Armand Bayou Nature Center

The Group

This month we had a great turnout for our trip to Armand Bayou Nature Center.  The center is a 2500 acre preserve in the Clear Lake area south of Houston. We welcomed one out-of-town visitor and several new sketchers. It's always nice to see new people.

Luckily, we were there on the weekend that the Houston Area Blacksmiths Association was having their get-together at the Martyn Farm. The Martyn farm reproduces farm life in early Gulf coast Texas. It includes a forge. This drew the majority of the sketchers as it was fun watching young people learned the skills of blacksmithing. You can see Martha's sketch of this scene in the blog header.

Joel's sketch

Her dad, Joel, also set up across the road and took in the wide perspective. 

Amy's sketch

New sketcher, Amy, zeroed right in on the people and the action.

Susan DeCourcy

Susan also sketched the broader view, but she points out that she managed to sketch the sketchers. That's Joel and Martha at the bottom right.

Robert James

Robert originally thought he'd sketch the same scene, but he was drawn back to the buffalo enclosure where he struck up a conversation with this big fellow.

Jason's sketch

Our visitor from San Jose, Jason, found a tranquil spot along Armand Bayou to do this watercolor.

Chris

I was determined to draw people. I started out with the sketch at the left of the smith working on his piece. But I remembered a quiet spot near the bayou from a previous visit. I set off down one of the trails and soon found myself in the woods. A black cloud of mosquitos descended. The mosquito repellant didn't phase them. Quickly, I took shelter in the interpretive center to rethink my plan. There was a platform nearby overlooking an algae-covered pond and a hungry heron.  Just maybe....But as soon as I settled to sketch the mosquitos were back. I took some essential photos and finished my work in the interpretive center. Sometimes you have to go with Plan B.

Carlos

Back at the forge, Carlos did a lovely watercolor of the men at work.

Michael

Michael used gouache to capture the smoke rising from the fires.

Linda's sketch

Linda liked the water tank and windmill which are part of the Martyn Farm complex.

Finally, we gathered for the throwdown.

the throwdown

It was very hot by the end of the morning and we were glad to find a cool lunch spot.

Next month we will be sketching indoors at the Menil Museum. Join us!

The Art Car Experience

 

The May Sketchers

A small, but dedicated group went to the Art Car Experience in May. Masks were in place and the crowd was really not much of a crowd at all. The outdoor experience near the Orange Show museum and Smithers Park gave everyone lots of elbow room. Our blog header this month was drawn by Robert.

It was certainly a different experience wandering around stationary Art Cars rather than the pre-parade or parade time crush of people and vehicles. But the advantage was lots of room and different perspectives for sketching. Robert and Judith were taken by the metal chicken.

Robert (left) and Judith (right)

Susan DeCourcy got bits and bobs of lots of different parts of the exhibit.

Susan's sketches

Carlos and I were both delighted by a very large car called "Pride and Joy" that featured Elvis at the guitar on top.

Carlos chose a head-on view

Chris tried a side view

And then I couldn't help capturing the large metal monster in all his rusty glory.

Chris

We did a throwdown, of course, when it was all over.

The throwdown

 The weather cooperated by being not too, too hot and the rain held off.

Our June sketchout will be at the Armand Bayou Nature Center. The old farm building, old farm equipment and lots of the natural world will be perfect for sketching. There is plenty of shade and plenty of distance, so if you haven't joined us in a while, please think about coming to this one.