Chicago sketches in gray

 Three sketchbooks got used on my recent trip to Chicago, and I'm scanning them one at a time.  These sketches are from the gray book, which gives you a nice midtone as a starting point.

The view from the 14th floor:

And the view after the fog rolled in:

View from a cafe at brunch, looking up to the condos across the street:

Standing the balcony during intermission at the ballet, capturing the musicians and the crowd below:

Scene from a park on a windy day:

A few sunsets from indoors since it was cold outdoors!

winter waves

Good crashing waves recently with a big swell combined with a big tide swing.

First sketches of 2024

 New Year's Day was beautiful, and there were a lot of people out on the recreation trail.  There was also a quiet little wedding with just the bride & groom and their parents at high noon at Lover's Point. Pen and ink and watercolor in a shiny new sketchbook.

Closing out 2023

 I closed out the year by drawing, of course.  Mostly the ocean, but I also went to the New Years Eve festivities - namely the taiko drummers and Aztec dancers.  Who needs a ball drop or fireworks when you have taiko drumming?

Mostly beaches

My backlog of sketches - mostly of beaches.  I did meet up with an Urban Sketcher from the UK!  She was in town visiting friends, and sent a message to the local group, and I seem to be the only active Urban Sketcher, so the two of us met up with another friend of hers from out of town and did some sketching together.  It was good to meet up with another Urban Sketcher.

 

Beaches, boats, and helicopters, oh my!

Way behind on my scanning - mostly beach scenes, but there was also a Coast Guard Open House, with all sorts of rescue folks there and a helicopter.

And I finally got to see the koi pond with koi and without a net over it!  The garden at the Pacific House has a little koi pond, but the local herons tend to go fishing there, so they throw a net over is until they lose interest.  

Brazil in infrared

In late June I took a trip to remote Brazil.  While my travelling companions had zoom lenses and shot full color, I had a wide-angle lens on an infrared camera.  You're shooting somewhat blind since the light meter doesn't do you any good, so you take a shot, look at the little preview window, and bracket from there.  I got some good shots, and the trip was quite an adventure.