Returning to the Houston Farmers Market

The Group

It's always a fun day when we go to the Houston Farmers Market. This time they were celebrating Earth Day, so there were lots of booths set up around the lawn and the market was really busy. We had another good turnout of sketchers too.

Mackenzie and a few others decided to sketch the scene out near the lawn.

Mackenzie

Eva

Liz

A whole line of sketchers set up in the middle of the market to sketch the various booths.

Rebecq's sketch...our line of sketchers

Carlos

Joel

Shaw

Richard

Richard was on the far corner and patiently answered many curious questions. I decided to sketch the sketchers.

Chris

Mary R

Mary Regan's markers worked especially well to capture those sails and the newly ripe watermelons.

Jennifer

Jennifer worked only in watercolor for this scene with a mother and her children.

Francisco

Francisco reports that this booth owner and her friend had decided he was from the health department...until they saw his sketch. Then they wanted a picture.

Barry

Both Barry and Michael Jap chose the rather difficult long view down the aisle of the market. Michael, of course, did his work in gouache.

Michael

Brittany and Michelle both picked particular booths to draw. Brittany's choice of two tones makes her sketch interesting. Michelle tackled drawing people as did Veronica.

Brittany

Veronica

Michelle

Both Lisa and I did sketches focusing only on the produce. But they couldn't be more different.

Lisa

Chris

And Judith was drawn to the booth selling mocaljetes in every size and shape you can imagine.

Judith

Of course there was a throwdown.

the throwdown

And we went to lunch where we talked a little about the upcoming anniversary sketchout in Bastrop. To get in on the fun, or to attend upcoming sketch outs join our group on Facebook by answering some simple questions. Or go over to Instagram to see what people are posting.

Visiting Bayou Bend

 

The Group

Here is the happy group who showed up for the March sketchout at Bayou Bend. As you can see we had a record number of people show up. Because so many sketchers showed up, I looked at the sketches in a different way this time. I was not able to attend, but I could see a pattern in the subjects people chose.

First we have to admire Rita Wilbur's sketch of the bayou bridge.which appears in our blog header. No one else chose this particular subject. 

Some sketchers drew the front of the house itself.

Mary, Paul and Peter 

These three sketches by Mary, Paul and Peter show the front view.

Judith

Susan

Shaw

Judith, Susan and Shaw drew various other angles both close and from a distance.

Michael Jap

Michael's sketch is a completely different view altogether which includes statuary, gardens and the garden wall.

Carlos

Carlos also drew a garden view with statuary. And I see a sketcher hard at work in the background.

Michelle, Mary Baker, Mary Regan, Lisa

A number of people did close-up views of the various statues around the garden. Here we have work by Michelle, Mary Baker, Mary Reagan and Lisa.

Francesca and Brittany

Francesca and Brittany also gave it a try.

Several people chose to draw fountains. Besides the one in Judith's panorama, Richard and Tim did very different fountain views.

Richard and Tim

Francisco

Francisco's sketch has the same fountain Judith drew, but looking down and from a very different angle. Again, there are some tiny sketchers in the far edge of the sketch.

Another group of sketchers drew some very intricate sketches of the trees on the grounds. I have to call out young Luke. Quite a detailed bit of observation on his part.

Judy, Tim, Anna and Luke

There were a few other sketchers whose work we can look at.

MacKenzie

Mackenzie did an eye-popping version of the garden and fountains.

Matteo

Matteo did a pencil sketch of the back patio area.

Ariana

Ariana caught the same view from a slightly wider angle. Also worked in pencil.

Then there were sketches I am calling the "bits and bobs"; little sketches of bits of architecture or decoration on the grounds. These were by Niman, Anita and Marvette.

Niman, Anita and Marvette

Everyone seems to have enjoyed a perfect day for being outdoors and sketching. We don't get a lot of those in Houston.

There was a throwdown.

And a gathering for lunch and conversation.

