenwich Audubon Center where you can see different species of birds trying to get a spot on the bird feeder.  The view was interesting so I wanted to sketch it with a ballpoint pen.  First I started with the bird feeder, then the far tree tops, then the red house and the tree next to it, then added the other house before hatching the lines for the vegetation.

Figure Sketching

I missed the first one two weeks ago so I made sure I didn't miss the second Drink & Draw event last night even though I was coming right off my hot yoga class.  I saw familiar faces who come regularly to this figure drawing event.  I mainly used the Pilot Plumix F nib fountain pen before mixing it up with the LYRA 9B Graphite Crayon and the Bic 4 color ballpoint pen Mini. 

Dog Sketch

It's a very rainy day and this foul weather isn't helping.  Our dog isn't feeling well for sure but I needed her to go outside to which she obliged once this morning with hesitation.  Once she's back inside and comfortable in her bed, I practiced direct watercolor painting her as my subject.  I'm quite pleased with how the painting turned out.  However, I should not skimp on the paper material next time.  Size is about 2.5 x 2.5 inches.

   

Portraiture Practice

In two weeks time, the NYC USk group will have the Portrait Party event.  Not exactly Urban Sketching but it's a popular event each year.  To prepare for this one, I watched the cable news talk show looking for subjects to practice portrait sketching.  First I sketched in pencil to get the outline of the eyes and then branch out from there.  Then I retraced the eyes with a fountain pen and water soluble ink.  Next, I added the dark background, grey shading, skin color, and some white Jelly Roll ink hoping that I would finish a portrait in 10 minutes or less.  I didn't time myself but this is my strategy to go bold this year!  Paper Size is 8.5 x 11.0 inches legal paper.

Fictitious name and just a practice sketch.

Practice Sketching

I was at the White Plains DMV Office this morning and came prepared with a sketchbook for people watching.  Well, the line was going fairly quickly so the unassuming subjects were shifting poses fairly quickly too.  It was a good exercise in targeting what darker areas to start sketching first before working on what I thought were the important lines.

A Pizzeria View

The little service napkin sketch was meant to aid me in resolving the size and proportion of the sketch I had in mind as I enjoyed the slice at Antonio's Pizza in Port Chester, NY.  However, it became clear that that sketch would evolve on its own.  The Bic 4 color ballpoint pen has all the colors I need to draw the "Pizza" and "Open" neon signs and the vinyl row seat cover.  One and a half hours later, I decided to gift the ballpoint sketch to the guy behind the counter instead of keeping it for myself.  There goes the sketch of the day!

The Winter Show NYC

A complimentary pass for two allowed us to see the Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC yesterday.  Lots of variety to be seen from premier galleries and high end prices, too, if you know what I mean.  It was very well attended from curious people like us who have never been to one before and I suppose for the regular clienteles among the exhibitors.  I had about an hour and a half to sketch.  I thought it would be considered crass to sketch on the exhibit floor so I chose the exhibit entrance scene in the comfort and quiet of the sofa lounge chair along this huge hallway.  Too bad, the restored Armory fireplace room was closed and off-limits to visitors at the time.  That was the one thing I wanted to see really bad in this place.  Sketch size is about 4.5 x 5.5 inches.  Bic 4 color ballpoint pen and Flexbook 3.5 x 5.5 in sketchbook ivory paper.

Tree Sketch

Mobile (car) sketching makes it easier on a cold day.  Found a spot at the local library facing these tall pine trees.  So why not sketch them?  Size is about 3.5 x 3.5 inches. Graphite Pencil and a sketchpad.

Miniatures

The Bruce Museum has an exhibit of the small-scale sculpture from different artists including this one from Rosa de Jong from Amsterdam.  At yesterday's Urban Sketching outing, I tried to focus and draw three of her Micro Matter miniature sculptures.

Size is about 3.5 x 4.5 inches.  Bic 4 color ballpoint pen.  Flexbook 3.5 x 5.5 inch sketchbook. 

The Moose Head

The Westchester Urban Sketchers group met today at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT.  There was a good turnout including a couple that are new to urban sketching.  The show and tell at the cafeteria was a success.  Most people left soon after but there were a few who hang out for a little while.  It was during that time that I noticed one of them sketching this moose head hanging on the wall.  I decided to participate and do my own sketch of the moose using the Platinum Carbon Ink Pen with DeAtramentis Document Brown Ink.

Month 1: Day 10

It's a cold windy day but sketching from inside the house makes this tree study possible.  I've seen other tree sketches with fascinating realism, I want to try one myself.

Sketch size is about 3.5 x 4 inches.  Strathmore Toned Tan 80 lb Sketch Paper and Pentel R.S.V.P BK90 Fine with Purple Ink.

Month 1: Day 2: Two Years Ago

I remember the weekend group outing for the NYC Urban Sketchers on January 2, 2016 at The Hispanic Society of America on West Side 155th Street and Broadway in Upper Manhattan.  It was the first time I joined the group.  Here are the sketches I made that day.

Month 1: Day 3

It wasn't terribly cold outside today.  Sketched the Rhododendron bud and the leaves using the Bic 4 color ballpoint pen on the Flexbook 3.5 x 5.5 inch sketchbook. 

The size of the actual sketch is about 3 x 3.25 inches.

Month 1: Day 1

It's the New Year - 2019 - and here's a sketch of a frequently visited Vietnamese Restaurant on Mulberry Street in Chinatown area of New York City.  I use the Flexbook Prat Paper pocket size sketchbook and BIC 4 Color Mini ball point pen for portability and simplicity.