A day in the park

Today was an okay day (weather wise). So I took the chance and made this drawing.

 

The search for new watercolors is narrowed down to just Blockx. Had a lovely online conversation with Jane Blundell and she helped tremendously.

Now just ordering and waiting.

Sketching buildings.

This buildings where the former boy and girl scout of Belgium had their national headquarters is going to be demolished. The city is going to change this in a brand new square. I had a bit of time so I put them on paper. I hope to sketch them again before they're gone for ever.

The view from my kitchen and the origin of me...

Yesterday I had a very busy day so I couldn't take the time to get outside. So I made this sketch between everything I had to do. This is the view from outside my kitchen window. Painted it in with about 4-5 colours. I posted it on the flickr and facebook group of USK and I got awesome reactions. (got chosen for the banner picture on the flickr group)  Not something I expected!! But nice to hear people like it.

I was never to draw very realistically (in my opinion). A few months back I got interested in calligraphy. These lead me to fountain pens wich led me to Parka Blogs and  so on to Liz steel.
They showed me that I could actually draw the world around me and not be perfectly realistic.
About a day later I went to the art supply store and bought myself a basic watercolor set and paper.


Although it is still not that easy. Getting a good perspective can be very tricky. Not much later I found Jane Blundell she helped me a lot about colors. (At the moment I am looking into getting some new colors)

And that's a very short story about how I got into Urban sketching.

Park and buildings

Today driven to a park in the North of Antwerp. Still have some problems with adding a lot of details. As you see I really left out a bit. But hey, I still did sketch and learned something.

 

A window and some tea and new paint...

I went out today. It was a bit rainy so I sketched a gothic window under a bridge. Not much later I got myself a nice cup of tea. This one was made with much less pencil work than the previous sketches.

I am also looking into new watercolors as some are running out. I'm not sure if I go for Daniel Smith, Blockx (Belgian brand) or Winsor & Newton. The first 2 are (from what I hear) from a high quality but they are more expensive. Something to think about for me...

Outdoor sketches

Went out today to get some supplies and at the same time to sketch. The first sketch was a corner bar. A bit too difficcult and too many details I lost myself in all the lines. Also the perspective was too difficult with al those small borders.

 I got back on my bike and looked for an easier building. Not much later I found this simple one. The bottom floor is a drugstore. I did the initial pencil drawing on a bench on the other site of the street. But after that it was a bit too cold so I walked in a cafe so I could paint it. I don't think the waiter even noticed I was painting.

I mostly learned to take my time more and choose not too difficult buidlings. At least for now.
Tomorrow is another chance to improve.

Sketching my current on-location-setup

So today I sketched my sketching tools I take with me when i'm out and about. (Not including the clipboard and paper)