Some Asheville Gardens

A small garden at the Curves Gallery in the River Arts District

Cabin in the Asheville Botanic Garden

Bridge in the Asheville Botanic Garden

Two views of a bridge in the Asheville Botanic Garden

North Carolina Arboretum

 I spent a day exploring the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, NC, this summer.

While I checked out the Arboretum, I tried out some colored Stabilo fineliners.

There was a large collection of bonsai, 

displayed on several levels,

and a large outdoor fireplace.

Traveling to Asheville

We traveled to Asheville to cool off this summer. Margaret starts the trip with coffee from Muddy's.

The line at Muddy's

We have lunch on the other side of Nashville.

The gyros were tasty.

Margaret keeps her eyes on the road.

Our Airbnb apartment was downstairs, 

under the stairs.

Swamp hibiscus in the backyard

Backyard chair

September Sketch Group at Memphis Farmers Market

Next sketch group

Saturday, September 12

Memphis Farmers Market downtown

10:00 AM

We'll meet where the two covered walkways intersect. Consider sticking around for lunch at The Arcade!

Please comment here or on our Facebook page if you plan to attend. 

Peter Bowman

Local artist Peter Bowman, who had attended several gatherings of Memphis Urban Sketchers, passed away last Friday. 

Peter's sketches always amazed me - his mark-making was bold and purposeful, and his sketches always seemed like fully-formed paintings. For that reason I always show examples of his sketches when I teach sketching classes.

Peter was a teacher himself for many years. My first encounter with him was when I was still in college at University of Memphis, and in a professional practices class Bob Lewis, in his wisdom, sent me to talk to Peter about what it means to live as an artist. Peter gave me some advice that I think helped shape my own living as an artist: be the kind of artist that works with your temperament. For him, at that time, it meant teaching during the day, spending time with his family, and painting later in the evenings. I knew that my temperament would require me to work full time, and hearing his advice made it okay for me to do that and still be an artist.

Here are some sketches that Peter made with us over the years. We will miss him!

Peter's supplies: old markers and highlighters in a ziploc bag.

Peter's work at our exhibit at ANF Architects.

The Peabody

The group met at the Peabody on Saturday. I didn't think to take photos of the gathered drawings, but here's the one I did from the mezzanine. It was fun to see everyone, and we had several new folks, which is great. I also enjoyed hearing Elizabeth's account of the Urban Sketching Symposium in Singapore. We're hoping some of us can make it next year to Manchester, England.

Sketching at the Brooks

Seven sketchers showed up at the Brooks Museum of Art last Saturday. Mike and Judith were new to our group. Typically, I forgot my camera so I didn't record our gathering. Here are my sketches in pencil.

Brooks Museum

Waiting outside the Brooks

Guarding the gallery

Sculpture by Jacques Lipchiz

Some small sculptures by regional artists

Sketching at the Dixon in preparation for an Open Studio in the Garden drawing session scheduled for Friday, July 17

Young artists in the Cutting Garden  (Noodlers pen and ink and ink brush)

I have always enjoyed making line drawings with pen and ink. But it can take some time to add textures and shading.

Cutting Garden fountain ( ink wash)

Another technique is to make shapes with a brush.  This can be quicker but involves more equipment.

Europa  and the Bull (ink wash)

It's a painterly approach.

Hydrangea ( Lamy ink and water-brush)

I have found a hybrid technique, useful for quick sketches, that uses both lines and shapes.

  

Fountain detail ( blue Lamy ink and water-brush)

It involves very little equipment: a pen with water soluble ink, a water-brush and some sturdy paper.

Fountain detail   ( brown and blue Lamy ink and water-brush)

If you use a warm and a cool color ink, you have more possibilities and still need only minimal equipment.

Fountain detail ( brown and blue Tombow brush pens and water-brush)

Fountain detail (blue and brown Stabilo  Fineliner pens and water-brush )

Food truck at The Dixon  (brown and blue Lamy ink and water-brush)

I often use this technique for quick sketches.

View from the Conservatory ( several colors of  Stabilo Fineliner pens and water-brush)

Stabilo Fineliner pens come in an assortment of colors and are water soluble. 

The Cutting Garden at The Dixon   ( several colors of  Stabilo Fineliner pens and water-brush)

Meet me at The Dixon Gallery and Gardens with one, two or several Stabilo Fineliner pens and a water-brush  at 4 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2015, and try out this drawing technique.

Fountain in the Cutting Garden   ( several colors of  Stabilo Fineliner pens and water-brush)

More Sketching of Jun Kaneko ceramic sculptures at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens

Jun  Kaneko ceramic sculpture at the entrance of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

The other side of the ceramic sculpture at the entrance

Ceramic sculpture by Jun Kaneko

Another view of the cutting garden

My favorite raccoon dog ceramic sculpture in the Woodland Garden

Several Jun Kansko sculptures on the south lawn

Part of a ceramic sculpture and part of the Hughes Pavilion

Looking up the south lawn at the east gallery