Sketching greens in Savannah
Posted: March 17, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized 33 CommentsSavannah had a bit of a slow start today. Seems like most of the city was still asleep when I went out sketching this morning, no doubt recovering from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which happened on Saturday. Around noon I started to see a bit of foot traffic walking through Columbia Square where I sitting, people still wearing green wigs and beaded necklaces, but probably looking a little less fresh than yesterday.
I’m here this week to give a workshop at the Telfair Museums called “Sketching Savannah’s Historic Squares”. This is my third time in the city, but first time teaching here. So excited to have the opportunity to do this in a city that is made for sketching. I would love to be able to sketch all 22 historic squares but that is a bit ambitious for a workshop week. In fact, if you want to do justice to these beautiful urban spaces you would have to sketch each of them from four sides because most of them have a beautiful central feature like a statue or a fountain, and are always flanked by architecturally amazing houses or churches. I’d have to stay here for a month or two to complete all 88 views!
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Have a great time teaching and painting this magical place. May the weather cooperate!
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The weather has been great so far. It rained a bit on Sunday but today was gorgeous and the rest of the week is looking good. A bit chilly but that’s perfect for sketching.
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Ooh, so much better than the photo!
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Thanks Sue Anne!
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One of my favorite cities! Enjoy!
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I sure am enjoying it. I have been walking non-stop to get to all the squares, but it really is a walking city.
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Lucky you! Looking forward to seeing more posts hopefully. Brings back memories of our holiday in Charleston a few years ago. Hope you have a great time …. sure you will!
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Thanks Tony. Yes, I am very fortunate to be teaching here. What a great city. Next time you’ll. Have to come here too.
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Yes, lucky you! I loved Savannah when we visited years ago. So atmospheric—perfect for sketching. Enjoy!
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Thanks Marina. I love this city and I’m really getting to know it better this time.
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Shari , this is amazing to me because we just left Savannah this morning to continue driving to the North and northwest! If I could have stayed for your class I would have! I really liked the grid arrangement of streets and squares in the historic part of this city…it is the earliest “planned” city in North America. The squares are beautiful, especially now with azaleas in bloom. We went to the Telfair Museums on Friday, including the Rembrandt etchings and his work with the Jewish elders in Amsterdam.
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Thanks for telling me about the show Jean. I had seen posters for it on the street but I was very lucky. I was just arriving there to check out the studio space for my workshop as the curator of the show was giving a private tour to the docents. I was invited to listen in, so I had a very special guided visit with insights from the curator that I wouldn’t have otherwise heard. It was fascinating and the etchings are so special. I hope to go back and have a second look.
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This is great. Always love it when people are included in the sketches, gives it an extra element of life 😀
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You can’t avoid them here. It’s a very touristy city and these squares are very popular.
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Gorgeous!!! Thanks for sharing! Love the trees framing the view.
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Thanks so much Marie. Yes, the trees in these squares are so perfect as framing devices.
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What I love about good painting is that the painting is always better than the actual scene. More exciting and personal.
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That’s what makes urban sketching so great. Better than any photo.
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i just love Savannah, it just screams to be painted, sketched or photographed. Your rendition is just perfect! Can’t wait to see more.
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Thanks so much Denise!
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Adding the people really adds much to this great painting. I too believe your painting rendition is far superior to the photograph, so much more inviting. It’s a wonderful time of year to be in Savannah.
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It sure is a great time Bernadette. The azaleas are blooming but I haven’t painted them yet. Hopefully tomorrow.
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Savannah is such a wonderful city and I hope you get to sketch a lot of it. This is beautiful!!! You are right about the squares because there is a different background view from every side. Maybe you will have to extend your stay. lol
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Thanks so much Joan. This really is a great city, and I wish I could extend my stay, but there’s school!!
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Happy that you made it there safely.
Nice to get away from the winter.
Savannah is just beautiful.
We’ll be in Tennessee next week.
Goin’ to Nashville
G
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Have a safe trip back George. See you guys soon.
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(G. here) About that day job . . .
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Working on that this month. It’s likely to happen very soon. Maybe by the time you are back… We’ll have lots to celebrate this year, won’t we???
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I’ve never been to Savannah. You’ve visited more US cities than I ever have. Never wanted to go before I read this.
I love the way you brought out the dark portions of the scene into soft muted colors. I know the fountain is the center of interest but the foliage in the back is so lovely. How did it look when you were actually there? Was it in shadow? Just amazed at how delicate the painting is.
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Judy, you can see some of how it looked in the background of the photo. It was quite flat light but I exaggerated the contrast to make the fountain the centre of interest. Such a beautiful fountain, not showy, just very elegant.
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Extra nice sketch, Shari . . . enjoy all that green!
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I sure am enjoying the green.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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