Pier Sketching

I sat under the shelter at the end of the pier at Shem Creek Park, watching people come and go,
kids run and play, fishermen (and women) fishing, gulls flying and people just enjoying each other and the lovely weekend weather in Charleston SC.

Here is a sampling of the people that I watched.

Lots of kids, women with buns and fisher-women.

This man fished all day long without catching anything.
That, my friend, is dedication.
(or as he said "It's just what a fisherman does.")

Pardon the shadow on the page.
I scanned the page and the book is getting
pretty full.

As you can see, everyone was looking out to the Harbor. I was sitting behind them looking the same way.
Nothing like spending a day listening to the birds, looking at the ocean and doing some urban sketching.

Holiday Gifts

This is also being published on the "Sketchbook Challenge" blog today.
Pop over there and read all of the other creative posts from the December theme of "gifts".

Hi everyone!

Carol Sloan here again with the rest of the Christmas Marionette Show tale (or maybe “tell” would be correct) (as in “show & tell”).

Myself and two sketching buddies (Denise & Sarah) went to a marionette show at a local library last week.

The show was put on by the ColumbiaMarionette Theater (about 2 hours from where I live). 

John Scollon was the puppeteer (and Executive Director btw) and he did a fantastic job bringing the story to life as well as keeping the young kids entertained (not to mention the older generation!).

Those kids were so well behaved! 

I think that they were so involved in the show that they didn't have time to get cranky or bored.

I wonder if any of them left with a lifelong love of puppets and marionettes?

As adults, care givers or parents, isn't it our job to expose the younger generation to all things creative?

Someone has to light that spark or at least allow for the opportunity of a spark.

It is up to us to keep the creative spirit alive and well in this world.

(stepping off of soapbox)

I'm not used to sketching in a fast paced environment. 

My sketches will show that but the good news is that I can improve on that with more exposure to it, right?

I'm not trying to pen a realistic rendition of my subject but to impart the spirit of the scene, of the day.

You will see that some of the sketches are incomplete. My subject fled the scene (literally) before I could complete even the barest of outlines.

My approach to putting pen to paper that day was pretty simple – I tried to get a good look at the subject, then jot down a simple outline first. As time and opportunity allowed, I filled in as many details as I could while the marionette was running around the room.

I was especially interested in the placement of the strings on the puppet and the paddle that the puppeteer used to create the movements (I don't know the correct name of that piece of equipment) but things moved so quickly that I couldn't figure it out.

I'm going to call what I did the use of “artistic license” but I am sure that it goes much farther than that!

(remember it is all about the “spirit of the scene”, isn't it?)

The plot of the show was incredible! It included Spangler (the top elf) (lol, great name for a reality show, eh?), The Big Guy (Santa), an elf with a very bad cold (and a blue face), an ice skater with a finely feathered outfit, a puppet show within the puppet show and even a beach hotel clerk!

Here are the pages from my sketchbook that I completed (or almost completed).

The backdrop was a prop built of wood and then painted.
I think the candy canes were plastic ones.
The backdrop also served as the container that all the marionettes
and equipment was stored in. Clever, huh?

That's Spangler at the top (left) of the page.
I loved sketching the kids that were watching.
The many shades of blond in this young man's hair was incredible.

There's John, the giver of life to this cast of characters.
Another spectator with rich blond hair.
And that paddle thing...

The puppet show, John's hand and The Big Guy.
I thought that Santa wore black gloves though. This Santa had
on green gloves.

The star of the show, pretending to be Santa.
I looked at a photo to draw this one.

I mentioned that the backdrop also served as the box
for packing up the set. The marionettes were hung inside, facing the back
of the box. It looked like they were all in "time out" even though I thought
they behaved very well. But who knows what they did once the spotlight was
off of them. They could be little divas behind those smiling faces... 

So, following the December theme that Pam chose of “gifts”, I'll close with this:

My friends and I gave each other that day as a gift.

A gift of our time, our laughter and of grand memories.

All having its roots in the love and desire to sketch our surrounding...we found each other in a sea of people.

And you can do the same thing where ever you live! Put the word out there on your Facebook page, a local art list or gallery list.

