Sketchng in Forest Park, World's Fair Pavilion, St. Louis

The World's Fair Pavilion stands at the crest of Government Hill overlooking a broad expanse of Forest Park. Designed by English architect Henry Wright and built with proceeds from the 1904 World's Fair the building opened in 1910. Cascades of daffodils are flanked by dual stairways at both ends of the structure that lead down the hill to a fountain and pool. Rows of flowering trees added swaths of pink & dark magenta to my view of the arts & crafts-style structure on this cool, gray morning.

World's Fair Pavilion, Forest Park, 04/10/2016, 7"h x 9"w, Canson 140lb cold press, waterbrush, Michael Anderson

Lunch time sketches, Downtown, St. Louis

Opportunities for urban sketching sometimes occur in fleeting moments. While eating lunch recently I had a few minutes to open my sketchbook and try to catch images of downtown. The views are as random as a winning lottery number. I read somewhere that the great artist John Singer Sargent could set up his easel virtually anywhere and create a masterpiece. That is a high standard to try to achieve but it is a good thing to remember so as not to get discouraged when subject matter and time are limited. Keep sketching!

Bespoke Sketchbook pages, 6"h x 6"w, Sharpie Flair pen, Faber-Castelli PITT artsist pens, shades of grey, 03/15-03/17, 2016. Michael Anderson

Kirkwood Amtrak Station

Kirkwood Amtrak Station
©2015 Steve Penberthy
Watercolor in Strathmore Visual Journal (140-lb CP paper)
5" x 7" (13 x 18 cm)

I met up with the St. Louis Drawing & Painting Meetup Group at this month's Urban Sketching outing.  We sketched the historic and picturesque Amtrak train station in Kirkwood, Missouri.  There were so many people out on this beautiful early fall morning; people walking dogs, shopping, and attending a nearby farmer's market across the street.  Several trains (both freight and passenger) moved through the station area while we sketched; the freight trains operated at deafening levels and seemed to take forever to pass by.  But very cool nonetheless.

I had intended to substitute out a few paints in my kit (Quin Gold & Hematite Burnt Scarlet) before heading out to the event, but forgot in my haste to get out the door on time.  Both of these pigments work well on my larger palette, but I feel that I like the weak opacity of a true raw sienna when I'm sketching on location, as I use it a lot for rendering stone, masonry, etc.  I have been experimenting with Quin Gold as a substitute for Raw Sienna, but again, seem to be preferring the Raw Sienna.

Urban Sketching in St. Louis -- West Port Plaza

I organized an urban sketching event in St. Louis for the St. Louis Drawing and Painting Meetup Group.  We met at West Port Plaza in the morning, then spread out to sketch in the many nooks and crannies of the plaza.  We had a great turnout, and the weather cooperated; while we could have usd a little more sun (to emphasize shadows), the temperatures stayed tolerable and it didn't rain.  Everyone had a great time and we ended with eager discussions about where and when to have the next event.  I hope that some of you outside the St. Louis area will be able to join us sometime; I plan to hold these roughly at the last weekend of each month.  I'll post on this blog with notifications.  Stay tuned!

  

More info about the sketches I did at https://StevePenberthy.com

Sketching the Sketchers

Sketching the Sketchers
©2015 Steve Penberthy
Watercolor and Micron pen in Moleskine sketchbook
5" x 16.5" (13 x 42 cm)

I attend life-drawing sessions every so often to work on my observational and figure-drawing skills, but I've always drawn the model--never considering that I could draw the people who are drawing the model. So, my goal was to do just one drawing during the evening and try to sketch the sketchers--to capture those who were intent on drawing the model.  At the beginning, I was unsure what sketchbook/format would work best; I finally decided on my watercolor Moleskine since I felt a panoramic format would be best.  I first roughed in the figures in pencil, then followed up with a Pigma Micron 03 pen; watercolor washes followed.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden
©2015 Steve Penberthy
Watercolor and pencil on
Strathmore 140-lb cold-press watercolor paper
in Strathmore Visual Journal sketchbook
9" x 12" (23 x 30 cm) Sketched on location in Richmond Heights, Missouri.  I sketched this scene during lunch while sitting in my car in a parking lot across the street from the restaurant.  The weather was warm but, with the windows down, there was enough of a breeze to keep things comfortable.   

West Port Plaza, St. Louis

West Port Plaza

©2015 Steve Penberthy

Watercolor and Micron pen on 

Strathmore Gemini 140-lb cold-press watercolor paper

in handmade sketchbook

6.75" x 10.25" (17 x 26 cm)

West Port Plaza is a mixed-use retail, entertainment, and office development in Maryland Heights, Missouri.  Lots of great restaurants here.  Normally, the Plaza is a busy, bustling place; however, during the hot & humid afternoon while I sketched this, the plaza was nearly empty.  Too early for evening dining, I suppose people were either out doing their back-to-school shopping or staying in where it was cool; not sitting on a park bench sweating and sloshing paint around as I was...  :)

Sunday In The Park, St. Louis

Looking North at Park Avenue & Mississippi, 07/19/2015, watercolor, Canson 140lb cp, Michael Anderson

Lafayette Park is at the center of one of the oldest and most elegant neighborhoods in the city. A broad sidewalk and an elaborate wrought iron fence surround all four sides of the park. Runners and people out walking, many with their dogs make a continuous parade. Today I was panhandled by a man needing bus fare.

