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

Some coffeeshop time in Pre-Xmas Salina

I had the good fortune of having time on my hands while Wilma attended an activity of her own. That gave me the chance to find a neat little independent coffeeshop in Salina. Had some sketch time while I took in the local scene.

Quarter of the Square - Nancy's Hometown

My wife and I are just back from a trip to visit my brother in Illinois and my wife's sister in Iowa.

This is a sketch of  a corner of Indianola, Iowa's town square. My wife grew up in Indianola. She lived but a few blocks from the square and my father-in-law fixed cars for years in his garage which was located just off the square. My wife also tells me her teen Friday nights were spent cruising round-and-round the square with her girl friends!

While I was working this sketch I noticed a guy taking pictures of me. Turned out he was from the local paper. I wound up being interviewed and having pictures taken of this sketch and other work in my sketch book. My wife thought the interview was quite cool. I thought...slow news day.

James Nutt - First Post!

Hello everyone, my name is James Nutt.  Cathy was kind enough to invite me to become one of the co-authors after getting involved with the Facebook page.  I am an architect living in Minneapolis.  I draw a lot. I draw at work, at home, and it is almost all that I did in high school.  (So much drawing didn't help my GPA, but that is what I get paid to do now).  I love this forum and I love seeing others people's work.

Most of my drawings are very small and about 35 minutes a piece.  Mostly pen and pencil, but lately a lot of IPad drawing and watercolor. Quite a few of my drawings and past drawings fit the Urban Sketchers rules. This year I gave myself a challenge to draw everyday and post. For the most part it happens and I have really enjoyed sharing and hearing the comments. I look forward to contributing on this blog seeing so much amazing work.

This sketch is from today at the Minneapolis downtown Barnes and Noble. I had the rare condition of having a couple of hours to kill between an eye appointment and the zoning board I sit on.  I did several attempts at drawing today’s farmer’s market with no success.  I decided I had broken my own cardinal rule of trying to start the day with too complex of a drawing. So I zoomed in one of the Macy’s building windows I have always loved and got a sketch I was happy with.  This drawing is approximately 5x7.