Sketching in San Antonio de Ibarra, Ecuador

It was a beautiful day when we stopped in the small village of San Antonio de Ibarra to sightsee a little bit. I was drawn to the village square and to this statue. I would almost rather bring back a sketch than some curio. Tell me something, my guess is that you used to sketch or doodle when you were younger - why did you stop?

While I was sketching a bird stopped and landed on the head of San Miguel de Ibarra. Cool. Click on the picture below if you don't believe me. 

As usual I made a quick pencil sketch and then finished it with ink on the flight back home.

Sketching in Quito, Ecuador

I was in Quito, Ecuador this week for a teacher conference. Of course, I needed to find a moment to express some creativity and make a sketch. I am always interested in architecture and so the building in this sketch was super interesting. Of course, the wires overhead add something to this sketch. Oh, and you can't go anywhere in this world without seeing the KFC Colonel. 

I hope you noticed the airplane. The airport is extremely close to the city - well, actually right in the city - so the planes come very close. 

Sketching in Palmer Park

Sandee and I had a good hike in Palmer Park on the weekend. At one point she stopped and took photos while I made a sketch. We are pretty fascinated with the trees here - especially those with the root system exposed. They look old and rugged - so that's what I tried to capture. My photo isn't that great - since I don't have access to a scanner while traveling.

I actually finished this sketch on a trip to Quito, Ecuador. I hope to find something interesting to sketch while I'm there.

Sketching in Cameroon, C. Africa

I was in Cameroon this week to do a school consultation visit at Rain Forest Academy. It was a very busy time - but between visiting the school, interviews, observations, and report writing I made a bit of time to "unstring the bow" and make a few sketches. The sketch below is the courtyard of the guesthouse where I stayed. 

A 7 year old Cameroonian/American boy, McKenvoy, sat beside me in the airport waiting area and pulled out his spiral bound sketchbook and started to draw pictures. I said, "Hey, that's a good idea" and then I got out my sketchbook and then the two of us sketched while waiting for our flight to Brussels. What a great way to pass the 2 hour wait we had between 11:00pm and 1:00am waiting to board. 

McKenvoy if you're out there - it was nice to meet you. I wish I had a photo of the two of us sketching. 

The flight from Bussels to DC was a long one. What better way to pass the time than sketching. How many of you have sat in seat 20B? I was tempted to title this "so close, yet so far away" to refer to the Business Class seats just three rows ahead of me. Oh how I wished I could have had the extra room to lay back and rest.

Sketching on the airplane. On my final flight to Colorado - a steward saw me sketching and made a big scene about how good my work was - she then told the couple across the aisle, her colleague, and then told a guy at the back of the plane who was also sketching on the flight. Later Scott came from the back of the plane, sat beside me, showed me his sketches and we had a very nice talk for most of the rest of the flight. Hey Scott, it was nice to meet you, man. Happy sketching!

Another sketch in Breckenridge

It was fun to try and find interesting building to sketch this weekend in Breckenridge, Colorado. I really liked this tiny church - St. John's Episcopal. 

Sketching in Breckenridge, CO

Sandee and I were able to spend the weekend in Breckenridge, CO thanks to some friends. It's a beautiful ski-town about 2.5 hours drive from here. It was great to get away and relax (unstring the bow), sketch, hike, and sit in the sun. 

Sketching in Galveston

Spent a couple of days in the beautiful city of Galveston, Texas this week. I found a few moments between workshop sessions to go outside and sketch a scene from the Moody Gardens. Sketching is a wonderful creative release for me. What's the creative thing that you do?

 

Six Months in Colorado and thoughts on Unstringing the Bow

My wife and I just passed the six month mark in our move to Colorado. Sandee reflected on this mile marker on her blog the other day. I thought what she had to say was excellent and described our journey very well. Click here to read her post.

Mike Rohde, a designer, was very honest about the busyness in his life and how he is confronting it in a recent post on his website. I think you will appreciate and be encouraged by his remarks. Click here to read Mike's story about his "Crazy Good Year".

Quick Sunday Sketch

We went to "First-Pres" for church this morning. The Pastor surprised everyone and used an empty casket to illustrate his message from Ephesians 2:1-10 titled, "Dead Man Walking". It was a very good challenge.  

I enjoyed sketching this scene and trying the capture the size of this auditorium. The stain glass windows and high ceiling made me miss my Basel Cathedral. 

