Sketchcrawl April 27, 2017 - Ferran Park

Today there were seven of us that showed up at Ferran Park in Eustis, FL

It was another gorgeous day with a few areas of clouds but sunny and quite warm.  It was 85 when I left around 11:30ish.

Although on the warm side, there was a nice breeze.  Unfortunately it was also quite buggy.

All around were squirrels playing and birds to include an Anhinga I sat maybe 2 to 3 feet away from with its wings spread out drying.  He stayed put but definitely kept his eye on me.

Frogs were croaking and then there was the sound of traffic a few blocks over and chatter from nearby folks walking their dogs or sitting.  One man with an elderly lady in a wheel chair sat to my left and he was fishing as the lady sat and watched.

As for sketching, I decided to do some quick sketching looking out across the lake from where the Anhinga and I were sitting.  I started on the right page sketching with my brush rather than pencil or pen.  The left page I worked my normal sequence.

Stillman & Birn Beta / W&N watercolors / Falcon for right page and Lamy for the left.......both with Lexy Gray ink

Afternoon at Silver Springs State Park

Yesterday Terry and I decided to drive out to Silver Springs State Park to check the place out.  So many people have mentioned this park with a couple suggesting as a place for the sketchers' groups to meet up for a sketchcrawl.

We used Google Maps GPS and our travel to the park seemed like forever reaching our destination.  All the traffic and traffic lights just made for a very long ride.

Using the same app, Google decided to bring us back a totally different route.  What fun that was!!!  All back roads going through horse and cattle country and the edge of the Ocala National Forest.  Although distance was a little further, we were moving most of the way back.........not all the stops due to lights or cars turning into shopping areas.

So that we could remember this country road route to take for future trips, I decided to sketch it out in my journal.


While at the park, we walked around taking loads of pictures.  This trip we decided to hold off on taking the glass bottom boat ride.......saving that for another time.  The water was absolutely beautiful and crystal clear which is not surprising due to the natural springs that feed the river there.

There were people kayaking and water boarding (think that's what you call those standing on boards and paddling) which amazes me due to the gators.  And we saw one very large gator in the areas many of these folks were paddling around.  My thoughts with the ones standing on boards.........what if they fall off?

We kayak in these waters but I'm still nervous about the what ifs I come across a gator while out there :-O

Anyways.......walking around, there was an area where all these little black things were walking and hopping about with every step we took.  Little one inch crickets I've learned are called Eastern Lubbers.

What a beautiful Sunday it was but a bit on the warm side.  There was a chance of rain but we only hit a few minutes of some sprinkles right before entering the park.  We look forward to another trip sometime in the near future.

Both pages worked in the Hand Sewn Journal #2 with a Platinum Carbon desk pen / Lexy Gray ink

Sketchcrawl April 22, 2017 Continued

Here is one more I finished late tonight from St Timothy Catholic Church sketch outing.

Hand sewn journal / Pilot Prera / Lexy Gray Ink

Sketchcrawl April 22, 2017 - St Timothy Catholic Church, The Villages

We had yet another beautiful day meeting up in The Villages to sketch.

There were five of us this time......two gentlemen I had not met before.  One is a professional illustrator and talk about gorgeous work!!!  I'd like to be like him when I grow up.........lol.

There was Al, Mike, Gail, Sheridan, and myself.  Gail set up in front of the Church sitting on the grounds.  I was not too far but set up in the parking lot right beside my car.  Al was across the parking lot behind me while the other two gentlemen were over towards the front side of the Church set up next to their golf carts.

For those who are unaware.........The Villages is a very large retirement community where many get around in golf carts rather than regular vehicles.  They share the road ways with regular traffic but have their own designated lanes.  It's an experience for anyone who's not been there before.

Due to the fact I sketched the building my first trip there, I decided to capture the statue outside the front doors.

