Everyday Sketches

Our local sketching group headed to the Glengarry Pioneer Museum last Saturday. I brought an older sketchbook with me in which I had left one blank double-page spread. I easily found a view to fill it. I took my time with the drawing and elected not to go over it with pen, but just to start painting. It took awhile, including a pause to consult Working with Colour by Shari Blaukopf for a good mix for darks. The Sap Green + Carbazole Violet combo was a revelation!

I had hoped to get two sketches done that morning, so, with only a bit of time left I elected to do a quick sketch, drawn directly with pen and then some watercolour.

Here are the results of a slow and of a fast approach.

I volunteer on the garden team at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. After weeding this week I found a shady spot to sit and sketch one of the collection of historic buildings at this picturesque local museum. It was cleaning day. The modern turquoise vacuum cleaner by the door was a humorous juxtaposition. And the power lines beyond were another reminder that Pioneer days are long gone.

Red Charm is usually the first peony to bloom. Mine produced 7 gigantic blooms this year (it was only a wee baby plant 3 years ago). I cut one to have inside. It was stunning. But equally beautiful to me is the fading bloom and fallen petals.

The Glengarry Artists’ Collective had a bake sale today in Mill Square, Alexandria. Our local sketching group was also there as an added attraction.

I warmed up with a sketch of the goodies (done standing up which was viewed as quite an accomplishment by a few people, but a good view of the table) then settled in with my stool and easel to sketch the view down Centre Street.

I love this annual plant (also called fan flower). And, it turns out, it likes the climate on my back deck.

I had a wonderful display of daffodils and narcissi I my spring garden. I did a few sketches of them and then though, heh, why not do a little simple sketch of each different type. I even had the layout planned. Unfortunately I didn’t get to it before they faded. So I did a few from memory, trying to capture a bit of their character.

The left hand sketch was done on site (daffs growing in my lawn along with dandelions) and the right hand sketches are from memory.

Our local Glengarry Sketchers met up yesterday at a spot in Alexandria where we had a wide choice of subject matter. Everything from families of geese by a pond to a bright yellow chip stand to views of shops along Main Street. I ended up focussed on just a corner of one building, the book store.