Revisiting Italy

I went back to revisit and finish filling my Italy travel journal of our trip to Tuscany in 2017 yesterday.  I did it as part of our Urban Sketchers virtual get-together. Since we still can't gather together because of Covid, we were to choose a photo of a favorite past vacation, or a place we would love to visit. Italy was both for me.
It was fun, going through my pictures to choose a reference photo while listening to Andrea Bocelli and eating linguine and pesto imported from Italy!  We would love to return to Italy again.  It was an amazing place and so beautiful! This sketch is from a photo of the countryside from our bus window. 

USK/DFW Sketch-In

This past Saturday, the DFW chapter of Urban Sketchers wasn't able to meet because of   the Shelter in Place order.  So, our group leaders came up with an idea to post a new challenge on our facebook page every hour, starting at 10:00 am and ending at 6:00 pm.  We then posted our drawings in the comments section below each challenge.  I followed along as long as I could, but doing a whole sketch every hour for 9 hours was way more than my hand could handle.  : )   I completely finished the first two challenges, and got another three sketched out in pencil.  Since Saturday, I have finished the other three. 

Our winner was Nguyen Khang, who finished all 9 challenges with his beautiful sketches.  The Grand Prize is a 6 roll package of toilet paper to be delivered to Khang at the next gathering after all this craziness is over.  And of course, he also received this beautiful golden virtual trophy, designed by Robyn Jorde......

This was so much fun and we have had many laughs!  We are all eager to do this again.  Although maybe at an easier pace! 



 The following are my finished sketches from the challenges....

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It's a good thing that Dalynn, the holder of Grand Prize, lives 50+ miles outside of the Metroplex in an unknown location.  If Khang had received his prize, we may all be knocking on his door.....to borrow a roll of toilet paper.  HaHa!

November Urban Sketching

This month, USK/DFW went to Grapevine, TX.  It was chilly, but a beautiful day and Main Street was fully decorated for Christmas.  I headed to the Vitro Glassblowing Studio where it was nice and warm....and full of beautiful glass.

There were people in the studio learning to make their own Christmas ornaments.  The process is fascinating!  They were very smart to graciously allow me to sit and sketch, because now I want to go back and learn the art of glassblowing!

I only had time to do an ink sketch and add a bit of color before it was time to meet back with the group for the throwdown.  So, I finished my sketches at home.

My sketches.....

Our group.....

VA Hospital

This week,  while Wayne was having surgery to remove a non-malignant skin cancer, I had 2 hours in the waiting room overlooking the center atrium at the VA Hospital in Dallas.   The hospital is all angles and I wanted to try to convey that on paper.  I'm not sure I even came close,  but this is the result.

Wayne is recovering well.  He will be happy to have those itchy stitches removed in a few days!

Adding On

In September, the USK-DFW outing was to Sundance Square for the Wheels for Wellness Car Show.  I enjoyed sketching the cars but only had time to finish the red car.  Since then, I added on and continued the drawing across the page.

Urban Sketchers - DFW

Today, Wayne and I hopped on the train and rode to downtown Fort Worth where we met my Urban Sketchers group.  We got to enjoy the Wheels For Welness Fall Car Show at Sundance Square where there were plenty of beautiful cars on display to sketch.

My sketch......

Our group......

Catching Up!

I cannot believe how fast our summer has gone!  I have fallen so far behind on our blog.  I think I will start with the newest first.  As I think of things I have missed, I will fill in.  As a result, everything will be out of order but eventually I will get caught up.

We just returned from a Caribbean cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.  We had a good time and met some very interesting people.  Everyone onboard our ship was so friendly!  We enjoyed sharing our table at lunchtime with a wonderful young couple from Mexico, Ricardo and Maria.  I am hoping they will see this blog post and comment so we can stay in touch.

While most people at the pool sunbathed, I found a shady spot and sketched.  There was a huge mosaic parrot beside the pool that caught my eye, and also the bright red that the lifeguards wore. (The lady and the metal palm tree were just for fun!)   Sitting away from the pool, I didn't think the lifeguard would see me sketching him.  The lifeguards were replaced often and I had to draw him fast because although they wore the same bright red,  their uniforms were different. I was busy looking down when all of a sudden he was standing right in front of me!  His shift had ended and he came over to ask if I had finished drawing him!!   Busted!! 

