Urban Sketching as Historical Record...

I drew this little building on one of our sketchcrawls a few years ago, and I'm glad I did...it's gone now, and new houses are in its place. 

All that was left standing of the old laundry in our town that employed a great number of people.  Now even that is gone.

And sometimes I sketch as a statement, or to express my disgust...Cooley Lake is one of my favorite places, a Missouri Department of Conservation wildlife preserve not far from Kansas City.  Even there, people leave their trash...and we pick up after them.

Creating an Urban Nature Sanctuary

I am delighted that after some years of work and thought, we've managed to create a tiny nature sanctuary right here in our old neighborhood.  We attract many species of birds, as well as raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and the very occasional white tail deer and fox.  We plant flowers to attract butterflies and bees, and there are many species of wildflowers and useful wild plants on our little lot.

Plus WONDERFUl sketching opportunities!  There is much more to our urban environment than buildings and people.

I do quick on the spot gesture sketches and often add color as the birds stay around.

I make my own art supplies from things that grow in my little sanctuary...note the more practical dip pens on the right!  I love accepting nature's gifts and incorporating them into my art.

My feeders are usually busier than this!

I learn a lot about my environment by sketching what I find...in this case, a woodpecker's burrow caused the limb to break off so I could see how the nest was made.

Birds DO move fast, but we can sketch their basic shapes, just like people in a cafe or airport terminal, and add color as we have the chance.  I like to list the birds I see on any given day...

And record special events like this!  A white tail deer chasing my cat through the woods.  I was able to dash down their shapes as I watched, then added my familiar trees once they'd boogied on out of there...

Pilieated woodpeckers are making a comeback!  I've sketched him several times...even on my feeder, though I was told this big bird doesn't come to feeders.

These guys are ALWAYS good for a laugh, as well as fast sketching practice.  Here, mostly a Prismacolor dark grey pencil with washes added...

This kind of peanut feeder attracts a lot of birds...

I'm even doing a backyard Materia Medica of all the useful herbs and plants...

I've learned a terrific amount about what grows even here in town, and what benefits they offer.

 What nature can you find in YOUR urban environment?  It's precious, and we are nourished by it.



There is a program that gives certification for this kind of effort from the National Wildlife Federation, well worth looking into if you are interested.

And enjoy this site, The Urban Wilderness, for more inspiration--one man's effort in Kansas City's populous Brookside area.

The Old Potato Barn

This was once a busy agricultural hub, selling produce on Old Missouri 210 Highway; it bustled with activity near Liberty and Missouri City.  Now new 210 has rerouted most of the traffic and the barn isn't on the way to anywhere except a city park, which is mostly used seasonally, so it's abandoned and falling in on itself.

I used to stop there frequently to buy potatoes and other produce...

Abandoned Municipal Buildings...again...

We went fishing at Lawson Lake again last night...this was my final sketch of the evening, as it was getting on toward night and clouds were coming in from the west.  I only had time to keep it fairly simple...by the time I added the power lines it was almost too dark to see.

Bridges...

This seems to be my summer for painting bridges...I love the arches and the reflections, as well as the history.  The one at top is just off 92 Highway in Tryst Falls Park--as you can tell from the name, it was a very popular meeting place in our area.

Because of the falls, there was a grist mill that utilized the power of water in the 1840s and 1850s...long since gone except for the lines carved into the limestone that show where it was.

The other three images are what's known in our town as Golf Hill Bridge, connecting our downtown valley where I live and the golf course and fine old neighborhood on the hill.  It's in Isley Park Woods, a Missouri Natural Area, and beside a street known as Lover's Lane...are we seeing a trend here?

Joseph has been warm-water fly fishing while I sketch and explore...a lovely summer!

NOTE:  I just got in touch with our Public Works department to find out more about the Golf Hill Bridge...it was built in 1914!  Amazing it has weathered so many floods...

Saved, again!

This is the historic old Bennett Garage building that has survived who knows how many floods (at least 2 just this year actually got in the back of the building, the bridge to the right of the building being replaced, and now the highway bridge uncomfortably close on the left!  We were all concerned when they took down the old bridge that was hard by the old brick edifice...but they managed to drop it with no harm to Bennett's!

