Hard to believe May is already upon us. I am not completely sure where I am going to head in May but would love to get outside to a park or garden. There are some gardens in Portland I have not been to that I am considering. I also have not done a drawing of the Corvallis Rose Garden, which is a nice space.
May Group Drawing Time
Instead of having a specific time, I am planning on the group drawing time being on May 3rd and 4th. I will be out sketching on these days and posting images of my work on the group chat and notes. Other people are welcome to share their work too. It is always amazing to see what other artists are producing.
You can join the group chat by:
1. Visit the group chat on the Sketchy Traveler site or on the Substack app
2. Start a new thread to share your drawing
3. Leave a comment on someone else’s thread letting them know what you like about their work
What happens at a group drawing time?
The main benefit of a group drawing time is that it provides a timeslot on your calendar to draw. I do not draw every day, but I do get out drawing at least once a month. A group is also beneficial as you are with other people facing similar challenges and finding solutions. I have picked up many great ideas over the years from seeing other artists work.
This last week was the April drawing time, but it did not go to plan. I did not get to the event I was planning on drawing until 8:30pm and by then the space was packed. I stood in the doorway for a while, but it felt awkward standing there. Eventually I settled at the bar along the building’s front but realized I had forgotten my fountain pen. So I produced a quick sketch with the ball point pen I had showing the front of the pizza place next door.
Not all drawing trips produce stunning work and that is okay. Lesson learned from this trip is to plan on getting to an event like this sooner. I also would say going at 8pm was a bit constraining since so many other businesses in the area were closed. I did like the view from the outside bar at the restaurant I went to for this event. It reminded me that I have several cafes and restaurants I have been scouting for potential nighttime scenes with a similar composition.
Drawing Events and Groups
· Group Sketching Time, May 3-4
· Sketch Fest, July 19-21, Edmonds, WA
Inspiration for the Week
This week I found this article on research about how people’s personality traits influence what they see in an image or video particularly interesting. The video in this article is a good example of visual illusion, though in this case it is a bit extreme to demonstrate a point. It is also powerful to think about how our personality and behaviors can alter what we see in an image. This is only one study, but for artists it is always interesting to consider how we might find a different perspective on a scene or object, especially when it is well known.
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Thanks Logan. Interesting article and video.
As to your question of how often I sketch, I need a box between Daily and Weekly. Meaning a few times a week, most weeks. That includes small quick sketches.