Give yourself a gift this year. 

The gift of opening yourself up to sketching, drawing or some type of creative pursuit. It will truly enrich your life.

I hope that you all are having a wonderful holiday season – however you may celebrate it, do it with an open heart.

Faces in the Crowd

I keep  saying that I want to learn to do quick sketches of people.
Saturday morning was a great place to start that since there were lots of people downtown at the Saturday Morning Market.
I did a couple of easy sketches first - buildings, tents, trees, backs of people...that kind of thing.

I finally made myself begin to make quick marks that resembled people.
As soon as I began that, the lady at the table next to us started looking over my shoulder watching me.
I almost froze but decided that it didn't matter anyway. I would just keep sketching and hope for the best.
I couldn't have asked for a kinder onlooker.
She was like my mother, constantly giving me positive affirmations and murmurs of encouragement as I pushed forward (even though I secretly wished she would quit watching me work and thought that my sketches were less than stellar).

I will hesitantly share them here- only because it will force me to do more.
Which will in turn make me sketch more, which will increase my skill, which will help me share more, which will encourage you to sketch people too.

Ahhh, the circle of sharing ones artwork, right?

Evidently I was so intent on sketching that I was unaware of the actual faces that I drew.
I spied a vampire on the page after I got home (mid page on the left).

In looking at this page now (and then actually), I can see that I REALLY need a lot more practice.
I will certainly work on that.

Market Sketches

Here's another sketch that I did on Saturday morning.

This tent was right in front of us.
As the day progressed, the shadows did as well.
My sketch doesn't reflect that but I'd love to go back next week and do a series of sketches showing the changing shadows from the tree on the top of the tent.

As before, I added color after I got home.
I didn't work from a photograph (even though I had one) as I was away from my computer so I made up most of the colors...except the green cucumber.
And the tree colors.
Oh, and the tent...

Saturday Morning Market Sketches

My friend Sarah and I met in downtown Greenville, SC at the Saturday Morning Market to do some urban sketching.

I had never been to the Market and was surprised at the number of people selling organic produce, "happy" meat (as my friend Liz calls it), local baked goods, herb plants and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
I was equally surprised by the number of people milling about & shopping on Main Street.
Rows of crisp white "E-Z Up" tents and  brightly colored coordinated shop signs greeted us as we turned the corner.
It was a veritable feast of sketching scenes!

We found a small table under an awning to sit away from the sun, grabbed a cup of joe and got to "work".

I wanted to spend some time (trying to) sketch people in the crowd but didn't want to start out on this (as it would wound my sense of accomplishment right away).
I spied a woman sitting in front of one of downtown Greenville's beautiful fountains - quietly reading.
She was to the right of me, with a busy main street hustle and bustle all around her.
But, there she was, sitting still.
Barely moving!

I was using a Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen on a 6" x 8" piece of 90 pound watercolor paper.
(well, it's actually a piece of 8" x 12" paper that is folded to be the above size).
I will stitch my loose pages into a handmade book later.
I like the flexibility that the loose pages offer me.
I added color (with various watercolors) and small details at home.

I'll share more sketches this week.

Urban Sketching

As posted in the "Sketchbook Challenge" blog today -


I've been seriously pursuing "Urban Sketching" for about a year.
The first few times that I went, my pen marks were very light...kinda wobbly and probably not to good.
I was not feeling secure about sketching in public.

But the longer that I sit in public places and sketch, the less I worry about the end product - the actual sketch.
I'm loving the practice of urban sketching.
It makes me feel a little more secure in my abilities, a little less concerned about what other people think of my sketching and, above all, it lets me stop and really see the world around me.

That's one of the "side effects", if you will, of this urban sketching activity.
You begin to truly look at and see every little thing in your world.
Not just the things that you are drawing but the potential subjects.

Everything begins to look like a sketch waiting to happen.
It makes the world a more beautiful place.

It allows you to celebrate the beauty in the ugly things around you.

I've got page after page of urban sketches - some of them aren't too bad, some of them continue to hide in my sketchbook - embarrassed by the thought of being shown in public.

I'll share a few more with you today.

