This month we met up at Confederate Park on the most beautiful, sunny day!
Utrecht Recylced Paper Sketchbook, Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pens + American Crafts Galaxy Marker
Handbook Watercolor Journal, Winsor & Newton Watercolor Travel Set + Water Flow Brush
Moleskine Pocket Sketchbook, Design Ebony Pencil (left page) + Faber-Castell 9000 Pencils (right page)
I made three totally different sketches, haha. I'm not sure you would guess they were all mine. It's fun to mix things up.
This month we sketched at the Sears Crosstown Tower. I've always thought the building was so interesting + it was really neat to be able to go inside. I was pretty excited about it. I wasn't really sure what to expect. We went to the third floor first. It was painted in one of my favorite colors- minty green. The smell was so interesting...I could smell it the rest of the day. There was dust + peeling paint everywhere.
I chose to sketch a section of the room that had some funky colors going on- minty green, yellow + red. I liked the combination.
Then we walked through dark hallways + stairs to the cafeteria. It was sorta spooky. We had an interesting playlist of music going on in the cafeteria thanks to some neighbors, haha.
I sketched an exit door + curtains with all kinds of mess on the ground.
And the ceiling of the kitchen (i think).
I think I may have had more fun taking pictures than sketching :)
more pictures here.
This month we sketched at the Dixon. We started in the gardens. I decided to sketch this deer first. It reminded me of Zac + he was out at his hunting land. I wondered if I saw more deer than he did (I didn't). I found a cute little bench on top of gorgeous stepping stones + grass. It was so peaceful...then came the mosquitos...they were relentless. I didn't even think about bringing bug spray. I still really enjoyed it.
They had tons of beautiful flowers blooming. Zinnias are some of my favorites too :)
It started to get hot + the gallery was opening, so I went inside. The guard did not like my mini backpack so I had to take it out to the car. I carried my small sketchbook + put my car key, pencil sharpener, kneaded eraser + phone in my pocket. I sketched some Jean-Louis Forain paintings:
My last sketch was of the chairs + lights at the Cafe Forain. We visited there for a bit + showed our sketches. Fun morning :)
This month we went to the Flying Saucer downtown. We sat on the covered patio facing Beale Street. It was a hot day but at least we had a breeze by the windows. I sketched the Blues City Cafe + the corner of Peabody Place + 2nd Street. I was inspired by a sketch I saw recently (which I can't find now) to keep most of the image in pencil (or pen) + only have one part in colorful watercolor. I really like the effect:
Then I decided to sketch the interior. I drew a beer keg planter hanging from the ceiling + the plates on the wall:
After that I met my mom for lunch + continued sketching:
This month (April) we went to Elmwood Cemetery again to sketch. It was a beautiful, warm day :) Great for sketching! I walked around to find something to sketch + this caught my eye. The epitaph said "Nannie Lucas":
(Pencil, Watercolor, Water soluble graphite)
For my next sketch I wanted to do an overall sketch with many tombstones:
(Pencil, Watercolor)
After that, it was time to meet back up to see everyone's sketches. It's always neat to see how others record + translate the same space you are in.
I brought my lunch + stayed for one more sketch. I love the paired tombstones in this photo:
I decided to focus on the columns, tree + what appears to be a pile of books:
(micron pen, derwent inktense pencil, watercolor)
My last sketch was my favorite :) I'm glad I decided to stay + found a nice spot in the shade.
We met at Court Square this month. It was rainy and cold so we didn't get to sketch outside like we had hoped :( We sketched at the Blue Plate Cafe instead. We all sat at one big round table. I had already eaten breakfast, but I got a cup of coffee & sketched it. The table cloth pattern was fun to sketch:
(hand book watercolor journal + prismacolor col-erase pencil in brown)
Then I sketched a tea bag, creamer & sugar packet:
(moleskine pocket sketchbook + mechanical pencil)
My last sketch was of a salt shaker:
(moleskine pocket sketchbook + Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens + Lamy fountain pen w/ noodlers ink + a borrowed sharpie pen?)
I wished I had gotten to sketch this:
Maybe another day??? :)
I didn't get to go to the January Memphis Urban Sketchers group, so I tried to sketch more on my own.
I sketched this at the Grizzlies vs. Thunder game in the Fed Ex Forum:
My Dad & I had lunch at the Arcade on our first big snow day. It was neat to see South Main covered in snow :) I was mad I had to go to work, but this made up for it!
Group pic:
A few of us went to the Arcade for lunch. I got a strawberry shake + fries. The shake was AMAZING!!! Here's a quick sketch before I had to take a bite:
