RICHLAND PLAYERS

Fun morning sketching with Jim & Jean today!  Great opportunity to talk about perspective!

"Wednesday Sketchcrawling"

Jean, nancy and I went sketchcrawling this morning in The Parkway in Richland.  The weather was very cooperative.  The sun wasn't though and we saw few, if any, shadows or nice lighting.  Maybe next time.  Today we worked on perspectives and just fun drawings.

 

These two images are 180 degrees apart.  The top is a sidewalk scene along The Parkway, the other is the old, old, theatre, built in the last forties for the many construction workers here then working for the war effort. 

 

Today it is the Richland Players' Theatre and has been for many years.  I remember back in the old days, '60's, it was a movie theatre.  I saw "In Cold Blood," "West Side Story," "2001, A Space Odyssey," and maybe, "Bonnie and Clyde," here.

 

 

 

 

 

6x9 Super Aquabee Sketchbook, Noodler's Lexington Gray ink, and watercolors.

Art in the park

I tried to sketch the big event, and it was such a challenge. I knew I needed to simplify the scene to make the sketch work, but little by little I filled up the page and forgot about doing a good composition. I used a non-waterproof ink pen, and intended to make a black & white sketch with some light shading. It did not work as planned, so I added some color, and the whole thing turned gray. I had to touch it up a bit more to bring out some detail. Well, at least I was able to put in a few more figures this time.

ART IN THE PARK!

Sitting under a tree in the shade...

Everyone moved so quickly, all I could capture were their faces.  I really enjoy doing this - it's quite amazing how many variations there are!

"Art-in-the-Park at Howard Amon"

We met this morning at 10 am for the Art-in-the-Park sketchcrawl.  Four locals, Jean Fu, Yichien Cooper, Nancy Thurston, and Jim Bumgarner, attended.  Also welcomed were visitors, Robert Dodd, and his wife, Susan Chase-Foster, from Bellingham, WA.

It is always such an enjoyable event getting together to sketch and socialize with others who enjoy the same.   

At the Noon Share, our sketchbooks lying on the ground for viewing.

Our feet prove we were there with our drawings.

L to R:  Susan Dodd, Rober Dodd, Jean Fu, Emily Cooper,
Jim Bumgarner, Yichien Cooper, Nancy Thurston.

Sketching the Columbia River in the heat!

A few Hanford buildings and White Bluffs behind.

Red Mountain and PNNL across the Columbia River.

A crazy sunset over Red Mountain and the Columbia River.

"Golden Gate"

click the sketch to see my other sketches from the event in the Bay Area. 

It seems impossible for me to drive into San Francisco without stopping here and catching my breath after hours and hours on the road.  Who doesn't love the Golden Gate with its massive spires and miles and miles of cable holding it all together? 

The first sketch I did here was just the bridge, then I noticed the people taking pictures and gazing at the bridge.  I also remembered from my workshop in Seattle a couple of months ago how Frank Ching told us that to turn an "object" into a "story," one must have something in the foreground.  So here you have the second sketch with the man in it, and hopefully more of a "story" than just the bridge all by itself. 

15 minutes: 6x9 Super Aquabee: Noodler's Lexington Gray ink: watercolors.

"Waiting in Line for a Polish: Costco"

One of the great things about sitting in the "picnic" area of Costco is you can sketch people, galore.  I discovered the ones in line don't move as fast as those walking toward the check out line, but you'll see one of those here too (bald-headed guy going the other way). 

Another great thing about having a sketchbook while my significant other shops her way through the aisles for stuff she likes best.  Later she came and got me and we checked out the meats, the cheeses, the wines and liquors, and the books. 

The polish is always good here too.  I soak it in mustard and chopped onions: that's all.  Tasty. 

6x9 Super Aquabee Sketchbook, Noodler's Lexington Gray ink, watercolors.

