Intrigue
Posted: January 24, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized 14 CommentsThere are so many reasons why I am intrigued by this corner and keep returning to sketch there. The buildings are set at all angles, the road veers to the left and then the right, and on a sunny day there’s a glowing light on the corner house. There’s also something mysterious about this corner, and possibly what gives it that mystery is also what makes it slightly dangerous. Interesting characters are always coming around the corner. My intention was to do a car sketch for a bigger painting but I had to complete it at home. One of “interesting” characters in the neighbourhood turned out to be slightly menacing, standing in front of my car, waving his hands to block my view and possibly trying to intimidate me. Maybe he didn’t appreciate me hanging around in my car, watching the action at the corner. Good thing my camera was not visible. Anyway, I got the message and completed my sketch at home from a photo reference that I quickly snapped when he ducked into the shelter of a building to light a cigarette.
Beautiful and thrilling !
Thanks Pedro. It didn’t seem very thrilling at the time!
Good sketch Shari! I must appreciate your courage to try to complete your sketch under intimidating conditions too!
Thanks Suma. It really is a study for a painting so there’s no detail in here but I have the information I need to paint it now.
Shari, I am interested in enrolling in your July workshop in Seattle. How do I go about doing that? I am part of both the Seattle and the Tacoma urban sketchers groups.
Hi Frances,
I’ll send you a registration form this weekend.
Shari
I can see from the sketch why the corner is so intriguing, with the forms angling into each other, as if the buildings themselves are peering around corners. Well done
Thanks Corey. That’s so true about the buildings. Great observation!
Shari, I like it a lot, specially since I think where is is. “corner of Ste.Marie street and St.Louis in Lachine” My wife was born on St.Marie street so needles to say I was there often.
Good work.
That’s exactly where it is Andre!
I have had the same experience, but when I turned my sketchbook around to show what I was up to, the threatening person’s attitude reversed and suddenly he became my “protector,” urging people out of the way so my view would not be blocked. But that has been in other countries where respect for artists and disdain for photographing tourists runs higher.
I wish that would have been the case Lee but this person was truly menacing. I have had so many positive experiences but this wasn’t one of them. For the first time I was actually scared and left quite quickly.
Hi Shari,
I love your work and look forward to every post. Have you walked us through your palette lately? I love your colors and would like to refresh mine.
Lesli
PS Thanks for the shadow color tip!
That’s a great idea Lesli. I will do a post about my palette this week.