Waiting for a ride

My 16 year old car with a standard transmission broke down a week ago.   It was a clutch failure.  Luckily, I wasn't driving on the road but it happened at a most inconvenient time.  Made it to my doctor's appointment in a hurry via a taxi service and did the same on the return trip back to the storage facility where it happened.  The car insurance office sent a tow service but it took a long 3.5 hours wait.  Well, I didn't mind the wait as I kept busy with my sketching at the clinic, the storage facility where it broke down, and the gas repair shop where my car was deposited for repairs.

The Draw-A-Thon 2023

This was my fourth time doing the draw-a-thon fund raising event at the High School of Art and Design.  Luckily, I have kept and used the same sketchbook since I first tried it in 2018 and in 2019 and 2022.  The focus of my sketch this year was the artists instead of the models.  I thought it was more fun to capture the crowd scene.  I left earlier than usual this time.

The End of a Music Performance

Got off work earlier than usual on this eve of Thanksgiving Day so I decided to do a sketch along 7th Avenue for a change before heading home. I saw a performing violinist in a closed off area reserved for pedestrians only.  She played beautifully but I arrived too late and soon she was packing away her things.  I abandoned the idea to include her in my sketch.  Initially, I thought I could sketch her gesture from memory but it was a stretch. Instead, I went ahead sketching anything that I saw before me.

The Nyack-on-the-Hudson Street Fair

We visited this fair last year and again this year.  The difference was we drove to Nyack this time instead of parking our car at the Tarrytown Landing area and walking the 3.5 mile span of the Mario Cuomo Bridge.  Lots of walking to see the little shops!  I let Anne do her thing while I contently remain in one spot and sketch a scene.

Navarre, The Town Council of Roncal

Back in 2016, after discovering the NYC Urban Sketchers, I joined their weekend sketch outing at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library. The museum closed and underwent a five year renovation and was recently opened to the public once again. It was just fitting to join the NYC USk there today to mark my 8 years of having fun with like-minded individuals. I recall sketching the "Sevilla, Holy Week Penitents" in 2016. Today, I sketched another of Sorolla's murals, "Navarre, The Town Council of Roncal". I used a brown colored pre-marked page with random black marks and made a study of the painting using Posca markers and PITT Artist Brush pens. It was a fun filled day though a bit chilly. Another great outing with my sketching friends in the city.

The Vibraphone Player

The high pitched tone of the vibraphone was sure to fill the air.  The xylophone player was hitting the bars with no abandon.  I was sure of mixed reactions to his music play list.  A couple walking by me was heard saying, "Oh, it's annoying!" while I saw some groups in the distance taking time to listen to the player.  I just minded my own business of sketching the scene, including another urban sketcher ahead of me.

A view from the Brooklyn Bridge Park

Sunday last weekend, a much beautiful weather than the day before it was all that was needed to be sketching with familiar friends and new found ones.  This iconic view we all tackled but it was difficult where to start. I chose the people first and the rest just seem to follow.