 Park Avenue Sidewalk, 07/19/2015, watercolor, Canson 140lb cp, Michael Anderson

As I left Park Avenue Coffee another customer asked me about the artists in my painting group, "Is it a class? I have seen them before. It is cool they are here." Some residents now recognize our painting group and they are always welcoming. Life in the city.

Adam & Eve in Tower Grove Park, St. Louis

Adam & Eve in Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, 07/12/2015, 7" x 9", watercolor on Canson 140 lb cp, Michael Anderson.

I took my sketching kit to the weekly outing of the Missouri Plein Air Painters Association in Tower Grove Park. The park is a large swath of urban landscape that once was the private garden of wealthy St. Louisan, Henry Shaw. It includes several ponds, some planted with lotus and waterlilies. After completing a couple of ink sketches I launched into the watercolor study above. A passerby stopping to look at each of the painters works in progress commented that my page looked like the Garden of Eden and said "you even have Adam & Eve!" One of my MOPAPA friends responded "That is your title." And so it is. Perfect for a Sunday morning in this earthly paradise.

Lotus plants, Precise V7 roller ball pen, Faber Castell Artist Pens

Plein air painters, Precise V7 roller ball pen, Faber Castell Artist Pens

Shakespeare In Forest Park, St. Louis

“Antony & Cleopatra, Forest Park, St. Louis, 05/22/2015;” watercolor on Canson 140lb cold press, Michael Anderson.

“Antony and Cleopatra” is being performed nightly under the stars for free through June 14. This year is the 15^th season for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. Each year the festival alternates a comedy or tragedy but the production values, actors, costumes and set design are always top notch. In 2011 “The Taming of the Shrew” was presented in a 1950’s setting complete with a mid-century modern villa, 50’s style rock music and even a gold 1957 Cadillac convertible was driven on stage as part of the action. By contrast the current show is presented with only a very few props and a simple set comprised of 5 dramatically lit gold-leafed pillars on a raked stage. The wooded background of Forest Park completes the scenery perfectly. The spare design relies on Shakespeare’s language and your imagination to convey action, location and setting.  I must admit I sometimes find Shakespearean syntax incomprehensible. Yet the meaning always comes across and in fact it always surprises me how many expressions we use in daily conversation originally appeared in the plays. In the first act Cleopatra says that these are her "salad days."

The link below is to a short video of Milton Glaser creating a portrait of Shakespeare while he explains the importance of drawing.

http://www.openculture.com/2015/04/designer-milton-glaser-explains-why-drawing-is-the-key-to-understanding-life.htm

The Way, St. Louis

Composed of salvaged oil tanks, "The Way," a massive sculpture by artist and designer Alexander Liberman that stands 65' high, is the signature piece of  Laumier Sculpture Park in suburban St. Louis county. Liberman was the editorial design director for Vogue and Conde Nast publications for over 30 years while also being an internationally known sculptor. He died in 1999 at the age of 82. Although I have visited the park many times I have never sketched there until last week.
"The Way," St. Louis, 07/03/2014; Michael Anderson, water color on Canson 140 lb.

St Louis Sketching Event!

Sorry I didn't get this up sooner, all...I've been out of town and both swamped exhausted since I got back.

If you've ever wanted to meet up to sketch on the grounds of the St. Louis Arch, here's your chance!

It will be Saturday, June 21 (rain date of July 12)
Stop by anytime between 6am & 7pm and draw like crazy!  

More here: http://bit.ly/SketchDayArch

I've uploaded the PDF, so you can see all the information and, I believe, download if you wish (I made the link public now...silly Google Drive!)--it's here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0l1_lynOCCuMThoZi1EeFdFWUk/edit?usp=sharing

But if that doesn't work, all the info is below:

Sketch Day
Arch Grounds
Saturday, June 21 (rain date of July 12)
Stop by anytime between 6am & 7pm

Please register online before, during or after so
organizers can coordinate with you to display your artwork!
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial memorializes St. Louis' role in
westward expansion. With plans for renewed and reinvigorated Gateway Arch
grounds and museum underway, the project partners wish to celebrate this
transformation by documenting the current conditions.

