Something New

Somehow I stumbled on Virtual Sketch Date and this is my first contribution. I'm sure I found out about it from someone at EDM but I'm sorry I don't remember who. Thank you whoever it was. I really enjoyed doing this.

The reference photo is a beautiful image from Sherrie Roberts. Thank you for letting us use it!

A Tiffany Blue Monday

Our Monday sketch group met at the Chicago Cultural Center. The Classical Mondays Concert Series is held in there in the Preston Bradley Hall. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, beautiful music, the magnificent recently-restored Tiffany dome and mosaics in the hall and sketching.

EDM #52-The Granddog

This is a doodle of Andrew and Genevieve's Burling. He doesn't hold still very long!

The Olympics and EDM# 177

We put these Tibetan Prayer flags on the deck during the opening ceremonies.

Surrealism in Chicago

There is something very surreal about sitting at the beach under a palm tree gazing up at the Hancock Center in Chicago!
We were a smaller group than usual today but I got a lot done. When working in such an open area I struggle with visual editing. This week I managed to work faster, simplify and focus better. Next week I'll try for a little bigger and freer.





It wasn't until I started to scan these sketches that I realized I didn't draw the palm trees and the skyline. That was really the most iconic view. Well that's a quest for another day.

EDM #8

The other day I was talking with some friends about the Norton Museum in Palm Beach and the Iris Apfel, Rare Bird of Fashion, 2007 exhibit. It was also at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan in New York. She's an inspiration and I really enjoyed the show and book. This chat put me in mind of this bracelet, which lead to this sketch and EDM #8- draw your watch or some other piece of jewelry, which led to this post…

Some Days Are Better Than Others

The sun was hot at "The Bean", the beautiful "Cloud Gate" sculpture in Millennium Park. Sat in the shade, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and light jacket and still my knees (of all things) got sunburned! Slowly but surely I'm beginning to learn to visually edit as I sketch outside. I've been pre-drawing a few boxes on the page and sketching in them on site. That seems to help. I don't know why.

I plan to review my notes from Richard Scott's workshop before next week. As I gain more experience sketching outdoors I expect to get even more from his excellent instruction.



Next week we meet at the beach.

Something Summer

Just as sure as the calendar says it's August the cicadas are singing their summer song. This year it isn't as loud as last year's 17 year concert! EDM#176 draw something summer.

Doodling with a Purpose

Testing Markers-I have more markers-all different brands and sizes! Most are left over from sets where the majority have dried out and have been discarded. I couldn't resist another doodle. EDM# 26.

Still Doodling

I love to look back at old sketchbooks, especially the ones that have odd scraps of paper tucked in between the pages. That's where I found these. The first two are of my granddaughters. I did them last year when we were on a day trip to Wisconsin. Sophie was in her car seat and I was in the "Nana" seat in the back of the van. Morgan is done from memory since I couldn't see her from my vantage point.


This is of a beautiful blown glass bowl that should be displayed on its own but when I saw these red berries I couldn't resist!
It's also EDM #178 - draw something red!

All three fall into the "inchie" category.

Doodling and Dawdling

I am the world's best procrastinator when it comes to keeping my studio/office straightened! Now that it's beginning to look more like a storage room than a work space I guess I should take action and get it done. Rediscovering little bits of inspiration that I found and saved make for a very slow process! Funny, I'm really a very organized person in other aspects of my life.



Stop doodling and dawdling, Barbara, and get back to work. Just do it!