Pacing One's Self

Do you recall the time when Jesus overturned the money-changer’s tables in the Temple? (Mark 11:15-18) That was one stressful situation and it would have taken some serious courage and a large dose of adrenalin to accomplish. It would have been extremely draining, but it had to be done. Here’s my question: why that day? Certainly the day that Jesus overturned the tables was not the first time he saw those tables. So, why didn’t he act sooner? I don’t know for sure, but for some reason, he waited for the right day. Jesus somehow knew how to pace himself for the battles he would face and so he did not take on each battle in his first week of service. As a leader I have to ask myself am I willing and able to look for the Father’s timing to tackle the stressful leadership issues that I face? I’m not advocating procrastination, rather I am advocating common sense pacing and listening for orders from above. 

These thoughts were taken from my "Unstringing The Bow Story - the long version". To read more click here. 

Wow!

To see more fantastic photos like these, visit my wife's blog.

A Meeting Doodle

Did this doodle during a staff meeting this week (I was paying attention I promise). No planning, just doodling. I'm always surprised at what appears as I doodle. I wonder what it means? I better take this to my next counseling session. :-)

The Three Graces

Yesterday we spent a bit of time in "Garden of the Gods". I just had to try and capture this set of outcroppings known as "The Three Graces". Amazing!!

My Moleskine is full so I used a larger format sketchbook this day. I kinda like the size of it.

You can see some tourists trying to walk in and up the "graces". Those rocks are irresistible.

It was quite cold. I forgot my gloves and so my drawing hand was very cold when I was done.

Sermon Notes 5 Dec 2010

If you know me, you know I like to doodle during meetings and during church. Doodling helps me to pay attention. During sermons I like to focus my doodling to bring a visual element to the message. This is what came out of my pen this morning in church.

Hiking in Cheyenne Canon

Sandee and I went on another hike today. This time we hit Cheyenne Canon and took the Columbine Trail. It was way too cold and windy to stay still and do a sketch on site, so I took a photo and make my sketch at home. I loaded the photo on to my laptop and then did my sketch as if I were standing on location.

Even though it was cold, we really enjoyed this hike. Hiking is a great way to stay in shape, marvel at God's beauty, and enjoy the company of my wife.

Sketch of Lincoln's Face

I am trying to figure out how to draw faces. The face of Lincoln is extremely interesting to draw. Not a bad start. I love the shadows in this picture.

I have very pleasant memories from elementary school of Lincoln's framed face looking down on all of us in our classroom.

I'm almost done with the sketch below.

What a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving Day Morning - watching the football game and making a sketch. I used a photo of Lincoln taken by my friend Bill when we visited the Lincoln memorial the other day.

Lincoln Memorial Drawing

This week I was able to visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Wow. It's a very moving thing to be in that hall. The sculpture is stunning. Thanks to Bill and Debbie Bateman for taking me there. I took this picture with my iphone.

Of course, I had to do a sketch. It was a great way to relax after attending and speaking at a two-day teacher conference.

Inking the pencil sketch made the time on my flight from DC to Colorado go by quickly. It's a great thing to find a creative release through sketching. Have you found your creative release? I have a brother who uses golf to unstring the bow. One of my other brothers raises work horses as his hobby.

I'm getting quite comfortable with drawing on airplanes. It's fun to talk with seat-mates who are curious about what I'm doing. The other day, one guy blurted out, "Are you an architect?!?" I wish I was.

This was fun to draw. I had no problem with Lincoln's body and the folds of his clothes. Faces still illude me. I need to practice drawing faces. Any suggestions how I can learn this skill?

Anaheim Convention Center Sketch

I was able to do a sketch of the cool Anaheim Arena. Making this sketch was a good way to unstring the bow after two days at an ACSI teacher convention.

As usual I made a quick pencil sketch - I had to work fast because it was getting dark and chilly.

I applied ink to the drawing on my flight from Anaheim to Philadelphia. Thankfully, I got an upgrade to United First so I had lots of room to myself.

Almost finished on the flight.

Sketching Crowell Hall at Moody

This is the finished product. It was fun to be in Chicago on the campus of Moody Bible Institute for the day. I had to sneak outside and make a sketch of the front of Crowell Hall. I love the look at that entrance.

See my drawing process below.

I always start with a pencil sketch. I try to work as quickly as I can - getting as much detail as I can. It was cold in Chicago this day so I worked extra fast.

Then I start to darken the sketch with my gel pen - inside the warm building!

I was able to finish the pen work on my flight from Chicago to Anaheim today. Thankfully, it was a smooth flight. Drawing made my four hour flight speed by.

Do you have a thing that you do where you lose track of time? It's good that you find that "place" - the "zone". I also call it "unstringing the bow".

Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ

I was able to fit in a few moments to make an "unstring the bow" sketch in Arizona this week.

I'm not used to seeing palm trees. Wow. Those things are magnificent.

The weather wasn't bad either. It was in the 90s and its November!

It was great to meet old friends at Malee's Thai Bistro - man I LOVE Thai food.