Sketching "Tool Kit"

Blogging more has inspired me to purchase a few more new items to add to my sketching "tool kit" so to speak, so I thought I would do a quick visual inventory of what I typically have on hand to sketch.  When it comes to sketchbooks, as an architect I am pretty much addicted to Moleskine's, so it's no surprise that the two new sketchbooks I just purchased are also Moleskine's (I did seriously ponder purchasing a different sketchbook, but just couldn't bring myself to it).

For color, I tend to use watercolor crayons a lot, though have also worked with the typical pigment base that allows you to mix your own colors. The nice thing about the watercolor crayons is that the color is ready for you to use, meaning less time spent mixing colors but you have less color options. Using straight pigments, I can get whatever color I want, but will often spend more time mixing and playing with colors than actually painting with them. Now, I have just purchased a new palette of watercolors in the hopes of finding a happy medium between these two.

Of course there are a few token items such as brushes (I have a few good ones that I am using constantly - all natural sable), a ruler (another architect thing, though I prefer my clear triangle that I can't find at the moment), and a few containers for carrying around water.

For the initial sketch, I tend to start with pencil first, layer on the ink, and then move to color. While I can't claim a strong preference for a pencil, micron pens are definitely my pen of choice for sketching.

There you have it, my "tool kit" in a photo!

Wyalusing State Park

Finally, a chance to relax!!! With one more test down and summer upon us, Chris and I had the chance to join dear friends from Milwaukee for a weekend of camping, hiking and relaxing at Wyalusing State Park. We drove down on Friday and pitched camp at a scenic campsite overlooking the Wisconsin River Valley. 

Saturday we hiked the Sentinal Ridge Trail which stopped at quite a few different overlooks/points of interest. At this one, the Carrier Pigeon Monument, we stopped for a while longer to eat lunch (hence a chance to bust out the sketchbook).

After hiking and relaxing a bit we headed over to the other side of the Mississippi river into Iowa and Pikes Peak to check out the view from the other side (just as beautiful) and a waterfall. 

Up early the next morning, I had a few minutes to sketch out our luxury sleeping accommodations... the first tent Chris and I purchased together (she has been very good to us). Ah, the memories... we have come so far from our very first time camping and hiking together.

Media: Micron Pen, Watercolor Crayon

Claddagh Coffee

 

Here is a place I have been wanting to try out for quite a while... Claddagh Coffee! I was able to stop in for a bit to eat and a coffee with the thought in mind that I was going to sit down and study for my up and coming test.  Needless to say, the temptation of my sketchbook got the best of me, thinking, "oh, I'll just do one quick sketch and then I'll study." Plus, I had some new micron brush pens that I have been looking for a good excuse to try out and this small coffee shop in a historic building looked like just the right place.

 

Media: Micron brush pen, graphite

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

I got the chance to sketch with the "metro sketchers" group for the first time today at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which was a win-win-win situation:  a chance to meet other fellow avid sketchers, be outside, and sketch from nature! I definitely hope to meet up with them again on further sketch outings. Unfortunately, I did have to leave a bit early this time due to prior obligations (and a mental kick in the rear for leaving my favorite water color brushes at home).

I walked down a trail to the bottom of the valley and found this nice spot looking straight out onto the marsh, though blocked by trees.  Perfect for me as a silent observer. One thing I did this time that I don't usually do is I did not erase any pencil underlay sketch marks. That being said, I think it turned out ok.

Media: Watercolor Crayon, Micron Pen, Graphite.

Below is a photo of the area I was sketching

Memorial Day Weekend Road Trip

One extra day off the work week?  Oh my gosh, what to do! We quickly hatched a plan to do a one day road trip visiting the small towns of St. Peter, Mankato, and Janesville in pursuit of Coffee, Beer, Wine, and a Waterfall. I was eager to bust out my sketchbook on this outing and test my travel sketching skills. To my disappointment, those with me were not nearly as eager to sit and wait for me to finish my sketch.  Thus, this sketch was done roughly half on site, and half staring at a photograph on my iphone.  The sketch on the left hand side was our first stop at a local coffee shop in St. Peter, and the fermenters on the right are at a brewery in Mankato. I had visions of doing a sketch collage of every place we stopped at, perhaps a bit ambitious, but I am glad nonetheless that these still made it into my sketchbook.

Media:  Micron Pen, Watercolor Crayon, and Graphite

Below are some process photos:

Looking back, the woman in front is what I probably spent the most time sketching, while the man kept shifting and moving - being difficult. This half of the sketch I focused on being more "freeform" while the fermenters I drew in elevation with drafting lines etc. are more "architectural" in nature.

HVAC - an ode to Building Systems

In an attempt to actually "draw" what is on my mind, perhaps this is an ode to the extent that studying for the ARE's are consuming my life right now. Yes, not surprisingly Building Systems is my next test in June. As much as this test looks at the technical aspect of these systems, I can't help but look at these like a fun 3D maze that winds and intertwines itself around my building designs.

This drawing was done by documenting an older building and looking at all of the different systems that had built up over time in layers. The drawing tools used were Micron Pen and watercolor pencil.  The dark black came about by dipping the pencil in water first, and then drawing on the paper with it wet.  The effect was immediate - no need to build up colors to get a dark black, but drawing in this way did lend itself to a certain lack of control for better or worse.  The black dries up quickly and you can feel your pencil stop sliding on the paper and suddenly act more "crayon-like"



Sketching Sweeney's

Since I don't have the time right now to get back into the screenprinting studio (darn ARE's are consuming WAY TOO MUCH of my time) I've been looking to "Urban Sketching" to fill that creative artistic void that I love so much about architecture. Looking back, I've always kept a sketchbook at my side throughout different point in my life, observing the world around me.

Last weekend, as cold and dreary and miserable as it was, we (Chris and myself) took some time to walk over to Sweeney's for an afternoon beverage. I have to admit, this does happen to be one of our favorite places around the cities for a quick gathering with new beers as they become available. Plus, getting to know the wait-staff does make for a friendly conversation.