The first amazing thing was to finally meet some of the people I've admired for so long in the virtual world. First and foremost Gabi. I think Gabi has 2 twin brothers who where there as well because everywhere I turned, he was there documenting or facilitating or leading a sketch group and always sketching. Gabi, thank you so much for everything you've done to create this amazing Urban Sketching thing.
Quick sketch of Veronica and Frank Ching on the morning of day 3. I love the color of Frank's shirt.The next thing was seeing all those sketchbooks in the room. I'd seen a lot of the work in them online but to see them laid out there and, in some cases to hold them and page through them was, (and I'm revealing myself as the true sketch nerd that I am), almost a religious experience. Jason's small Brooklyn cityscapes are incredibly intimate in person and Isabel's beautiful scenes of Mauritanian life ... I'll stop myself there but I was really moved by seeing everyone's work in person.
This was done as part of Tia's Urban Color group using her Urban Splasher's technique of pre-staining the page with random color and working the composition around it.The most wonderful thing, though was being around so much enthusiasm for drawing. It was truly contagious and I think the entire city felt it, I know the Mayor did!
I regret that I wasn't able to join all of the instructors for their presentations or join them all for sketching sessions but that's why there's going to be another one next year, right?
It was so great hanging out with you Bill! Never enjoyed drawing in a restaurant as much.
ReplyDeleteBill, your sketches are lovely...as are your comments. And thanks for explaining how Gabi seemed to appear everywhere!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these are really nice Bill.(one so simple and second so complex) I've never seen you do simple; you must have been stopped short! Worked out great.
ReplyDeleteGabi was everywhere! and then when I asked if i could see his sketches he said he didn't have any time to sketch!
ReplyDeleteI, too, was so overwhelmed and felt a little like it was a religious experience... It was almost too much for me to take in. I'm very excited for the prospects of a trip to portugal and another symposium (although, i would also like for the symposium to return to Portland!)
I wish there could be a way to have gone out with every instructor and listened to all the lectures!!!
Great post Bill. It was nice to have met you in person. Like I said, I really like all your oil paintings shown on your website. Keep sketching and now keep splashing too.
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