More Urban Sketching

I drove around south Georgia 2 weeks ago with my sisters doing family research. There are tiny little towns with not much going on...mostly pecan groves. But each county has a magnificent county court house! This one was no exception. We wanted to stop for coffee, but a local told us there was no coffee shop to be had in town. That's how small it was! 

This is an ink and watercolor sketch of the cupola of the court house in Abbeville. I first sketched in pencil an then inked over pencil.

Sketch from Orvieto, Italy

5.5 x 8

ink and watercolor in sketchbook

Stroll down the street. On the left is a ceramic store. On the wall are ceramics for sale. The clock tower is in front of you. There is a small road to explore that leads off the left. Have fun! It was magical to walk around this small town. It is ancient. We arrived early and beat the crowds. Behind me on my right is the stunning cathedral. I am standing in the large square of the town. 

Disney World and sketching

I decided to go to Disney world to get out of this cold winter.It was rather spur of the moment and most enjoyable. I flew down for 5 days, which gave me three days at the parks and 2 for travel. Enough time to get away. I stayed at the Disney Beach Resort, in Epcot. I chose there because I wanted to mostly see the annual Festival of the Arts, which is held in Epcot. It's a celebration of the arts, music, food and art. It was a lovely festival. Being at the Beach resort, I could walk to Epcot. I only drew 2 sketches each day. They are rough, but what I was able to do while walking around Disney. I had my 5x8 watercolor sketch book with a Pitt art pen. First I sketched and then painted with my small watercolor box and water brush. I simple, but effective set up.

 A dessert I tried. S'more Tart. Delish!

 Beautiful blue sky looking at the Epcot Earth Ball

 Splash Mountain in the Magic Kingdom. I spent one day in 

the Magic Kingdom and two days in Epcot.

 It started raining and I sat down under a table with an umbrella

and just sketched and painted what was in front of me. I was 

at the world showcase in Epcot. The top is a shopping kiosk and 

the bottom is of an island out in the water.

 Inside the Beach Resort I had breakfast there in

in the Cape May Cafe. The decor was amazing. On 

the walls are colorful croquet sets, the mallets and 

the balls, all attached to the wall. 

In the lobby, which is BEAUTIFUL, I sat in chairs like

these, big and comfy. They were all around the perimeter 

and in the center. 

Sketching is a pastime that I do love. I am not an expert, but I try! 

I always tell my granddaughter, "In order to be a good artist,

 I must be willing to be a bad artist." So here it is...

Urban Sketching

I've posted this on my crafting blog as well because I think of outdoor sketching as a craft and an art. Not sure why, but I do. Painting outside is not one of my favorite pastimes, but I am trying to get better at it. I prefer studio painting with all my creature comforts and air conditioning and no bugs...lol    But, I do love keeping travel journals- for years they have been written journal and I have filled several journals this way. I love looking back at them because they bring me right back to that place and time.  So, now I want to add images to my written travel journals.

And that gives me a GREAT IDEA!  I am going to make a few travel journals for me- with both writing and painting paper. More to come on that...
happy painting.

Sketching in Ink and watercolor

sketches of Provence

ink and watercolor on 140# mixed media paper

These sketches are from a trip to France in 2013. These were done from photos after the trip. I have a trip to Italy this late summer and I will bring my sketch supplies to do plein air sketching. I want to do on-the-spot plein air sketching, not after the fact!  So this weekend I'll spend the weekend doing a group plein air sketch group through the Rehoboth Art League. I am very excited about it and have my supplies all ready. You can see a picture of my supplies here.