This is a partial sketch of the Greenville Art Museum. I added a tiny bit
of watercolor on site but wasn't able to complete this there.
I usually don't add any more details/paint at home.

A playground robot stands guard over the playground .

I plucked some lavender from the garden and drew it before I took it in the house.
I was drawing on a piece of cold press watercolor paper -
I love the way that the uneven paper grabs the graphite.

While sitting in my car, waiting on my sketching  buddies, I drew a local
McDonald's as a warm-up sketch. I had forgot my water brush so I used
watercolor pencils instead.

This is a metal sculpture in Greenville SC. I love the lines of it.
I had to draw it several times to get the lines right...
I can see from this sketch that I need more practice with it!

This is one of the beautiful old buildings in downtown Greenville SC.
Our city has spent many, many hours (and dollars) on revitalization of the area.
I am so proud to call this area home. I love to see people milling about downtown, enjoying
this beautiful and busy city.

I hope that I have tempted you to step outside your comfort zone and do some urban sketching.
It will reward you in ways that you would not expect if you just give it a chance.

My plan now is to step a little farther out of my own comfort zone and begin sketching more people.
Real live moving people...

What's your plan?

Sunday Urban Sketching

My husband and I were riding our bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail today (rode apx. 25 miles).
I went up to the A.J. Whittenburg Elementary School of Engineering to look around.
Imagine my surprise (and delight) when I saw the play area that had A.J. the robot as part of the slide arrangement!
What a fantastic idea.
I had to stop and sketch while my husband rode into Falls Park.
I want to go back and sketch the play area at the Kroc Center - it looks like a huge molecule!

140 pound watercolor (single sheets to be sewn into a handmade sketchbook), watercolors, Pitt pen. Apx 20 minutes with a few details done at home.

Sketching at the library

I volunteer at the local library's gift shop (Greenville County Library - main one) ("Friends of the Library").
I take different things with me to occupy my time when things are slow.

Some days I do computer work.
Sometimes I draw.
Or crochet.
Or read.

Today I did some urban sketching.

This was a section of the view from my perch in the gift shop.

I added some of the paint splatters that I adore in my friend Sarah's sketches.
I am loving that the sketching in public is getting a bit easier as I continue to do it.



I'll try to remember to post photos of the visitor that was on the bike trail yesterday...
I'll just do it now.

EEwwwww!

This copperhead was just sitting there (or whatever they do) on the Swamp Rabbit Trial while people whizzed by on bikes.
The walkers (and runners) either didn't even see it or gave it a wide berth.

My husband moved it off of the trail (with a long stick) and I was terrified when he was doing it!
I am terrified of snakes, just terrified yet find them so interesting (like inside a display at the zoo).

I was glad to peddle away from this one.

We have a lot of snakes here in the upstate of SC.

It's always a great idea to look around you if you're out hiking or out enjoying nature.

I hope that you all have a great weekend filled with creative endeavors.

Urban Sketching Around Town

I have a couple of good buddies that love to get together and prowl around different places doing urban sketching.
We are trying to be present and more authentic in our lives.
We want to document our lives through drawing our surroundings.
And one solid truth has continued to be in the forefront...

The more that you draw what you see - the better you begin to SEE what you draw.
It's true.
You notice things that you never saw before...or took for granted.
You see the shadows that the afternoon sun cast, or the way that a small stream appears to be brown as it reflects the soil around it.

You begin to notice the sheer beauty in the landscape around you.

These are a few of the quick sketches that I did while wandering around Falls Park in Greenville SC.
I spent no more than 10 minutes on each sketch.

Hopefully I can go back later and add some color.
But if I don't, I won't let it bother me...I'll just go on to the next page.

This sketch was made while sitting down towards the side of the Reedy River, near the bridge in the sketch above.
It's the back of the building that houses "A Postcard From Paris" boutique.
My husband and I rode our bikes back down there today - I wanted to sit and add some color to my sketches but a storm blew in and cut my painting time short.
I was able to add a few shadows and that was it.
Overall I am pleased that I am beginning to be able to leave out a lot of the "noise" of the scenes but I continue to work on getting things more..um, not quite so wonky...

