Urban Sketches - Present and Past

 During this time of quarantine, I am reminiscing about the joy of sitting in the city, drawing people as they come and go, with the backdrop of buildings, carving out their shapes against the sky.  The city is fascinating to me.  Often, while looking up at the profile of a building against the sky, I find a carved piece of moulding, a corbel, a detail, in place for a century or more.  I revere these artists gone by who put details in place only to be seen by the few who happen to look in that direction, or who are replicating a contour with pen on paper.  This is joy.
Many of these drawings are now on my website under the "sketchbook" category.  I am donating a portion of each sale to the Elizabeth Peabody House in Somerville, a 125-year old community organization serving via its food pantry and pre-school.  

 As always, I thank you for looking.  You know I love your comments.  Stay well, and be kind. 

"Room with a View" Old Town Portland

Day 98 "NIght in the Garden" mixed 6 x 12

It has been so beautiful and cold these last few days.  The Boston Public Garden looks icy blue as the sun is setting.  The quiet dusk is alluring.  
This is my ninety-eighth daily drawing.  I drew with ink, overlayed with gray markers in different values, added some colored pencil to deepen and vary the darks, then added some pastel over the top to enhance the lights. I like the effect though may go at it again with a little different approach, perhaps painting in all the darks with ink, then lifting their value with some pastel and pencil.  We shall see.  Thank you for looking.  

"Waiting for Dinner Rush" ink 9 x 7

This waiter caught my eye one day as he waited for the restaurant to open, or for the crowds to arrive.  This steakhouse is in Amsterdam along one of a number of picturesque streets.  He waited peacefully, before, perhaps a busy night ahead..  this is my seventy-third daily drawing.  I am enjoying exploring my photo collections from my travels over the years.  Thank you for looking with me.