Sketching at the Rodeo

Not pictured is Shaw who caught up with us after lunch

A trip to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is always fun. A trip with the sketchers to the show is mind-boggling. As Michael put it at one point "too much information". There are all the animals in the livestock show, the booths, the petting zoo, the pony rides, the judgings, the carnival. As you can imagine, there was a lot to cover. I always go more than once actually.

Shaw caught that feeling you get when you first walk into the grounds in her sketch which you see in the header. The signs, the people in western attire. What will you see? Where will you go first?

Our group this time was small, but we did manage to cover a lot of ground. New sketcher, Royce, caught the spirit of the event in his pen and ink sketches. There is a definite sense of humor in the giant cone and the people in the other sketch.

Royce

Michael headed right for the AgVenture area to draw animals. The teens preparing their animals for the show ring were good subjects. "They hold still longer," commented Michael.

Here is Michael hard at work, sketching the cow you see in the sketch below. Michael found a rare place to sit and watch all the animals going to and fro to the judging ring.

Later he found the goat getting his blow-out and "do" for his judging. Again, he lucked onto a place to sit. No place for sketchers on stools in the hall.

Michael

Chris

I chose the children's exhibit in the front where a pig never blinked at all the people staring at him. The sheep, however, are always a nervous bunch. And when the animals and the people move that much, a pencil sketch is always a sure bet.

Chris

Later,  I found a nice, calm cow getting some attention from her handler. Watercolor first, then a little watercolor pencil to bring things into focus.

Jeff

Jeff

Jeff bravely tackled the newborn chicks in the education area. Talk about drawing a moving target! But he did it and got a nice group in his sketch. He also visited the large cows and got a peaceful watercolor scene. Lastly, there's the Rodeo logo which sits out front.

Robert

Robert cleverly avoided the problem of "too much information" out in the color-mad carnival. He focused on one area and used gray marker and black ink. Minimal lines give you a sense of the background.

AM throwdown

We had two throwdowns. One in the morning just before lunch.

PM throwdown

By the afternoon, Shaw had caught up to us just in time for another throwdown.

It was a great and busy day. By the afternoon the grounds were mobbed and we were glad to be taking our leave. But I know I will be going back. There's just so much there to draw!

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