This was my view of the "Overlook Grill" at the entrance of Falls Park.
I loved all of the umbrellas at the outside tables. I really want to go back and add color to this one...I may change the color of the umbrellas since theirs were so bland.
You know - artistic license...a wonderful tool.

I truly love to sit and draw my surroundings. I would love to have a large "Urban Sketching" group here in Greenville SC.
My fellow sketchers and I want to put our pin on the worldwide "Urban Sketching" map.
Won't you join us?
Or begin your own group in your town.
You can check out the manifesto here.

Pen and Paper

There is an old building across the highway from my house.
It has such character (in my opinion) and has a ton of potential being remodeled as a house.
All those high ceiling, wood floors. It has a small apartment off to one side and a larger one in the back.
It is presently being used as some type of business (in the front of it) and the couple that runs the business live in the back.
I love the rusted tin roof over the lower level as well as the extra long windows on the upper level.
I've always imagined a huge open studio/teaching space on the lower level with living quarters on the top level...
never hurts to dream, right?

Anyway, here is a quick sketch of the place that I did.
I simplified the details to make the sketch go quicker.
This is on watercolor paper (with a preliminary sketch in pencil), finished with a Pitt Artist Pen.
I have one layer of watercolors on it and plan on adding more later.

I like the ladder in the upstairs window.
Wonder if they are going to do some (much needed) work on the place?

More Urban Sketching

I forgot to post one sketch from The Children's Garden this week.
This is a small semi-circle flower garden with pansies and parsley in it.

I am going to sit on my patio tomorrow and sketch the warehouse across the highway from my house.
I'll post it in a few days.

Urban Sketching

I'm getting more and more inspired by urban sketching through this blog - "Urban Sketchers".
Check it out and catch the fever!
They have published a book - "The Art of Urban Sketching" which was just released this week.
There is page after page of inspiring peeks into a large group of urban sketchers.
If this is the type of activity that interests you, pick up the book.
Check out the blog.
Or better yet, grab a friend (or two) and create your own "Urban Sketching" group.

It's also a great way to meet other artists in your town too.
I met a wonderful, talented, intelligent and charming woman through our Greenville sketching group (hi Sarah!)
She and I have similar interests as far as wanting to improve our true "urban" sketching skills. So, we set out to do just that.
We met in downtown Greenville one day this week for some sketching, talking, teaching, learning, conversation, laughing and- let's not forget this-lunch!
It was an absolutely gorgeous day in Greenville! The temps were in the upper 60's. There were plenty of birds singing, flowers breaking the confines of the winter rest and people just seemed to be smiling more.
The promise of spring always does that, doesn't it? Even though we have barely had a regular winter season as yet.

We walked to Linky Stone Park, home of The Children's Garden (along the Reedy River) near the Swamp Rabbit Trail in downtown Greenville (SC).
The park has a "Five Senses Garden" that includes flowers and/or herbs that are in alphabetical order (this is a fantastic extra for an OCD person such as myself!) .
They have a "Secret Garden" with beautiful paintings, a Peter Rabbit fence with a portion of the story painted on the fence itself, as well as several statues.
I especially liked the huge pig one.

This pig, Vincenzo, is 4' 5" long and a little over 2' tall!

Here is a cool You Tube video about The Children's Garden that is highlighting art in public places.

The park is under a major bridge in town so you can stand in different places for a great view of the city's skyline.

You can see the back of the famous "Poinsett Hotel" in the upper right hand side

I don't know the name of this building but you can use one of the
 small  bridges (for walking/bikes)  over  the Reedy River to get to it

I took several photos of the area and will try to go back and finish my sketches. My main goal was to improve my urban sketching skills and become more comfortable sketching in public. Both of which will take time...
The downtown Greenville area is just teeming with interesting sites to sketch.
I love this city and hope that we will be stay here as my husband continues his search for a job.

You should get out in your own town with sketchbook in hand...draw your life!

Urban Sketching

When I was a young girl, I used to love to ride my bike. I would wake up early (my mom said that someone had to wake the chickens, right?), eat a quick breakfast and jump on my trusty stead.
What I felt for my bicycle could be described very easily.

