SKETCHBOOK: "A Week in Colorado"

 

I recently returned home from a week of visiting my daughter Jenni and her beau Brad (and also house/cat sitting for 2.5 days) in Longmont, Colorado (northeast of Boulder). I was really looking forward to my "free time"...it had been a long while since I've been out and about drawing. I sketched at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Red Rocks, Eldorado Canyon State Park, and then on Hwy 66 near Jen and Brad's house. A lovely time with gorgeous weather!

 

SKETCHBOOK: "Back to Boulder"

I just returned from a week-long trip out to Boulder, Colorado. I was Cat-sitting at the apartment of my daughter Jenni and her man, Brad. They were gone on a trip to Cancun, Mexico to celebrate her graduation and passing boards to become a Registered Nurse!! A big deal indeed!!

I was able to do some sketching and painting while out there, and it was a rejuvenating time for me. I won't go into a lot of narration, but will let the sketches carry the load. Above are some drawings I did while waiting for my plane to leave Kansas City, and while on the flight to Denver.

Below is the afore-mentioned kitty cat, Pika. He is not fond of strangers, but he warmed up to me before too long. I spent the first day there watching tv with him, while it snowed outside.

Here is Brad's Bonzai tree that Jen surprised him with. Brad found the little figurine of the old man at a garage sale.

I drove to Denver to see the Museum of Nature and Science. What an impressive place!!! I could have stayed there for weeks sketching stuff!! I went ga-ga over all the dinosaur displays.

These are sketches I did at Eldorado Canyon State Park from two different days there. I tried drawing with Prismacolor sticks. I'm not too happy with the waxy quality. Once I got back to the apartment, I added a bit of sepia line-work, and liked the end results a bit better.

I decided to try using B-lead pencils and watercolor washes. I was so enamored with the rushing water, that I bit off a bit more than I could chew with my composition. I got a little muddy with all the trees in the sketch. But it was such a wonderful spot and the weather was gorgeous.

Jenni had left me a three-page list of places that I could explore. One of them was at South Boulder Creek West Trailhead. I have not been really successful using gauche paints, but went against my better judgement and brought them on the trip. I was painting on brown-toned paper. I am frustrated by how the colors shift when they dry, and how they lift up colors underneath. I was really wishing I had my oil paints with me!!

I spent a whole day wandering around on Pearl Street, in Boulder!! It is about four blocks of stores that are linked together by a cobblestone street. No cars can park there. Street performers are scattered about...so much fun!! Below is a giant bronze frog that is in a children's play area.

I saw these boots on top of a trash can with this backdrop of bright orange flowers. I found out later that people will leave clothes behind for the homeless to use.

Below are two musicians that serenaded me while I sketched them. I think they were infringing on the turf of one of the other performers. A contortionist was near-by, but could not drum up business. I had to listen to him for about two hours as I drew this sketch. I could pretty much say his routine for him: "Excuse me. I need some attention. Ladies. Ladies...I need some attention. I need a crowd...any size crowd will do. Don't worry...I'm a vegetarian. I'm fine now...I'm sober. I need some attention."

Later in the afternoon, I walked over to the Farmer's Market. They were setting up the tents for the various vendors. I sat in the shade of a big tree, while I drew this gnarly one. A delivery truck showed up about halfway through the sketch.

Below is on the campus of Colorado University. I was trying to find the Museum of Natural History, but had parked too far away. So I just decided to walk back to the car. On the way, the Engineering Center jumped out at me and begged to be drawn.

On my last day there, I enjoyed some time with Jenni and Brad, since they had returned from their trip the night before. Since they had just done the hour-long drive from the Denver airport, it was more convenient to ride the shuttle bus. I tried sketching some while on the bus, but it was VERY bumpy! I drew one more sketch at the airport, while waiting for the delayed flight home.

As we taxied out to the runway, we had to wait in a long line of at least 10 jets trying to take off. Denver Airport is huge, and was very crowded. 

It was a great trip and I still have lots and lots of stuff to explore and sketch when I return!!

SKETCHBOOK: "Surprise in Boulder!"

Yesterday, I arrived home after a wonderful trip to Boulder, Colorado to surprise my eldest daughter, Jenni.  She was having her first reception for an exhibit of her photographs.  I schemed with her boyfriend, Brad, to pull off the surprise, and it worked out perfectly!

