Another Visit to NASA

 As you can see from the header, the Urban Sketchers Houston went back to sketch at NASA in August. Thanks to Joel, we were able to go to a limited access area containing all sorts of training and mission mock-ups. Thank you Joel and NASA!

Joel presented Judith with a challenge coin in thanks for all the hard work she does for Urban Sketchers Houston. We echo that sentiment!

The reserve ticket event was very well attended as you can see from the header photo. Every ticket was used!

The group members seemed most fascinated by the flight suits. I see a theme in the sketches that I'm posting. I'll let you enjoy the sketches and post just the names. Except, I have to point out that in Truong's case he drew the flight suits first and then sat at a table and very carefully painted in and inked that blue background. That takes patience!

Truong

Truong at work and sketchers with flight suits

Judith

Francisco

Carlos

Andrea

Peggy

Alan

There is a catwalk running around the room from above. I believe that was Joel's perch for this sketch on toned paper.

Joel

Kate worked in Procreate on her IPAD.

Kate

Mary M.

The other sketchers drew various pieces of equipment scattered around the room- except for Peter. He drew the sketchers.

Peter

Magdalena

Susan D

An ink sketch on toned paper, with just white gel pen highlights.

Priya

Watercolor and gouache from Michael.

Michael

Descha

Lisa

Nancy

Arielle

Andrea

Jordan

And some sketchers chose to work just in pen and ink. Including a whimsical montage from  Veronika.

Ken

Gina

Veronika

There was a throwdown. And, of course, the group reconvened over lunch.

throwdown

If you'd like to follow our activities, join us for one of our sketch outs or see more drawings, check outs our social media on Facebook and Instagram.

As of today, there are only 9 slots left in our registration for the anniversary event in Bastrop.

But, the Saturday sketching event is free to everyone. So if you wanted to drive from where you are for the day, (or if you're in Austin that weekend) you are still welcome to join us.

In the meantime, check our social media for our next sketch out.

A Saturday Two-fer: Gateway Cars and St. Arnold's

 The blog header shows Peter Norris's cheerful view of St. Arnold's and the Houston skyline in playful watercolor. Such a happy scene on such a HOT day. Peter was not the only one who decided to try the skyline. 

Diann

Diann gave it a try too, but in a slightly more literal palette.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up to the beginning of the day. The vote on sketching locations was very evenly split between Gateway Classic Cars and St. Arnold Brewery. We started the day at Gateway.

Luckily, there were many cars in a covered area in away from the heat. This is where many of us started sketching.

Michael broke out the gouache once again and used them in combination with watercolor.

Michael

I headed right for the best air-conditioning I could find. Have to admit it. But drawing the purple Ford coupe was worth it.

Chris

Francisco chose a bright turquoise classic beauty.

Francisco

Richard chose this classic.

Richard

And here are the offerings from our other sketchers.

Paul C

Carlos

Judith did some sketching inside too using her colored markers. 

Judith

Then she discovered this guy outside at the rally who had restored a beautiful Delta 88. He had it all tripped out for the drive-in movie: speaker, food tray, tunes. It was great.

Judith

Pat

Jacklynn

Arielle

Of course we had a throwdown.

throwdown

But that wasn't all for the day! Some hardy souls gathered at St. Arnold Brewery later in the day for a drink and sketch event. In fact, some of the same people from the morning sketchout showed up.

The St. Arnold's group

Both Rita Wilbur and Truong Le were interested in the artwork on the large tanks created for St. Arnold's by Carlos Hernandez of Burning Bones Press.

Rita

Truong

Jenny drew them too, as well as some food.

Jenn

Kate used her IPAD and Procreate to draw those umbrellas.

Kate

Peter gave them a try as well.

Peter

Carlos did a broad view in watercolor.

Carlos

Here are some of the sketchers at work.

Naturally,  there was another throw-down.

Throwdown

Both events were well-attended. We're always happy to welcome people from our email list. If you haven't attended in a while, consider coming to our next sketchout.  The NASA sketchout is ticketed because of a number limit. Details are on Facebook. Check out our posts on Instagram as well. It is not too late to sign up for the anniversary weekend in Bastrop. Check out the details on both FB and Insta. 

Music and Art at the Museum

The group

We had a good turnout this time for the MFAH. It's always nice to see people who usually can't make it to our Saturday sketchouts. The main feature this particular night was a short concert by the Monarch Chamber Players. Several of the sketchers chose to sketch the musicians and the audience who were assembled in the main hall of the Beck building.

Judith's sketch

Judith drew the array of musicians. I'd like to point out that her photo of the sketch gives the context in which she drew. Keep this in mind when sharing your sketches.

Karla

Karla zeroed in on the pianist.

Chris

I chose an angle behind the musicians so I could catch a little of the audience as well.

Many sketchers dispersed to the galleries to catch people and art. I will point out two clever solutions to the "no wet media" rule the museum enforces.

Andrea

Andrea toned her paper with ink before coming to the museum. This added a pop of color, but she had to get creative with her white gel pen for "lights".  She chose a really tricky perspective in this sketch too.

Andrea

Rita Wilbur solved the problem a different way.

Rita

She chose a sketchbook with toned paper and then added a little colored pencil. Very effective for the African art.

Kelly

Kelly just wanted to draw the art works.

But many sketchers were fascinated by people interacting with the artwork.

Michael

Michael's panorama of the gallery of Middle Eastern art has many viewers and a little facsimile of Arabic across the top.

Judith

Judith drew people in the galleries.

Chris

My sketch doesn't do justice to the glittery, neon turquoise Buddha in the Korean exhibit. Lots of photos were being taken.

Carlos

Carlos drew all the people wandering around in the museum.

Helen

Helen drew someone...hmmmm..watching musicians? looking at art? people watching? It was all going on.

Karla

And Karla captured a group of Indian women in saris who seemed to be all over the museum. Black and white doesn't capture the color, but Karla caught the movement.

Four people went in an entirely different direction.

Sharon

Sharon drew the outside of the Law building before it got too dark to see.

Tim

Tim drew the undulating curves of the Kinder building.

Heman

Heman chose a similar subject from a slightly different angle.

Of course, you can see Truong's view of the Kinder tunnel and light installation in the blog header.

the throwdown

Of course there was a throwdown at the end.

Please join our Instagram feed or join our Facebook group for the location and details on our next sketchout. Join our newest Facebook group, Urban Sketchers Texas for all the latest information on our ten year anniversary weekend in Bastrop. Registration will open soon.