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| 4/24/15 Platinum brush pen, watercolor, Canson XL 140 lb. paper |
Do you ever have one of those days when every sketch you
attempt should have just stayed in bed?
A small group of Friday sketchers gathered at Suzzallo Library on the University of
Washington campus on this blustery, spitting morning. I usually find something inspiring to sketch on campus,
but that tends to happen more often when I sketch outdoors. A year ago an even smaller group met there,
and while my sketches inside the library were less than inspired, my last sketch
outside made the trip worthwhile.
Today I had déjà vu of last year’s debacle when I began in
Suzzallo’s quiet study room, a cathedral of gothic arches. It was meant to be a
simple value study that went terribly wrong.
Next I ventured over to the far end of the attached Allen
library, which was new territory for me. I found plenty of large windows offering
what could have been inspiring views. I picked the entryway of the HUB where a
small information fair was going on. Ho-hum.
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| 4/24/15 various inks |
Eventually I wandered over to the HUB, where I have memories
of many, many mediocre meals consumed in a rush between undergraduate classes back
in the late ‘70s. Unrecognizable to me now, it looks more like an airport food
court than a student union building. Times may have changed, along with the
wall paint and food vendors, but one thing hasn’t: Students still wolf their
food down during short breaks between classes, taking far less time to eat than
I could take to sketch them.
After our meetup to share sketches, I realized I had just
missed a bus, so I sat at the shelter to wait for the next one. Those last 10
minutes on campus turned out to be my best: a tree and a lamp post bearing the U of Washington banner.
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| 4/24/15 various inks, watercolor, colored pencil |
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| 4/24/15 Sailor Doyou ink |
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| Gwen, Nancy, Anne, Peggy, Alex and me at Suzzallo Library. |
Edited 4/25/15: Per Matthew's suggestion, I cropped one sketch (below). I agree that it's better! Thanks, Matthew!
Oh, how I resemble those remarks. For me the key is "... this blustery, spitting morning." If I'm comfortable I can always find something to draw. But if I'm cold and damp, there ain't nuttin' gonna make me want to draw. This includes being forced indoors when I was hoping to be outdoors. Happened to me last week, in fact, and the result was that I wandered around the museum and then went home. You're sure a lot more productive than I am on those "this blustery, spitting" mornings. --- Larry
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just can't get inspired...and you are like me and would much rather be outside. I think you did well at making the best of the views inside.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they are so uninspired - I like the wolfing students a lot. The central area of the info fair is a very interesting design. What if you cropped some of the bottom, which is admittedly pretty dull, and perhaps a bit of the left side, to focus on the interesting figures and architectural features?
ReplyDeleteMatthew
Thanks, Matthew -- good ideas! Digital cropping is often a sketch-saver! ;-)
Delete