(Of course I had to note the young guy who walked by, ranting at the top of his voice...)

I sketched one of the basement windows years ago...loved the calligraphy of vines and textures...

Abandoned Municipal Buildings...

This is the old water treatment plant, no longer in use, in Lawson, Missouri...these lovely summer mornings, we've been getting out early to sketch and fish.  The little building is at a lake my husband loves to fish in, so it's the best of both worlds for us!  I wonder where they treat their water now...?

The front entrance, up the hill from the lake...

I can see this is going to be the subject of a whole series of sketches...I explored it up close the other day, and found all sorts of interesting textures and details.

I used my bent nib calligraphy pen on this one...I like the lively lines!

This little metal pier seems to be some kind of pump...it makes noise.  You can see the same little building in the background...

These two are from last month, a different angle...what is it about abandoned buildings that captures our imagination?

Meet the Author--Jim Butcher!

We had hoped to get to the venue in Independence, Missouri, in time for me to sketch it, as well...but the street addresses were so confusing we did well to buzz in minutes before Jim Butcher was to begin speaking.  He moves a lot, but it was an interesting challenge--and great practice!--to try to catch the man during the lively 2-hour talk.

I finally satisfied myself with drawing the audience!  At least I didn't worry about catching a likeness...and I'm always delighted with the chance to draw free models.

Our books are mostly on Kindle or borrowed from the library, so I asked him to sign my journal page!

April's Sketchcrawl drawings

We had intended to meet up at Case Park in Kansas City, but the rain defeated us...it's been a REALLY rainy spring in our corner of the Midwest.  So we met at the Nelson-Atkins, one of our favorite places, and enjoyed the quiet...and dry!

This young man was there sketching the whole time I drew the chimera...

I've always meant to sketch the chimera at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of art...these are Derwent Blue Grey, the one on the right wet with clear water, the other left as it was.

Of course I did my usual sketch of Quan Yin...

And one from our "virtual sketchcrawl!"

I forgot I hadn't posted these...siiiigh...I've been swamped with other stuff!

March Sketchcrawl

The waterfall is in the hotel lobby!

Pictures from our March sketchcrawl at Kansas City's Crown Center--what a zoo!

Meet the Correspondents--Cathy Johnson

Hi--I'm Cathy Johnson, usually called Kate by my friends.  I've been sketching and painting since I was a kid (a very long time ago), and I love to draw architecture, nature, people...you name it.  I've been organizing sketchcrawls since 2006--so much fun to get out with a group of people who GET it!

I love to work in ink, watercolor, graphite, colored pencil or whatever I grab when the spirit moves.

I've written a lot of books (including Artist's Journal Workshop) and magazine articles--I'm an inveterate teacher.  I've served on the board of Urban Sketchers, and was a correspondent on the main blog for years--till I got so busy I gave up my spot to someone new.

December Sketchcrawl was fun!

 

I parked myself in a comfy chair in the atrium and sketched iconic Christmas figures...nice and quiet there! This was an old Sheaffer calligraphy pen and watercolor.

The light wasn't too great, but the place was...and I love Father Christmas!

Keith was sketching the trees beyond the door...lovely pen and ink work!

Kelly liked the golf course's tree...those are golf clubs coming out the top!

Cindy chose the Parks and Rec department's lovely natural tree...

Carolyn is sketching at the water bar, where they used to serve a variety of kinds of mineral water to visitors from around the world.  We still get visitors but the waters are not currently available.

Keith moved to the other side of the bar to sketch the mugs and so forth.

Here's Cindy working away!

And here is her tree!

my last of the day, with a Pentel Pocket Brush, watercolor added later...

I set up by the door to sketch outdoors...

I love this old Art Deco building, so many fascinating nooks and crannies!

My finished sketch...that blue detail defeated me! Konrad flex pen and De Atramentis Document Brown ink.

And as always, the fun afterward, sharing a meal and our sketchbooks!