Please join us for our next sketchout at the Houston Farmer's Market. Follow us on Facebook or on Instagram. SHARE this post with anyone you think might be interested.

And don't forget, there are now USK Houston pins available for purchase at $5 each.

See you out there!

Thursday Night at the Museum

 

The group

An enthusiastic group came to the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston for a Thursday evening of sketching and a viewing from the collection.

Jason Dibley, who is the manager of the Prints and Drawings collection, took one group for a private viewing of selected works from the collection.

Jason with the viewing group

Jason had chosen several kinds of things for us to look at in the viewing room. There were a selection of drawings and photographs, but also two objects from the sketchbook collection.

In the viewing room

It was very interesting to see sketchbooks from artists you might recognize. We spent a long time going through the pages of those books. The drawings and photos were all relevant to the study of place and of people. Also, it represented a nice variety of artists.

Meanwhile, down in the museum, the other part of our group was busy sketching in the galleries. One of our youngest sketchers made a return appearance.

A young sketcher at work

You can see Judith's work on IPAD using Procreate in our blog header. She also did more sketching in the galleries.

Judith

Shaw chose a sarcophagus for her sketch.

Shaw

Mary McJunkin got a collection of both the sketchers and some museum object.

Mary

Ann chose the figure that greets you as you enter the museum.

Ann

Carlos chose that same Aphrodite figure from a slightly different angle.

Carlos

The sketchers reconvened for a picture at the end of the evening.

the sketchers

And, of course, there was a throwdown.

Be sure to join us on future sketchouts by checking us out on Instagram or by answering a few screening questions and joining the group on Facebook. We will announce future meets in those places. Also, feel free to refer other people to this blog. We're always looking for new members.

December Sketching

     A few sketchers have ventured out in December to sketch a bit both here and in other places. In the header we have a sketch Susan DeCourcy did on her European adventure hitting French cities and the Christmas markets. Susan reports that her pens and watercolors rebelled against very cold, rainy weather. She ended up doing line work on site and coloring in the hotel room. In the header sketch she was in the lobby of the Citizen M hotel where they were staying.

Susan

This next sketch was done in the slushy snow in front of the Palace of Rohan in Strasbourg.

Susan

 This sketch was done at the farmers market in a little town called Divonne les Bains which is on the Swiss border.

Susan

Susan's sketch of the Gare de Lyon was also done from her hotel room.

Susan

Last we have the Musee des Arts et Metiers in Paris. Susan could sketch in the  warmth of the museum. She reports that Lapin did a residency here and published a book. Can't wait to see that when she returns.

Judith

Judith's idea for Christmas lights was taillights in gridlock on I-45 north during the shopping crush. I think we can all relate.

Kassidy

Kassidy's sketch was done on another trip. This is a parking lot in Kentfield, California. The Christmas tree and the palm tree side by side are the epitome of Christmas in warm places.

Jenn

Jenn and some of our sketchers went to Railway Square to check it out. Jenn wandered into Santa's Corner and decided to make a sketch. Very festive.

Carlos

Carlos found a sketcher I think...or is that Santa busy at work?

Carlos

And then there was this festive group hanging out in front of the purple tree.

Chris

I signed up for Jimmy Leslie's gouache class at Sketchbook Skool. We've all admired Michael's lovely gouache work and I wanted to learn this new medium. Well the gouache was "burning a hole in my pocket" so  I went down to Watson Street to try them out. These folks put this giant lit ornaments on the water oaks every year. It was a night scene (or dusk at least) so that meant flat color and low contrast. My colors got muddy fast and I got frustrated. Then I took Jimmy's class and learned a lot. I visited his website to see how HE handled night scenes. And I tried again at home working from my original sketch. This is the second try. Better composition, slightly enhanced color (Jimmy gives himself permission to take liberties)  and a much more interesting sketch.

Join our Facebook group by answering a few questions or follow us on Instagram. Our January presentation is closed to sign-ups, but there will still be a group sketching in the museum. Otherwise, join us in February. Watch our social media for an announcement.