Sketch Process on the Clevelander Drawings

I love sharing process. I was reminded of one of my favorite Urban Sketches of late by a phone call. I had always intended to add the process shots that I always take.

I was in town to get a permit and had the evening free to walk around and sketch.  I passed The Clevelander and these awesome shapes just had to be sketched.

I positioned myself for the view I wanted, then ordered a beer, and then set up my minimal travel kit.  How often do you get shapes and colors like this to draw? Never....

There was a lot to see here so I skipped a few pages ahead in my book until I found two pages that could be removed as one.

First the layout with pencil to get the big pieces in. Then I started to commit with the pen. If you look closely you will see sometimes I follow the lead and sometimes I don't. I very deliberately move things to be proportional on the page.  I think the lines are washed out,  but I lay down a proportional grid first.  Usually I incorporate the golden mean on the page and try to put the intention giving shapes based on the grid. After that everything falls into place. There is as much choice on what not to draw as what to draw.

This is the nearly finished piece and my travel kit. 80% of what I draw is with this limited pallete.  A Pentel water brush, a kids kit filled with gouache (in this case, often watercolor) a pencil, a pen, and a sketch book.  This is pure happiness for me.  The staff got interested and had me surrounded at one point. That was rare experience and a lot of fun.

The final image!  I believe this image took about 45 minutes to an hour.

On the second round of permit comments I was able to visit and came to the same place, but much later in the evening. I blogged these earlier, but his is my favorite from that trip.  These were drawn in the dark so it is always a surprise to see exactly what the colors will be like. The building was white, but dark with a DJ in front of a bright screen.  I was trying to catch the contrast.  It was a fun evening.  There is no place to people watch like Miami.

I hope you enjoyed a peak into the process. 

James Nutt aia

Miami Beach Drawings

One of the perks of my job is to travel occasionally. Most of the time I have evenings free to explore and .... of course sketch. This week I was in Miami Beach just in time to start a new sketch book. I also took a lot of progress shots of these drawings and will post them individually later.

 

The best part is finishing off a weeks worth sketching by teaching my Urban Sketching glass at the White Bear Center for the Arts followed up by a class taught by Daniel and Amber for the AIA in the morning. I should be warmed up for the Tuesday St Fair all day sketch!

 

God I love drawing

 

This is the weeks Harvest.

 

First is a mid morning warm up waiting for the plane to take off. Pencil underlay, Staedler Permanent Lumocolor Fine pen, my travel watercolor set.

 

 

 

Recently I have found a group called everyday matters. 365 drawing challenges to go through. #2 was draw a lamp. Sitting in the plane I had 3 right in front of me that probably rarely get sketched. Pentel brush pen and Lexington grey Noodlers ink

 

 

Channeling my inner Dave Worfel from the sketchers group I drew a plane detail from my window. Pencil underlay, Staedler Permanent Lumocolor Fine pen, my travel gouache set.

 

 

On my first night in South Beach I walked up and down looking for a good people watching and sketching place. This place, "The Clevelander" was just too awesome. I had to draw it. There were as many choices of what not to draw as what to emphasize. I wish my pad was taller, but I think I got the feel of the evening. Pencil underlay, Staedler Permant Lumocolor Fine pen, my travel gouache set.

 

 

Sitting in the same place I tried a palm tree without resorting to lines. I am still working on this technique. My challenge is to make it look finished. I am not there yet, but this was fun.

 

 

On the second night I sketched at the restaurant the hotel I stayed was associated with. "The Quinn" was fun to sketch from and a good view. I had an appetizer of Ceviche to start and it wound up being a whole meal both is size and in price.  It also started raining like crazy and I was semi outside but didn't have to move. That was interesting. Pencil underlay, Staedler Permanent Lumocolor Fine pen, my travel gouache set.

 

 

 

On the flight home, Every Day Matters #3 was draw your wallet. Mine is worn out and fun to capture. This needs color put to it before I post it.  Pentel brush pen and Lexington grey Noodlers ink

 

I hope you enjoyed it. Keep Sketching!

 

James Nutt AIA