Wednesday, September 15, 2010

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.


7 comments:

Jacky said...

Great sketches and I love that book of Carla Sonheims....I'm doing her online class too. Great way to *free up* and be a bit silly. Loving it.

Jacky xox

Robin Olsen said...

I didn't realize that Carla had an online class--thanks for mentioning that Jacky! It really sounds fun. She makes drawing so approachable in her book that I imagine the class would be great.

Dreamcicle Journeys said...

Thanks for sharing your summer sketches, Robin. I like how you capture the essence of what you're drawing and painting, your style.

cynthia said...

These bring back good memories of summer and I like seeing new and old sketches. They seem very fresh and fun to me.

Anja said...

I enjoyed to look at your sketches, please show us more of them.

Robin Olsen said...

Thanks everyone. Anja, I'm planning on doing lots of sketching in Mexico, so hope to have plenty to show when I get back.

Anonymous said...

i love your watercolors -- very free and expressive!