Concert at Cantigny

 Pencil, Pen & Ink and watercolor on Pentalic Aqua Journal 20" x 7"

Last Saturday we went to a Dupage Symphony Orchestra Concert at Cantigny in Wheaton. The rain caught us before the concert started and immediately our friends took their giant umbrellas out. I opened mine also but  it was small for my hubby and I,  so one of our friends offered us one of the big umbrellas, such a kind gesture. The rain didn't last long, but the giant trees we were under made the rain last a little longer. When the music started, so did I sketching. Some of my curious friends wanted to see the pencil line before I added color. I excused myself for the lack of likeness, I think although they are not sketchers they understood this is the sketch of a moment and is not perfect.  During the first half of the concert, funny thing is that I didn't listen to the music. My friends were moving shoulders and feet to the rhythm of the classical music and I realized I was missing it! It was darker at the intermission, I applied only one wash of watercolor but I couldn't continue so I closed my sketchbook. One of my friends was eager to see the final result. I promised I would share it once I finished it back at home where I inked over pencil lines and added dark washes. I enjoyed the second half, I joined the group and also move to the rhythm of the music.

Exploring Digital Sketching.

Digital sketch 2016

Years ago I did a digital sketch for the very first time, ......with my finger. I was curious about this activity and its potential but I did't pursue. 

Digital sketch 2016

Digital sketch Drawing Desk App and finger 2017?

I finally got to use the procreate app many sketchers use so skillfully. The process of learning is fun and it requires to get use to the different tools until it becomes second nature and effortlessly. 

I did this sketch today with a proper pen which makes a huge difference. Practicing until mastering. I truly hope I sketch digitally more often, is fun and promising. 

Digital sketch with procreate app and a proper pen! 2019

Chicago Botanic Garden

Pen and Ink and watercolor on Arches CP 10" x 7"

I visited the Chicago Botanic Gardens almost two weeks ago. My friend and I chatted with volunteers who do work there, like replacing the spring flowers for summer flowers. The spring flowers looked good to me, it seemed like such a waste, but they would die eventually. My friend told me to feel free to sketch while she read a book, the truth is that there's so much to see, one road took us to another! 

On our way to the cafeteria for lunch I spotted two guys cleaning the water near it. They were removing some green stuff, perhaps aqua-weed? Lol. I felt the need to explain to my friend the taking of a photo of this view instead of the endless number of flowers. She totally got it, she understood this view was more interesting. She told me she would do the same. Cool! No needed for further explanation. I used multiple mixes of DS Sap Green and direct DS Undersea Green for dark green, I love the last one. 

A nice day with a nice friend.