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. 

The Workshop Event

The rainy day forecast on September 23 didn't improve so I continued the workshop right outside of the West Balcony of the Grand Central Terminal.  We were outside but sheltered from the rain.  There were six participants including one person who helped monitored the event.  This was such a fun experience that all the difficulties and challenges I encountered to see it through became a moot point.  I did enjoy describing my work process and sharing it with the people in the workshop.  It's something unconventional but the results can be fun and visually appealing.  I wouldn't mind doing another workshop like this in the near future.

I used a pre-marked sheet from a collaboration with another urban sketcher, Janet Gerson, who sent me the digital version during the early days of pandemic in 2020.  That was during the time when we were doing the Zoom digital urban sketch meet-ups.  I saved a printed copy for when the right time comes. The workshop was just the right moment to use it.  It took me two other quick drawing sessions for a second look at the same spot before I was able to call it a finished drawing.  There's a short video of the workshop at the end of this entry.

The finished work.

A Workshop Dry-Run

Finally, I was able to do a workshop "dry-run" with my daughter, Marie, and her partner, Franklin, last weekend just in time before they travel back west to Colorado.  I found one of my pre-marked pages and used it for this scene.  I like that some of the marks already align with the scene I was looking at.  The group of ladies came into the picture as they decide where to go next.  Initally, at that spot, I already sketched an outline of a young guy sitting on the pylon against the backdrop "A" frame of the building in construction.  Then I noticed the NYC taxi (late addition) which came out great in yellow to add to the scene. 

The NYC USK outing at Green-Wood Cemetery

There was a scheduled re-enactment or celebration of the Revolutionary War  - The Battle of Brooklyn - that was held at the Green-Wood Cemetery the last weekend in August.  It was a beautiful day for everyone to enjoy.  I sketched this scene as they, both re-enactors of the period as well as support team personnel, tried to anchor guy lines for the tent.  

After our lunch break, I found another section of the cemetery where the view toward Manhattan was just inspiring.  This was away from the entrance gate where the celebration was happening.  Incidentally, I still have with me some pre-marked sheets including this one that was partially laid out with a scene from last year's summer celebration at Queens Botanical Garden.  I thought I could re-use this page for something and I think it turned out just fine.  Am very happy with how the colors just blended in the scene.

The Watkins Welding Shop

A support bar for one of our metal-frame chairs broke off last week so I took it to a local welding shop in White Plains on Saturday morning.  I showed up at the address and talked to the owner.  Initially, he asked me to come back next week to pick it up but he knew it would be a quick spot weld repair so he fixed it in no time.  I took the opportunity to sketch-wait at his machine shop.  Some 10 minutes later and it was done so I had to finish my sketch, too.  Showed him the sketch and asked if ok to take a picture of him in his shop.  He said ok. 

A Midtown Street Scene

Earlier in the week, I scouted an area where I'm planning to do a workshop next month.  Mainly, I was looking for subjects and several views that could be of interest.  After all, it's about doing something fun!