Bike = Freedom


I rode a bike almost everyday until I was 16 (then I discovered boys with cars).
I have missed riding.
One day a couple of months ago my husband and I rented bikes to make sure that we wanted to ride regularly before we purchased one.
And, in all honesty, to make sure that my back and hip could take it (I have back and hip "issues").
And of course, it was great!
I felt the same exhilaration that I did when I was younger...that same feeling of freedom (maybe with an additional ache or two!).

A couple of nights ago my husband had a baseball game to umpire. I didn't want to stay at home, I wanted to ride my bike, I wanted to do some urban sketching...

What's a girl to do?

Why allow her gallant husband to offer a solution!
He loaded my bike into our car and we all took off to the complex where the games were.

I made sure that I had the necessary sketching tools & supplies.
1. Compact watercolors
2. Water brush
3. Pitt Artist Pen
4. Reading glasses (or drawing glasses...)

I took off on my bike (Electra Townie 7D) (awesome round town cruiser). I rode over and watched a little bit of youth football (and those cute little cheerleaders), a softball game, a soccer match, and a baseball game. I got a little bit of exercise, let the wind blow through my hair and then set up to draw.

First I drew my Townie.

Now the back wheel really isn't that small...It was late, I was getting tired, the light was bad - okay, how many more excuses do you want?
My bad but I still love the simple lines on that drawing.
And the fun of it is this - I'll draw it again and it will be a better next time!
I'm getting practice, I'm not only exercising my body but I'm exercising my drawing skills...
Remember - if you don't USE it, you'll LOSE it.

By the time I finished the Townie, it was too dark to draw anything else where I was.
So I headed down to the baseball game.
Found a patch of blooming gardenias...
Drew this in the twilight -

I love the way that the gardenia petals unfurl as the bud opens, don't you?
The blooms smell so sweet...
They remind me of waking from a summer's nap at my grandmothers home. She had huge shrubs just full of sweet blooms outside of the bedroom that I napped in. I'd wake with the windows open and that sweet smell greeted me.
The gardenias remain one of my favorite flowers to this day.

So - remember to exercise your body as well as your mind.
Use your eyes to really see the world around you as you use your hands to draw what you're seeing.

Don't forget to check out the Sketchbook Challenge Blog. There are several free tutorials on the site as well as links to many, many more!

Furman University Sketch In

This past Monday was the day of the Greenville SC Sketch In.
We all met at the Furman University Asian Garden. The grounds of Furman are just beautiful and the garden was no different. Check this link out for more info.

You can see the Bell Tower from the entrance to the garden.

I stopped to sketch that (I do love buildings!) but just couldn't get in the "groove" of drawing a building for some reason.

So I moved on.

Looked at this...

While watching Nancy do this...

Stopped for lunch (well, it was 11:30 by then!) and then went back to this sight.

Notice the Buddhist Temple in the upper right hand corner of the photo.
You can read about it on the link above as well as view the many photos of the building of the temple.

Quite fascinating, isn't it?

I am always amazed at the things people do to preserve their cultures...to share with others (or new generations).
I think it is an internal desire or drive.

To show the paths that our lives are on.

Our Pathways are so very important.

What pathway are you on today?

an incomplete (kinda wonky) rendition of the sculpture

Creating Pathways

This is a copy of the post on the Sketchbook Challenge blog that went up today.



I went to Spartanburg (SC) with my husband yesterday.
He was going to umpire a baseball game, I had planned on going to the local library.
Until I saw this...

This beautiful piece of equipment.
I called it a lightweight piece of heavy equipment (cause it was kinda small to be called Heavy...).

Anyway - I had to sit down and start sketching immediately upon seeing it!

Nothing like a modified contour sketch to get things going...

As I was sitting there, lost in my own little "Sketch In", I didn't realize that I was drawing my next "entry" in to this month's theme.

Pathways.

If you look behind the piece of equipment (what is that thing called?!), there is a new path being cut.

Evidently Spartanburg SC is joining Greenville SC in hosting (building and promoting) bike riding and walking trails.

So - I figured that my drawing is a way to illustrate a pathway.
Whether it is a link between two paths or something that actually creates that path...

The finished drawing stretches over several sheets actually.
I think I might put some color on it with watercolors and then use brads or something to make it an interactive piece of artwork.

