Some thoughts about sketching

Like any skill, even though I’ve done this since I was 5, I’m rusty. Making judgements, trying to stay loose, not obsess, not worry that my hand seems to have a mind all it’s own: kind of jerky and unpredictable. Trying out new materials and tools. Looking at the dynamic work of other sketchers all across the globe. On the other hand, down in my basement, are tons of my mother’s sketchbooks from all of her trips. I’ve thrown out many of her photo albums, but can’t seem to do the same with her sketches, even though I don’t seem to have any interest in looking at them. I’m sure one day my kids will feel the same. Somebody else’s life: nice life but over. So there’s a temporary, casual aspect to sketching. It’s the process that’s fascinating, not necessarily the precious “art” that remains.

Morning: T Street garden with blue wall. The view from my studio office looking south. Trying to have patience to capture as much detail as possible.

9-10_11am_BlueWall_T

An evening stroll east on U St, back on T, into the setting sun.

9-10_6:22_T Street in the setting sun. Ink from the sketch on the follow page seeped through. I must let this go- this is a tiny sketch book with cheaper paper, not so precious. The aspect of the scene that I’m most attracted to are the two stenciled stops on black asphalt.

9-10_5:50_T&48th_Most attracted to the green garage doors, badly in need of repair and paint, and a darker green than I care to portray.
9-10_5pm_U St Porch_At first, this scene seemed simple, but soon all these horizontal lines appeared.
9-10_5:30_U St house with Med Center_”Mistake” at the beginning- had to shift the entrance roof, the door, etc. Oh well. Attracted to the extreme angle of the porch in contrast to the contemporary, slightly curved architecture behind, including the negative space.