The next day, we ran into him again and I showed him the finished drawing.  He said he liked it and we walked on.  Several minutes later, I heard someone hollering, "Ma'am! Ma'am!"  I turned around to see that he was running after us with his tablet to ask if he could take a picture of my drawing.  He was very a very cute young man who reminded me alot of my nephew, JP.

Urban Sketchers Dallas/FT. Worth in Denton

Our local Urban Sketchers group met up today at the Historic Courthouse Square in Denton, TX.  We had a great turnout and it was a beautiful day!  Although hot, it was windy and there were plenty of shady areas to sit and sketch so it was very comfortable.

The courthouse is beautiful!

My sketch...

The Throw Down at the end....

This part is so much fun. I love seeing everyone's sketches!  There is so much talent in this group!

April Sketch Outing

Our DFW Urban Sketchers group met at the Dallas Truck Yard this past weekend for our monthly gathering to sketch,  share our work and have a meal together.  It's a fun place where food trucks serve great food while the Truck Yard provides live entertainment,  picnic tables,  some even in pickup truck beds or a tree house,  and plenty of room to visit with friends.  It is located in the Lower Greenville area.

We got there when they opened at 11 am and had our pick of places to sit.  Two hours later, the place was packed!  I sketched the tree house while we were there and later sketched the old truck.

Flatiron Building Fort Worth

Last month while I was downtown Fort Worth for the DFW Urban Sketchers outing,  I took a photo of this building.   I started an ink drawing several days ago.

                   Today I added color.

Train Ride

Last month, when I had jury duty in Dallas, I started this sketch on my train ride home. It was too bumpy to work in pen or paint, so I put it aside to finish later.  This is my sketch, finally complete....

Golf Course

I've been going to the driving range with Wayne.  I sketch while he hits balls.  We've had some great weather to enjoy being outside.  The first sketch I did about two weeks ago. The trees were still bare. Only the Redbuds were beginning to bloom.

  This week we went and the trees were filling out, the grass is turning green and the Redbuds were in full bloom.

A funny note:  I did the first of these two sketches upside down in my sketchbook. So, I did the second one, facing it, upside down too.

Urban Sketchers Outing

Urban Sketchers Dallas/Ft. Worth met at St.  Patrick's Cathedral in downtown Fort Worth for our March outing.  It was a beautiful day,  perfect for sketching.   I finished the cathedral  downtown but I added the lamppost and restaurant's sign (where we gathered after sketching) back home in my studio.   

Urban Sketchers Outing

Today Wayne and I met the Urban Sketchers DFW at Northpark Center in Dallas.  It was a great place for sketching!  The mall is filled with art,  interesting shops and is a great place for people watching!   I have been wanting to sketch a window display with mannequins!  I scouted out a place to sit comfortably that was a little less traveled so there wouldn't be crowds blocking my view.  The mall was very busy!   I sat on a wall across from Zara and had a great view. 

We met again at 4pm for the throw down where we all got to see each others work.   I am always amazed at the wonderful sketches displayed.

We also had passersby stop and ask about our art.

Then of course trying to get everyone in the group photo....

We didn't stay to eat with the group because we needed to get home.  But on the way out of the mall we were drawn like moths to a light to a candy shop right by the entrance.  Neither of us had ever seen candy like this and they were giving away free samples.   That was it,  we had to buy one for each of us.

The candy looks like marble!  It was delicious!! It was worth every penny.  Wayne had Key Lime Pie.   Mine,  the one pictured below, was Peanut Brittle.  

I'm already looking forward to our outing next month!

Sketching at DBU

The weather was gorgeous today, so I went on an adventure.  I drove over to Dallas Baptist University.  It is a beautiful campus built on top of a hill overlooking Mountain Creek Lake.  It was a perfect, sunny day with a light breeze.....something we haven't had in awhile.  I walked around the campus a bit and found a great place to sit and sketch the steeple of the Pilgrim Chapel.

Then I just walked around and took pictures of things I would like to sketch.

I'd like to go back and spend more time there!