Trevi Fountain Sketch

Sketching the Trevi Fountain is a challenge when you are sitting there. There is just SO much stuff in that space. I enjoyed trying to draw falling water. I think this sorta works. I didn't draw people into this sketch - as usual there were hundreds of people standing around the water's edge.

Pantheon Sketch

This is my favorite sketch of all my Rome sketches. I guess I like the straight lines and shadows. This was really fun to draw.

I always like to find a different spot to sketch things - a different point of view. After worked on this sketch I walked to the right of the Pantheon and noticed another guy sketching the same building. He had the same exact sketchbook that I had, so we shared our drawings with each other. That was cool.

Beach Service Sketch

On Sunday of the senior trip, we had a worship service on the beach. That was very special. The kids lead the singing and one of them spoke. It was very good. I did this quick sketch while they met.

Wouldn't you want to sketch on the beach?

Vatican Sketch 09

Last week we were in Rome with the Class of 2010. I took the opportunity to make some sketches. This was a fast one done sitting in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

Here's a picture of me sketching. Please pardon's Sandee purse by feet - it's not mine!

Sunday sketch 27 09 09

I was struck by this scene in Pastor David's sermon from Luke 8:43-48. You know the one where the shy, sick woman pressing through the massive crowd and touches (David said it was better translated "clutches") the hem of Jesus's garment. Jesus knew immediately that power left him and healed the one who touched him. Jesus had compassion on the unnamed lady who was desperate enough to simply touch him.

This is what I drew during today's sermon taken from Luke 5:1-11. My favorite line was, "Jesus was done speaking, but he wasn't done teaching". I like the place of the boat in this sermon (not really the Pastor's point). For me the boat is the visual anchor for this message. Jesus spoke from this boat, then Peter catches fish from this boat, and finally Peter leaves and walks away from his boat after participating in Jesus' teaching to follow Christ.

Click on the picture for a closer look.

Materials: Moleskine blank book, Uniball Signo RT Gel 0.38. Time: length of sermon plus ten minutes to darken certain parts. Speaker: David Harrop, BFCF

a very quick sketch in Basel

It was a beautiful day in Basel today. I had about 30 minutes to sketch this picture today. I had a few moments before picking up Sandee at the train station, and it was such a beautiful day that I had to make a quick sketch below this bridge. When I got home I took another 30 minutes to darker the picture.

Man, it's been so long since I've drawn anything. It's feels good to draw again. It feels better to have Sandee home today.

Swiss Worship

Old Swiss Lady at worship service Basel Munster. 16 August 2009.

Sketches from a Conference

I recently attended a conference for leaders of Christian schools. Really good stuff - it definitely recharged my batteries. I was able to meet Jon Bauer (www.jon-bauer.com) at the conference. He is an award winning Christian musician from Canada. Good stuff.
This sketch and the one below were done during the conference. As I have noted recently, I find it just a bit easier to concentrate if I have something to sketch.

If you have ever stayed at a Doubletree hotel you will recognize this logo. Both of these sketches were done on notepaper supplied by the hotel. On the sketch below I found myself tracing and then filling in the logo. Truly a mindless doodle, but a concentration aid. Do you do this too?

What to do on an airplane? Sketch!

I enjoyed making this sketch yesterday. The ride from Frankfurt to Chicago was very smooth so the sketching was easy. I didn't have my sketchbook with me so I used a piece of graph paper that I had in among my things.

I've been wanting a chance to work on sketching faces - the airplane is a nice place to find people that are very still and patient! :-)

Sketch from Lorrach Farmer's Market

The weather was perfect today. So we went into Lorrach to look around. I found a moment to sit on a bench at one end of the farmer's market and sketch this scene. It was fun to do. I had two people stop and comment on my work. One was super encouraging ("wunder schoen!"). The other observer stopped, sat down, and then pointed out that I had neglected to draw the trees (which I then did) and a few wispy clouds - which I didn't do. It was hard to complete my sketch with that lady leaning in so close. So, I found an excuse to get up and leave - "I wonder where my wife is? I better go find her! Tschuss!"
The opposite page is a sketch from Basel that I did two weeks ago.

A random doodle

A little scrap of paper fell out of an old Bible of mine today. This old doodle was on it. I can't remember when and why I drew it. I'm pretty sure that I drew it during some meeting. I kinda like it.

Sketch of Helvetia in Basel, CH

I did this sketch today. It's a well known statue in the center of Basel located on the "Middle Bridge" that crosses the Rhein river.
This is a statue of Helvetia - the mother of Switzerland. The plaque says she is resting here after a long journey around her country. She laid down her spear, coat, and suitcase. If you could see the front of her, you would see that she has her right leg folded up and her right arm is resting on her knee. You can just see her right hand holding her head! It must have been a long tiring journey.
I enjoyed including the very black raven that landed on her head for several minutes.

Urban Sketchers

I was very honored this week to be "featured" on the banner of www.urbansketchers.com. This is a blog that features the work of various sketchers that sketch scenes on site from around the world. Cool. There is a never ending supply of inspiration on this site.

Sketch from the balcony

Today was a holiday in Germany. That meant today was a good day to do quick little sketch. I did this sitting on our balcony looking at the golf course in the distance. That's the 17th green on the left and the 18th fairway on the right. And yes, that's a pretty good hill over there. Markgraeflerland GolfClub Kandern e.V.


That's the clubhouse just above my head. So close, and yet SO far. Most of the members are wealthy Swiss golfers.

Heidelberg Sketch.

I was in Heidelberg this morning (16.05.09) and had time to do a sketch. I was in town to attend a meeting yesterday and had some free time this morning.

This is a shot of my sketchbook at the spot where I did my pencil drawing. First I did a quick sketch in pencil (see below) and then I darkened it with my pen. I did most of the penwork at the train station while waiting for the train home.

Close up of my pencil work. It was fun to stand on the bridge and draw. Several people sneak up and take a look over my shoulder. Lots of tourist in town today. Americans and Japanese.

Faces in the Crowd

Each of these faces were above doors and windows on an old building at University of Heidelberg - Germany. Amazing faces.






Is that a Nilla Waffer in this old guy's mouth?

It's in here somewhere...

Bikes outside the train station. Wow!! How many bikes do you think this is? How would you like to find yours in this tangle? Click on the picture to see what I mean.

The Calm

Sandee and I went in to Basel early this morning (8:00am) for breakfast. As we sat, sipped, and talked, I sketched what I saw out the window of the coffee shop.
The city was just waking up. In just a couple of hours this corner would be jammed with shoppers. That's why I called this "The Calm".
Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning after a full week of heavy meetings.
My favorite part of this sketch is the tram wires overhead. I like details like that.

Jan Hus - Old City Square

This was fun to draw. I was trying to capture the imposing statue of Jan Hus in the middle of the bustling Old City Square of Prague.


Jan Hus, the reformer, was burn at the stake for his faith. The city of Prague honors him with a very prominent statue in the heart of their city.