Above is a sketch I did while in one of Jen & Brad's favorite coffee shops in Boulder.  Jenni spent a lot of time studying for her nursing degree.  Brad was writing on his first novel, and I was happily sketching away.  This pic of Jenni and I was in the coffee shop before we got all serious and busy.

Below is the view I had inside of "Lucile's" Louisiana style breakfast cafe.  I had a prime spot right by the front door, to greet Jenni and surprise her, while Brad coordinated the "stealth operation".  My drawing is WAY off, with the window panes...but that's the way it goes when drawing with an ink pen.

Here are a couple of pics of the reception later that evening. I am so proud of Jen for continuing to enjoy the world of photography like her Mom did.

And thanks, Brad, for making the surprise possible!  I had some quality time visiting with him while Jenni studied.

Below are a couple of sketches I did while at another of their study spots..."Laughing Goat".  I think the guy I sketched using his laptop was the owner.  I did a close-up sketch of the ceramic goat head sculpture that is sitting on the bar above the stools.  Those stools appeared to be made from curved barrel planks.  I used warm gray markers, so I could be more "inconspicuous" with my 3"x7" sketchbook.

After lunch, we moved over to the campus of the University of Colorado, for more "studying/writing/sketching" time. This weird plant was on the stairwell in the main library, and caught my eye.

This view is on the third floor looking at an open atrium where study tables were below the big windows.

It was a terrific trip...even got some snow while there to make the views all "magical".  Fortunately, the "magic melted" on my 9-hour drive home.

BOULDER, Colorado Pt.2

Welcome to the second installment about my trip to Boulder! This visit to see my daughter Jenni was not a "sketch trip" per se...but Jen was sweet enough to allow her dear old Dad some time to draw.  I'm making a rather bold move by showing the photos of the actual locations.  My drawings NEVER do justice to the subject matter.  This is especially true about Boulder...it's so beautiful out there!  A big THANKS to Jen, who took the photos of me while I'm sitting down sketching.  I needed to have a sign on my back..."Wide Load" or "This space for rent"!

Above is my sketch of the famous "Flat Irons" mountain formation.  There were lots of hikers going up and down the trails in front of me.

As is often the case, just before I'm about to add color to a drawing, I wonder...should I just leave it alone as a black line sketch?!!!  Quite often, I wish I had not painted them.

This time...I'm okay with the color.  The warmth of the sunshine translated into the browner tones on the rock faces...they were actually more "purple gray".  Oh well...that's why I have included the photos!

This next sketch is a short distance outside of Boulder. Jenni was driving around one day and came across this terrific "dog run".  It was a bit risky sitting out there with the dogs off-leash!  Some of them were just curious...others thought I was in their yard and would just stand behind me barking ferociously!  (One of the more "fierce" ones was a light gray standard poodle like my friend, Joyce, has.)  Most of the times the owners would be right there and make them leave me alone.  I just laughed and talked calmly to the dogs...they were no worse than small children who nearly sit in my lap when they see me drawing!

In this little series of pics below, you can see the dog I'll call "Old Yeller" on the far right.  He nearly knocked me off of my stool he was so happy to see me!

This great panaramic scene was taken by Jenni with her iPhone.  The view was at the far end of the dog trail...a cool looking little valley below.

The next sketch was done at the Denver Botanical Gardens. I was tucked away under the shade of some trees. Unfortunately some of my drawing got a bit "off"...but you just keep on going and make the best of it when using ink pens!

I tried to give Jenni a break from having to hang out with me the whole weekend, so I wandered around the neighborhood near her apartment.  This big old sycamore tree was fun to draw...love sketching trees!!

This rather weathered motorcycle was in the same apartment complex as Jenni's.  I was sketching this around 6:45 in the morning, because I couldn't sleep any longer.

The last drawing was of a little solar powered three-wheel "car".  I guess you have to call it a car...more like a little go-cart!  But I love the curves and shape of the thing. Jenni said that they remove the panels on the front when taking the little car for a spin.  But she said it's been sitting there forever.  Maybe keeping the car in the shade is NOT the best way to charge it up!

Well, that's it for this trip.  Who knows where I'll be off to next!!