Today I sat under a sweet gum tree by the Highbridge Water Tower, just above the Harlem River.
As I drew this page in my sketchbook, an exercise class was working out on the plaza by the tower. It might have been a prison program instead of an exercise class. I couldn't really tell.
The female instructon (warden?) shouted to the group of men working out, "I don't want to hear any of your bitch-assiness!" When one class member (inmate?) didn't count his pushups, she kicked him.
I moved to a bench a bit further down the plaza and I tried to get interested in drawing the tower, but the sweet gum tree blocking my view of the tower captured my attention more.
I drew my view, plus a leaf and a crazy sweet gum seed pod I picked up from the sidewalk, but I was frustrated with the tower. I don't like how the building looks on my page, but I'm not going to get all bitch-assy about it.
If you're keeping track, the purple team won the soccer game today.
Colored pencil in Moleskine sketchbook.
As I drew this page in my sketchbook, an exercise class was working out on the plaza by the tower. It might have been a prison program instead of an exercise class. I couldn't really tell.
The female instructon (warden?) shouted to the group of men working out, "I don't want to hear any of your bitch-assiness!" When one class member (inmate?) didn't count his pushups, she kicked him.
I moved to a bench a bit further down the plaza and I tried to get interested in drawing the tower, but the sweet gum tree blocking my view of the tower captured my attention more.
I drew my view, plus a leaf and a crazy sweet gum seed pod I picked up from the sidewalk, but I was frustrated with the tower. I don't like how the building looks on my page, but I'm not going to get all bitch-assy about it.
If you're keeping track, the purple team won the soccer game today.
Colored pencil in Moleskine sketchbook.
Wow, what an experience! I mean, hearing all those things while doing your drawing :) I must say, I usually am not too good with distractions. But I do listen to musics everytime I draw(that's how I lose track of time and tiredness)
ReplyDeleteI still think that the result that you have is very interesting, the floral stuff are amazing and very solid 3D look, and the tower is like a 2D, and that creates an interesting contrasts that brings out the leaves and branches even more. ^^
I really like the drawing, and your story is pretty funny to me. I hope those people didn't pay for that class ... I might want to ask for my money back, but then again, maybe not. I might get kicked. lol nancy
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful journal spread, that sweet gum is fantastic! The exercise class, well, not so much.
ReplyDeleteI think it turned out beautifully! One question, on the tower...were you above it when you sketched? You asked about books on perspective, and I think they are mostly all good. I have a book by Fancis Ching, Design Drawing. It is very good.
ReplyDeleteAlex: I draw outside all the time and have come to enjoy most, but not all, distractions. One day a group of ball players were a bit too near and a softball whizzed by me and my sketchbook too often and too close to be pleasant. Thank you for your kind words. You have such an encouraging way about you.
ReplyDeleteNancy: Just sitting near the class intimidated me. I admire the guys who got through it, even the one who loudly heaved over the fence intot the bushes after a particularly grueling set.
Ann: Thanks. I'm trying to lay out pages as I go along that don't look disjointed, if that makes any sense at all.
Raena: You comment made me laugh out loud because I was sitting far below the tower and tree. My neck hurt looking almost straight up. :) So your point is well taken....and I'm off to check out a book and study prespective! Thank you!!
Ah! This is why they tower bothers you so much! Pick up a glass and hold it above your head. Now look at it...which way do the curves go? I think circles are the hardest part of perspective for us to understand! A curve above your head will go up in the middle; a curve below your head will go down! Hope that helps! I love your work!
ReplyDeleteI love the fallish colors of this one. And sweet gums are such nice trees. I finally got a Moleskine sketchbook, but I am using it more as a journal than anything else, with a few "doodlings" thrown in for good measure.
ReplyDelete(loved reading raena's comments about how the curves go--I should make note of that in my journal!)