Hand sewn #2 journal with Fabriano Artistico 140lb watercolor paper, and Micron 005.  Watercolor but also used a little gouache (flowers).  Got the idea from the illustrator who works with both watercolor and gouache.

Sketchcrawl April 18, 2017 - Downtown Leesburg

Although still lacking motivation to do much sketching, I went on this sketch outing with the group.  We met at the park area in front of the City Hall building in Leesburg and then found a spot to sit and work on our journals.  Was a gorgeous day!!!!

Six of us ended our time together having lunch at Blooms.

Stillman & Birn Beta / Micron for one page and Platinum Carbon pen for the other.

Sketchcrawl April 14, 2017 - St James Episcopal Churche

It's been a busy two weeks.  First we had family on vacation here from April 9th through the 15th.  Had a birthday party for my eldest granddaughter on the 9th, Universal Studios on the 10th, Lake County Carnival on the 11th, days spent at the Holiday RV Resort swimming and visiting, and a sketchcrawl on the 14th.

The weekend was kind of a low with everyone leaving but then Tuesday another sketchcrawl at Downtown Leesburg, today a sketchcrawl at Venetian Gardens and we have another in the morning in The Villages.  Think I'll be ready for a few days of doing absolutely nothing :-)

When the two granddaughters accompanied me on the 14th sketchcrawl, I gave them each an accordion fold journal I had made and they worked pencil sketches in their journals (I'm upset too because I forgot to scan their efforts to share here).  :-(   I started a sketch of a section of the Church but spent most of my time helping the youngest granddaughter.  Tonight I'm finally getting around to finishing it.

#2 Hand Sewn Journal with Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper and Pilot Prera with Lexington Gray ink.

Today's Sketch Outing with Leesburg Art League

This morning the art league had their own sketchcrawl.  We were to meet at the Art Center and then walk somewhere in downtown Leesburg to do some sketching.  It was decided on Simon Seed Garden Center.

The morning was quite chilly but for me was great as I still have some northern blood in me.  It was low 60s when we headed out and for me that's perfect weather.  It was also quite windy and sunny :-)

There were five of us for this outing and we all sat outside at the garden center working on various subjects.  This trip I chose to sit towards the front corner where there are clay pots stacked.

Stillman & Birn Beta / Lamy Safari with Lexington Gray Ink

Sketched in pencil first, inked using fountain pen, and watercolor to finish it off.

Sketchcrawl - Brownwood Paddock Square, The Villages

Early this morning it was uncertain if this would even take place due to storms.  Through the early morning hours, heavy thunderstorms rolled through our area to include a tornado watch that alert on my phone woke me up after only 3 hours of falling asleep.

According to the weather radar, future prediction was showing the storms moving off to the east so I prepared to go even if it meant just sitting in the car and sketching.

Scheduled time of us getting together was 9:30 a.m.; however, I was there before 9 a.m.  It was still sprinkling when I left my area to make the 30 minutes drive.  I pulled into a parking space and the sun was shining promising to be a really nice day....although a bit windy.

When I first arrived on location, there were not many folks around which was nice in finding a parking spot close to the meeting spot.  I sat in the car on the passenger side and started sketching one of the shops around the square.  Slowly one by one cars were starting to fill the empty spots and blocking my view to finish what I had started.

At first I wasn't sure if anyone else from the group was going to show but then saw one lady walking across the square with easel and bag.  One of the cars that pulled in blocking my view was another member of our group......Al.  He motioned to me asking if I was sketching (we're all still kind of new to one another) and we spoke a few minutes before he started walking over to the bleachers where we were suppose to meet up.

Then I saw a couple more ladies and I headed over.

Today's total head count was six members with Gail, Al, another Susan, Jeanne, Jack, and myself.  We figure the early morning bad weather had made several decide not to come.  Although only six, we had a great time sketching and painting with three of us meeting for lunch before returning home.

Stillman & Birn Beta
Lamy Safari with Lexington Gray Ink
Watercolor