Sketching at the National Cathedral

On Tuesday, I found myself with a few extra hours in Washington DC before a flight back to Minneapolis. It was perfect for a visit to the National Cathedral. Before heading inside to see the Space Window with its moon rock, I got in a sketch. I wrapped it up just as my waterbrush's water began to freeze.

photo by Amber Sausen

Another visitor, Chris Branagan, asked to take a picture of me sketching, and I'm delighted that he shared the photos with me.

photo by Chris Branagan

photo by Chris Branagan

sketch media: Lamy Vista with Noodler's Squeteague ink, waterbrush pen, Laloran sketchbook

Sketching President Obama at the Union Depot in Saint Paul.

Roberta and I were lucky to sketch President Obama today. The POTUS was giving a speech about transportation and jobs. People lined up for free tickets Monday and there was a huge, enthusiastic crowd today.

We were able to sit and sketch, but we had a enormous, bright light shining in our eyes the whole time - next time I'll pack a hat with a visor.


Click on the sketches to make them bigger:

Monday, people lined up for tickets.

Here's my sketch of the POTUS in the waiting room today.

Quick sketch of the President speaking.

Roberta's sketch of the POTUS speaking.

More Indoor Sketching - Musicians Practicing in the Union Depot

The Polar Vortex continues its icy grip on Minnesota, making it all but impossible to sketch outdoors. But, here in the Union Depot, there's always something interesting going on in the Waiting Room. Today, the Minnesota Brass was practicing. Roberta and I sat down and listened and of course sketched.

Click on the sketches to make them bigger:

Roberta's sketch, Faber Castell PITT Artist pen and colored pencil.

Sketch in my big, Strathmore toned paper journal with pen & colored pencil.

Another sketch in the big, toned paper journal. 

Sketch in the small journal.

Local Media Beginning to Notice Twin Cities Urban Sketchers Movement

Yup, we Twin Cities urban sketchers are apparently a "thing".

Awesome fellow TC urban sketcher Amber Sausen beat me to it, posting a link to Sheila Regan's awesome City Pages Dressing Room blog post titled "Ken Avidor on the urban sketching movement". Thanks, Amber.

But, I'd like to add some some more info about the sketching scene here in MPLS/STP for folks who'd are dropping in from that article because there is always more stuff that could be useful and hopefully of interest to rookie urban sketchers.

 The article mentions this blog being the local franchise of the worldwide Urban Sketcher blog and that the TC Urban Sketchers aren't the only gang in town, there's the Metrosketchers, a Facebook group that has regular, monthly sketch-outs. The folks behind Metrosketchers are local legends Tim Jennen and Liz Carlson (see below sketch of Tim and Liz). Tim and Liz are super-talented artists besides being awesome sketch-out organizers and they also have a gesture drawing co-op, also on Facebook.

Liz & Tim at the Como Conservatory.

Another awesome, local legend is Roz Stendahl, my personal art guru (see sketch of Roz below). Roz has an amazing blog that has incredibly detailed information about art supplies, the nuts and bolts of sketching outdoors,journaling and other stuff. Roz has led the annual Minnesota State Fair sketch-out. Roz, until recently hosted the MCBA Journal Collective, a great place to learn all kinds of stuff. The amazing Suzanne Hughes has taken the reins of the MCBA Journal Collective - find them on Facebook.

Roz is totally prepared for the rigors of sketching at the MN State Fair.

There will be more  opportunity to celebrate our burgeoning urban sketchers movement when we have our art show in September. Details to be announced next month - stay tuned.

Sketching the Two-Toed Sloth at the Como Conservatory

The Artic Vortex is gone, but sketching indoors is still the rule in Minnesota. Today, Roberta and I went sketching at the Como Conservatory. The sloth slept the entire time we were there, but we sketched her anyway. Click the sketches to make them bigger.

Roberta's sloth sketch.

My sloth sketch.

UPDATE: Photographer Alex Stork shared a couple of excellent photos of me sketching photographers in the sunken garden at the Conservatory. Thanks, Alex!

Here's the the sketches I did of the photographers:

Urban Sketching discussed on City Pages blog

There's a great photo of the Metro Sketchers' December outing at the MMAA and nice commentary on urban sketching by Ken Avidor in this post on the City Pages' blog.
http://blogs.citypages.com/dressingroom/2014/01/ken_avidor_on_the_urban_sketching_movement.php

Sketching on Saint Paul's Skyways - Cray-1 Supercomputer

The temperature outside was below zero, so I walked a few blocks through the skyway to Cray Plaza (formerly Gaultier Plaza). In a window of to the side of the skyway is a Cray-1 supercomputer along with a framed photo of Seymour Cray. Click to make the sketch bigger:

As I sketched, a security guard intervened and insisted I get permission to sit and sketch. He insisted I get permission from the building management otherwise I would removed for "loitering".  I took the elevator to the third floor and talked with someone who gave me permission.... permission to sit and sketch in a public place. 

This annoying, insulting episode took place in Lowertown where I assumed most people would be supportive of artists. Also ironic because I am one of four artists who has artwork reproduced on drink coasters celebrating Lowertown (read an article on the coasters in the Pioneer Press).

I was harassed in a similar way by a security guard in Minneapolis nearly a decade ago (read "Landscape of Fear" at Counterpunch).

Here's a comic I did about the incident - click to make it bigger: