Cruise to Alaska (06-30-12)

Various sketches done on the cruise ship.

 Cute sister-in-law.

 

My husband's family.

Casino scene late at night.

Cruise to Alaska (06-29-12)

Sketchbook notes taken in the cruise restaurant.

Finishing my sketchbook (06-27-12)

When I complete a sketchbook, I sometimes add some finishing touches, such as color, collages, whatever strikes me as interesting. Since we are leaving on a cruise very shortly (this, despite my absolute fears of ending at the bottom of the ocean), I decided to do something that would indicate a them of voyage, without tipping over into scrapbooking.

This is the title page of the sketchbook.

A house, in the style of Flemish architecture (06-26-12)

During the first session of the Cartooning class I teach at the Milwaukie Center, I gave the kids the assignment to draw something without letting the pen leave the page. While they were busy, I decided to work along on the whiteboard.
It's funny, but as I started drawing a house, the style that immediately came to mind was that of Flemish architecture, tall houses with crenellated gables and small windows, as one commonly sees in Belgium in such cities as Brussels, Bruges, or Ghent...

Left: As drawn from memory           Right: A random example of the real thing

Fête de la Musique (06-21-12)

The Alliance française de Portland (French Alliance in Portland) organized their annual "Fête de la Musique" at the Versailles Gardens nursery. It was a warm, beautiful evening...

A handsome display of large ceramic planters.

A Lovely Portrait (06-17-12?)

I really like this portrait of a young woman. There was something very graceful about her.

World Naked Bike Ride (06-16-12)

A quick sketch of the World Naked Bike Ride :)

OSU Commencement (06-16-12)

What a long and exciting day!

Valérie just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with options in Choral Music Education and Piano Performance. And so, she participated in that necessary rite of passage, the Commencement ceremony...along with 3,500 to 4,000 other graduates from Oregon State University. 

What made the day a unique and especially challenging one was that Michelle Obama gave a speech at Commencement. Consequently, in addition to long wait times, access to OSU's Reser Stadium was subject to all the expected extra security measures, such as airport metal detector gates, unsmiling people rummaging through bags and purses, even sharpshooters on the stadium roof! 

The speeches were good, the graduates were happy, and the 30,000-strong audience consisting proud parents, relatives and friends was supportive. All in all, it was a nice day.

We sat on a sunny side of the side of the stadium closest to the College of Liberal Arts (and could see Valérie from afar), but as the afternoon wore on, shade came on our side while the other side of the stadium was still sunny, and there was a nasty little breeze that made everyone wish they'd brought a warm jacket...

Watching the ceremony

 To distract myself from the chilly weather, I pulled out my color pencils and worked on painstakingly trying to match the colors I saw; but I didn't quite finish my drawing...

End of the School Year at Da Vinci (06-11-12)

I stopped by Da Vinci Arts Middle School to say hello to Connie C., and things looked pretty busy a couple of days before the end of the school year... So, I decided to draw office space around her ( it looked like a bazillion projects still need attention...)

Recital and Graduation (06-09-12)

Valérie's recital and graduation ceremony from Music studies at Oregon State University.

 Valérie's recital.

 Valérie's graduation from the Department of Music.

Various choir and faculty members.

A self-portrait (06-09-12)

What I like about self-portrait is that not one looks like the other! There are commonalities, of course, but the mood of the moment affects how we perceive ourselves, and this is reflected in the finished product.

Arts Festival in the Park (06-02-12)

Despite the bone-chilling morning weather, I managed to draw this portrait of a prospective parent getting information at the booth The International Leadership Academy, a small French school in Lake Oswego, was sponsoring at the Wilsonville Festival of Arts.

I also tried to draw the early crowd wandering about, despite the cold.

It's on days like this that I remember how much I absolutely hate feeling cold...

Viait to a mausoleum and portrait of Alanna R. (05-28-12)

Today, Wilhelm's Funeral Mausoleum in Sellwood was open to the public and I decided to join up with Alanna R and Kalina W. to maybe take advantage of this opportunity to work on some sketches.

Well, that didn't happen for me. I was too engrossed with the oddness of what can best be described as an underground city of the dead: several levels of long dimly lit labyrinthine corridors whose walls were lined with small doors and urns. Somber setting, yet oddly calm despite the crowds.

Afterward, we went to Staccato Gelato and I tried to draw Alanna with a brush marker, clearly not my medium of choice.

Alanna R.

A piano (05-19-12)

We were visiting some friends, and I drew the fine piano in their living room...

This piano, all glossy black, was a beautiful instrument. I wanted to to feel how smooth and polished the wood would feel, and let my fingers run over the keys, and conjure melodies out of it as if by magic...

