Crosswalk
Posted: May 24, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized 12 CommentsWhere do your ideas for sketching come from? How do you choose subjects? I don’t often leave home knowing what will end up on my paper, but I sometimes find inspiration along the way. Today’s idea for a sketch comes from the driver who clearly saw me stepping off the curb and chose to accelerate over the painted yellow lines instead of stopping. I had been thinking I might paint a water scene but instead turned around and painted the crosswalk.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Those drivers exist everywhere. But the result was a lovely painting.
Another comment about making your own sketchbooks. If a lot of work and good paper goes into one, it becomes almost too precious to use. Certainly to mess up on. At least that has been my experience.(Tho of mine, not many end up that well) No matter what, they are special and I love making them.
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Yes, they do exist everywhere. There’s a school at my corner, so that stop sign is a crosswalk as well as a school zone. You have no idea how many people fly through there.
As for the books, they are not too precious. I am just happy to have the paper I want in there and am determined to use them. Plus if there’s a dud in the book you can always cut it out, unlike a bound book.
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I am always on the alert at crosswalks. and especially school crossings. When I was an intern there were about 5 children brought to the ER-a few were dead. A drunk driver ran through a school crosswalk.I will never forget it–and its about 53 years later.
Will be interested following your results making sketchbooks.
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This is a great sketch, and what a story behind it. Thank God you were not hurt! Where is everyone off to in such a hurry anyway? And don’t pedestrians still have the right of way pretty much world wide?
Re: spiral vs. sewn – both have advantages but I favor the spirals for the reason you mentioned and for being able to fold it back. Sometimes there’s not a lot of space to work and having a big book open is too awkward. I’ll be very interested to see how your custom books evolve as you use them and fine tune. For sure, having better paper is a great thing. You would think the paper companies would see the huge demand and need and offer something with 100% cotton paper. I don’t know why they don’t.
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Please post a photo of your book when you have a moment. 🙂
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Lovely painting, as usual, Shari. Given the “impromptu-ness” (is there such a word) of this subject and painting, may I ask how long it took you to do?
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HI Rita, Thanks so much. I would say this took a little over an hour, but not as long as two hours. The drawing took some time to set up properly and get the perspective right.
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Where did you sit/stand to paint? How did you do this ? Dumb question but it seems you were on foot and I can’t imagine myself being able to paint that way. I’d be sitting down leaning against something like in your photo.
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I am glad you are safe and able to put your emotions into a painting that tells a story. The painting is lovely, fresh and clean. Thank you for sharing. I’m glad for this happy ending.
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That’s frustrating, and can be scary, when drivers do that, Shari.
Good for you for making a “story of the day” sketch.
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A simple crosswalk makes a fabulous subject when you paint. Lovely sketch and great story as well.
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Great sketch. It is sad though that so many drivers these days are not considerate or law abiding for that matter. I have had a few close calls myself and I get very upset when a driver just does not yield to an elderly person for example. I don’t know if it is just me but I here way too many reports of hit and runs or negligent driving. Glad you are OK. We were lucky to view your drawing.
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