Either way it was a lot of fun once I started.
Just remember that the real key to drawing from life is LOOKING and SEEING what you're drawing.
Not just drawing what you think you see.

If you've read any of my posts here or those at the "Sketchbook Challenge" blog, you'll know that I've been um,,, out of sorts here-lately.
Been having a bit of trouble finding (or staying) on my creative pathway.

I'm using previous marks that I've made to lead me back to the "right" path.

Last time I posted (SBC blog), I talked about using the individual elements of a collage idea to spark some energy.
I've continued to do that - going back to my very basic art routines to rebuild my momentum.
In today's post I'll approach it from the blank page of my trusty pocketbook sketchbook.

I went to the library in Anderson SC while my husband was at a meeting.
I browsed through the (non) fiction books, picked out a couple or three and went to the small coffee cafe to wait for my sweetie.

Sitting at a small round table with a small silk greenery arrangement on it.
Looking out of a tall window at an even taller building across the street.

I had the thought that I should do some sketching...
draw the silk greenery...
sketch the "McDuffie Place" building across the street...

shoulda
woulda
coulda...
none of these three things ever did anything, did they?

But sitting there at that small table, looking at that small greenery arrangement in front of a tall window, across the street from an even taller building, I decided that I WOULD do something.
Not just sit there and think about it.

Nike was right, right?
Just Do It.

So, here is what I did in about 10 minutes...

The small arrangement on the small round table?

That (even) taller building in front of the tall window (McDuffie Place)?

That's how it all looked to me and my trusty pen.

Little by little, sketch by sketch I'm settling into my sweet spot for creating.
I'm learning (again and again) not to rush things...
just allow it all to happen in its own time.

Together we can find our own individual pathway to creative energy.

I hope that you're all peeking at my Flickr photo account from time to time.
I try to add photos there whether I post them on my blog or not.
There are a lot of older pictures there so check it out.
Think about setting yourself up an account if you have the inclination. It's a great way to share inspiration and an even better way to share photos with friends and family.

Painting and Rusting

I've been doing a little bit of mixed media painting this week.
Getting ready to go to a local gallery tomorrow (!) to show my work for a possible "visiting artist" spot.
I've been a bit nervous and really excited (since they ask me to come!).
Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to show and sell my work there.
I'll be taking books, fiber collage pieces and mixed media paintings.
Here's a peek at three new pieces from the "It Takes a Village" series.

I'm also thinking about starting a batch of rusting this weekend...
My husband and I rusted a bunch of fibers (and things) last year but haven't done any since then.
I'm getting low on a couple of my favorite pieces...it should be perfect weather this weekend to throw together a batch of rusty goodness outside.

What's on your table today?

April Sketch In

Carol Sloan here.

Today was the Greenville Sketch In.

We met at Coffee To A Tea (great coffee and food!), then walked down this beautiful "path" to Falls Park.

I didn't get everyone in the photo (sorry) but wanted to show you how beautiful the walk down to the park really is.
There are so many gorgeous places to sit and sketch that many had trouble making their minds up on where to go.
I wanted to walk a little farther in to the park to see the waterfalls after the rain this weekend.
Here's a bit of the Reedy River under the falls.

Here's a shot that includes the falls and the suspended bridge.

The water was rushing over but no kayaks this year!

I walked around to this spot with a new friend, Jeanette, to draw a while.

We found this bench in the shade with a patch of Japanese Iris close by.

Bingo!

 I took a close up so that I could work on a few details (if I choose to) when I get home.
I'm not too sure that I want to go any farther with the sketch but I have that option, right?

Here is Jeannette working on her sketch of this foliage embedded into the rock wall.

 Here's my quick sketch of the Iris. I pulled out my travel watercolors to add some color to the sketch.

I'm drawing on individual sheets so that I can add them into a handmade book  later.

I added a little bit of color, a few small details and dots.

I'm reserving my option to "do" anything with this one...

 I hope that you will join us on our next Sketch In. It will be April 16. Susan and I will post the details of where to meet.

If any of you have suggestions, please let us know! This is for everyone that wants to participate. Let's go to as many different places as we can.