ArtSpark and Brasserie Montmartre (05-17-12)

ArtSpark was hosted by Sweet Hereafter this month. The usual hipster crowds mixing with various subcategories of Portland coolness were treated to displays set by I [Heart] Art: Portland, PDX Pipeline, RACC, and other sponsors. I was too busy filling out entry forms for the drawings to take the time to sketch the goings-on. I was particularly interested in the Nomad Brush, a very cool brush to paint on the iPad... And best of all, I was thrilled to win it! (Bwahahah!)

I drew the faces on the iPad screen with
the kiddie version of the Nomad Brush.

Afterwards, I briefly stopped by Church to visit some lady friends who were working on various crafts projects.

And since the night was still young, I took the opportunity to stop by the Brasserie Montmartre where, for their first anniversary, there was 60s French music hosted by French DJ Cecilia Paris, and a nice ambiance. I took advantage of the free fries, free cheese and olives that were offered, and ordered my usual Coke with Grenadine. Comfortably set to observe the scene, my attention was caught by a Retro style couple sitting at the bar. The back of the guy's black T-shirt said "Teach Your Children to Worship Satan"; pretty outrageous... :)

I was perfectly placed to work on this study (while munching on french fries and sipping a delectable Coke with Grenadine), I could work over my sketch and give it a finish I rarely have or take the time to do. Nice results.

artMOB Meeting in Milwaukie (05-16-12)

Curious about how ideas, plans and decisions are made that affect the local community, I decided to attend one of the meetings of the artMOB, the local organization that focuses on the arts and cultural events for the city of Milwaukie.

As an artist, my personal opinion is that organizations that focus on the arts and cultural events seem to engage in a lot of talk... And I can't say that my opinion was changed in this case. Lots of good intentions, and ideas for projects that denote sincere intentions and an attempt at innovation, but...

And I don't know why, I felt kinda like a fifth wheel at this (public) meeting...

The artMOB committee

Staff Liaison Beth R.

A Vintage Sale... at my house! (05-15-12)

Farmhouse Vintage Sale (Oak Grove - Milwaukie)

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Date: 2012-05-15, 11:10PM PDT
Reply to: your anonymous craigslist address will appear here

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Friday May 25 and Saturday May 26, 9 am - 5 pm. NO EARLY BIRDS (no kidding).

VINTAGE ONLY SALE hosted by No Ducks and Bunnies Vintage.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to attend a sale featuring fabulous VINTAGE items in a lovely park-like setting: home decor, china, sewing, garden, small furniture, chairs, dressers, trunks, -even bridal dresses-, and more...

From Mc:Loughlin Blvd./Hwy 99, West on Oak Grove Blvd; South on Linden to 2323 Creighton Ave.

The Ducks and Bunnies house is the charming old yellow farmhouse behind the green doublewide at the corner. The property is accessible by foot via driveways on Creighton Ave. and on Sarah Lane.

- PLEASE USE STREET PARKING -. 

Portraits of Suzanne and Quinn (05-09-12)

I went to DeNicolas' Italian Restaurant with Suzanne and Quinn C. and drew then.

OSU Chamber Choir in Portland (05-08-12)

Our daughter Valérie told us that the OSU Chamber Choir was going to sing at First Unitarian Church in downtown Portland tonight. Not to sound biased, but I wouldn't miss a chance to hear Valérie sing, and besides, the music was beautiful.

Bad Sketch

Well, this is a particularly lousy sketch, one I would normally not even want to post, but since today was our anniversary, why not mark the moment after all?

Many, many years...

 

Meeting of the Dreamers' Club (05-06-12)

I got an intriguing invitation via email for a meeting of the Dreamers' Club...

This took place at TaborSpace on SE Belmont, but I wasn't in the best frame of mind... In fact, I was right in a such deeply depressed state of mind that made it impossible to even think of any project in my life that would be of any worth to even think about.

So I wrote down other people's dreams for the group.

Members of the Dreamers Club, with miserable me, on the right

Crystal Springs (05-02-12)

I have driven through Eastmoreland for years, always wondering about Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens. I finally decided that since this was a day when the entry was free after 4 PM, I might as well put my inner questions about the place to rest.

Yeah, it is pretty, but kinda boring. There were lots of people, actually too many, some of whom were jerks, like the guy who was showing his kid how to pester a duck, and the couples who blocked the way with bulky strollers.

I can see color variations, shadows, etc., in a photo, but I struggle with real scenery. So I made a valiant effort, even though the result looks static...

Hmmm...

