Summer sketches

This week marks the official end of summer for me as my boys start back to school this week and next. I've been enjoying our mild summer and meeting every Tues. with my sketching group for outings around Portland. Here's a little farewell to summer sketching as we no doubt will be returning inside soon.

View of the Rose Festival from east side of the river:

The Rose Garden in full bloom this year:

One of my favorite spots is Hughes water garden, full of lily ponds, fountains and gorgeous displays:

McMenamin' Edgefield with intriguing angles and architecture:

Lake Oswego's display of public art:
And Luscher Farms community garden:

I was just talking to a friend about why my sketches don't look anything like my fiber work or my paintings. I'm not sure why that is. I'm wondering if it is because my training in drawing was all very precise, or if I freeze up too much when I start working realistically. Maybe it's that I fall back on ink and watercolor because it's portable. Whatever it is, I'd like to have the same freedom and looseness in sketching that I do in my other work.

I'm intrigued by this book by Stephen Aimone. Lots of fun exercises for expressive drawing (mainly abstract) that I want to try.

And I really like this playful new book by Carla Sonheim.
She encourages lots of quick playful sketches. Here's Jack in action.

I'm hoping they take my fall sketches in a whole new direction.

Z'anne is giving away a lovely turquoise and coral necklace over on my art group's blog this month. Stop by and leave a comment to enter the drawing.