"Farmers' Market"

Stopped in at the local Farmers' Market in Richland yesterday.  The weather was perfect, but finding a good parking spot was difficult.  Good crowd, but not a lot of produce yet.  I was thinking about the wonderful Farmer's Market in Olympia and wondering why the city of Richland doesn't get creative and establish something a bit more permanent right here in this location: close the street, cover it but in a manner that it still has that 'outside' feel. Offer fresh flowers, fish and meat market, jellies, jams, coffees, veggies, etc.  I'm sure most readers here have been to some very nice markets.  It seems the TriCities is always lagging behind...oops, not complaining here.  Just pleasant and happy thoughts.   

"San Diego del Cabo Plaza"

Not an urban sketch because I used a reference photo from a friend who wanted me to sketch it for him for a gift for his wife rather than drawing it live.  It is the Catholic church at San Diego del Cabo Plaza, and I'm quite pleased with how it came out and so is my friend.  Great.

9x12 Strathmore 140 lb paper, Lexington Gray ink, watercolors

A Sketch Give Away

Collioure, France

As part of the 2 week Montfaucon Workshop, 

we took an over-night trip to Collioure, France which is only about 15 miles from Barcelona

and right on the Mediterranean Sea.  It is a truly spectacular little place!

On the afternoon that we were to leave, I found myself on the beach in an outdoor cafe with my sketchbook and this incredible view.  I ordered the most beautiful Cappucino (with a lovely swirl of whipped cream on top), plugged in my earphones and went to it.  I don't think I could have been happier - no, I KNOW I couldn't be happier.

When the waiter asked if I would sell it to him, I told him it was part of my 'photo album' of my trip and really couldn't.   He wondered if I would draw him another one when I looked at the clock and realized I had to go.  So I took a photo of it, tore it out and handed it to him on my way out.  I'm not sure who that pleased more - me or him!  How fun to be able to share these little drawings!

You may notice a small pencil sketch in the lower right hand corner; my eraser rolled off a rock wall down a very steep cliff where I was drawing the day before, so there it is...

"Architectural Sketching"

The tall building sits at a higher elevation than the lower ones to the left.  The sign on the building says, "Red Lion," but it isn't a hotel. It looks more like an administration facility.  We live in the high desert of eastern Washington and one of the primary biotics here is sagebrush which you see here filling the foreground.

9x12, 140# Strathmore cold pressed paper; Noodler's Lexington Gray ink

Hotel Courtyard in Collioure, France

First of all, I sure hope I'm spelling that town right...

Secondly, you will be excited to know that I have introduced 9 other 'painting' artists to Urban Sketching and they LOVE it!!!  It has been so fun watching everyone discover how fun pen and ink can be.

Thirdly, I have had so many opportunities to use my 'Sketching Journal' on this trip and so so much enjoy doing it!

This is my last drawing, before leaving Collioure, of the fabulous courtyard my room looked out onto and where we all sat and had breakfast - crepes, of course.

"Third Saturday Sketchabout" - Prosser Winery/Eatery "Wine O'Clock"

Cozy setting beneath these colorful umbrellas as this Prosser, WA., establishment.  The temperature was warm but not too warm, at about 89 degrees according to my autos thermometer, making the shading under the umbrellas - perfect.

I'm not sure I got the name correct, it appeared from the sign out front indicating there might be a collection of vendors lodged in this facility.  I do think the original title was, "Wine O'Clock" and that's the logo above those three upstairs windows.

9x9 Super Aquabee Sketchbook, Noodler's Lexington Gray ink, watercolors 

"Third Saturday Sketchabout" - Prosser Residential Apartment

I drove up to Prosser, WA., today to check out the "Prosser Scottish Fest and Highland Games."  Afterwards I spent some time in the old township looking for sketch material.  I've been interested lately in residential areas such as this residential apartment building.

9x9 Super Aquabee Deluxe Sketchbook, Noodler's Lexington Gray ink, and watercolors