With planners, landscape architects, artists & architects of
the region are invited to document our national park!

 http://bit.ly/SketchDayArch

Stay for the free event that night: Flicks and Foodies at the Gateway Arch
Music: Typhoon Jackson 7-9 Food trucks: 7-10 Movie: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid 9-11

End of winter? St. Louis

Perhaps a patch of sunlight on the gazebo roof that stands at the edge of Lafayette Park is a signal that spring has finally returned. The opening buds of flowering trees elsewhere in the park, clumps of emerging daffodils and other plants as well as the fact that I was able to sketch with water colors seems to confirm that Sunday might have been the day that actually could be called the end of winter. Rejoice!

 

Lafayette Park Gazebo, 03/30/2014; Michael Anderson, 7" x 9", Waterbrush, Watercolor on Canson 140lb cold press.

Art In Bloom, St. Louis

Over thirty works of art including paintings by Monet and Picasso are reimagined by individual florists and garden clubs as floral arrangements in the Saint Louis Art Museum's Art In Bloom festival. The annual event resumes this weekend after a five year hiatus during the construction of the new East wing, Massive sprays of forsythia topped off multi-level flower boxes placed in the grand hall in the main building. This sketch was completed during the member preview on Friday morning prior to opening to the public.

Art In Bloom, St. Louis Art Museum, 02/28/2014, Michael Anderson, Brushes 3 for iPad with Sensu Solo Brush.

 

Precious metal: St. Louis Auto Show 2014

There were hundreds of new cars on the floor of the auto show but this 1934 Auburn convertible at the Horseless Carriage Club booth attracted lots of visitors. A HCC member told me that it is valued at $175K.

This Lamborghini, a study in lime green, was displayed in the Million Dollar Mile portion of the show. Other models shown included the usual suspects: Bentley, Maserati, Lotus and a Rolls Royce convertible with suicide doors and a stainless steel hood or bonnet as it is called by the British. The cars were spectacular but their presentation was underwhelming. All were simply placed on the floor behind rope and drape.

Other car makers such as VW, Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln and Toyota surrounded theirs cars with dramatic architectural elements.

The Chevrolet and Ford exhibits featured jumbotron screens that played loops of product and lifestyle video. Although the attendance was large and finding a comfortable place to work somewhat determined my views there was no shortage of interesting subjects for urban sketching. At the end of the day I just ran out of gas, pun intended. m
All images were sketched with Brushes for iPad, Michael Anderson, 2014.

Snowbound, St. Louis

One good thing about the weekend's paralyzing blizzard, 14" of snow and zero degree for high temp, is the opportunity to sketch at home without any distractions. In fact while gusty winds twirl the snow around outside the dining room window just sketching the furniture is a great way to pass the time and an antidote to "cabin fever."

Red Chairs, 01/05/2014, created with Sketchbook Pro app for iPad.

Free concert in Forest Park, St. Louis

Hundreds attended the St. Louis Symphony's free concert in Forest Park on Tuesday evening as it kicked off its 135th season with a bang, literally. The setting was on Art Hill, a natural amphiteater that over looks the Grand Basin. The program was a mix of a few familiar classical pieces, a selection of movie themes and a John Phillips Sousa march played as the concert finale followed by a spectacular fireworks display. I made this sketch on an iPad under an umbrella to block the glare from distracting the people around me.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Outdoor Concert, 9/17/2013, Michael Anderson, Brushes 3 for iPad, Sensu brush

Shakespeare Statue, St. Louis

Standing at the center of Tower Grove Park in a roundabout is a monumental bronze statue of William Shakespeare by the Bavarian sculptor Ferdinand von Miller. The work, a gift of Mrs. Henry Shaw, was dedicated in 1878. I began my sketch early in the day which was good  because by late morning the park was beginning to fill up and someone parked their car right in front of me effectively blocking my view. Fortunately I was close to finish plus I had taken a reference snapshot earlier. I put the final touches on this one in my studio. 

Shakespeare Statue, Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, 08/11/13, Michael Anderson, watercolor on canson 140lb cold press, waterbrush.

Grand Basin, Forest Park, St. Louis

 

Part of the restoration of  Forest Park included stone balustrades, overlooks and bridges over the Grand Basin. I have painted each them several times in oils and watercolors. This sketch was made with Brushes for iPad using a Jot Mini stylus which is very precise allowing for small detail. Like most sketchers I obsess over my pens and brushes. Same feelings go for the stylus!

Grand Basin Bridge, Forest Park, St. Louis, 07/14/2013. Michael Anderson, sketch with Brushes for iPad.

Urban Landscapes, St. Louis

Grand Basin, Forest Park, 07/07/2013. Sketched with Brushes3 for iPad. ...a favorite place to sketch on a summer morning before the heat and glare takeover.

 

After finishing the digital sketch I joined up with fellow Missouri Plein Air Painters Assoc members and sketched some trees in Forest Park, truly an urban oasis.  Urban Oasis, Forest Park, St. Louis,  07/07/2013, watercolor on Canson 140lb cold pressed. 9" x 7".