Reflecting on Vintage Fairs (04-29-12)

After all the vintage fairs I've participated in, I decided that there is no point in wasting my money to participate as a vendor at such events any further.

There is no reason for me to pay steadily increasing fees for spaces steadily decreasing in size, to pack everything, to unpack, to set an entire booth, to work for hours, repack everything, and this for the ultimate financial benefit of organizers who (as in the last event) have the nerve to take out their frustrations on me. As a vendor paying for a service (the event, its location, and the public's presence), I expect to be treated politely.

The only ego trip I am willing to be involved in is my own.

So, this may just be the push I needed to stage my own events at my house, since I have all the space to display whatever I want, a carpool, two driveways, a huge studio, with no fees to pay, and no space limitations...

An interesting prospect...

Seen at a Vintage Fair (04-28-12)

I won't name the vintage fair, though. This is the last time I will be a vendor at this venue. I don't need to be treated like crap by anyone.

That said, cool, retro fashion, all the way.

PDX Urban Sketchers at the Chinese Garden (04-21-12)

The Portland Urban Sketchers met at the Lan Su Chinese Garden as a group, to sketch or paint. As usual, I got there so late that I might as well have not bothered going (and that's exactly why I make myself go, even if late...). I was so late, that it was almost closing time, and a nice man at the gate let me in for free; he probably felt sorry for me...

I don't feel very confident with color, but made a valiant effort to paint with my small portable watercolor kit.

Entrance Gate 

Malpertuis (04-20-12)

Malpertuis is a 1971 movie based on the novel Malpertuis by Belgian author Jean Ray. A long-time fan of Jean Ray's novels, I saw this movie when it came out, and it was real treat to find it available on Netflix's DVD rental site.

 Ghent, Belgium

"Euryale"

Blues at Trails End Saloon (04-20-12)

Gary and I went to the Trails End Saloon (a busy place!) to listen to some live music.

A Visit to PNCA (04-20-12)

Julia and I went to visit Pacific Northwest College of Art. The building is state-of-the-art pretty...and why not, at $30,000 a year? The staff presentations? A bunch of self-important, pompous asses...but what do I know?

 Staff "Art Speak" (with a nice sketch of Julia at left).

 This says it all, as far as I am concerned...

A painting instructor at PNCA and some other staff member (?).

Clackamas County Meeting (04-19-12)

I don't claim to know much about politics, but the soon-to-be-coming TriMet ligh trail project sure gets some people riled up. In that light, it's interesting whenever one gets a chance to observe the local political process.

There was a public meeting at the Clackamas County headquarters, and people had a chance to speak their minds regarding the project. Testimony ranged from statements that the light rail would be a positive influence on this part of the woods, to panicked warnings that crime will engulf the whole area,  and ruin Clackamas County forever. The funny thing is, from my experience driving on McLoughlin Blvd./Hwy. 99 on a regular manner, there ins't much to be proud about the succession of strip clubs, car dealerships, empty lots, rundown empty stores, and ratty trailer parks that punctuate it... The light rail might in fact contribute to a cleanup of the area!

Fame and Glory! (04-04-12)

...Naw, really, this is really cool: Imagine my surprise when I opened the paper and saw that the article about my art classes that the local paper, The Clackamas Review, had published was not just a tiny side box somewhere near the back page, but a half page article with a photo of me! Very, very cool!..

PDX Urban Sketchers Meeting at my Studio (03-31-12)

Today, a small group of the Portland Urban Sketchers braved the cold weather to come sketch at my studio. Although we had initially planned to work on some sketches of the yard, the cold made us retreat to the coziness of the studio, where we enjoyed each others' company with cake, snacks, and lemonade.

I have to admit that I enjoyed the selfish pleasure to be able to peek into other people's sketchbooks, and admire their skills and proficiency at architecture and urban scenes...

Grimm Shoot (02-29-12)

I spent a fantastic day working as an extra on the set of the Grimm TV series which is filmed here in Portland, with lots of time to observe people and sketch at leisure. ...Best of all, they even fed us some pretty good catered food!

It was a fun experience, especially to see the actors filming a scene; I even had a chance to quickly draw actor David Giuntoli as he entered the set. As for the extra work, that was pretty cool, I walked back and forth (holding my pen and my sketchbook) down a back hallway of the old-fashioned Police Station.

Waiting to be called on the set

Detectives and policemen

Top: the hospital set, turned into a waiting area for all the extras
Center: filming a scene inside the police station
Bottom: view from the hallway

Top left: a homeless person
Top right: a sleeping policewoman
Bottom left: a burly-looking guy (see photo above)
Bottom right: two detectives

Left: a technician
Right: David Giuntoli