Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Fathers Day Scene ... twice

So for Mothers Day, I attempt a water colour of the flowers my boy and I gathered for my wife (see earlier post).

For Fathers day, I worked on a composition that has intrigued me for awhile. Waking up each morning, especially now that the sun is at this summer angle, the morning light strikes our new swing set in the back yard casting this displaced shadow while the greens of our view are magnified. The structure of the swing set acts as a framing device against two datums, a vertical in the ash tree, and a horizontal of the old barn wall. They are the same tone which is a very nice offset to the lush greens around.

For me what makes the composition are the punctuations of primary colors. The slide and swing set the yellow. The baby swing is a striking blue (offset by the broad sky beyond) and in the lower back ground, bold pink piannese (sp?) pattern the wall. Each morning it calls for a sketch. This weekend I had the chance. Here is the literal version:

To understand how the composition is organized...or better yet how I was actually "deliniating" the scene I also sketched analytical view...editing out textures and descriptors, leaving the page to the basic organizing linear arrangments and color fields.


It was a great Fathers day. These were done in the morning...leaving the rest of the day to play with the kids and utilize the view for its true intention: running, swinging and sliding.

Kubal Coffee Sketch

This is the latest in a series of sketches celebrating my friend, Matt's coffee shop. Cafe Kubal here in Syracuse NY. It is a common habit of mine (see earlier posts) but it is one I truly enjoy and I can share with Matt as sketches of his coffee or shop usually end up at his shop on James St. He has a new stand at the Farmers Market on Tuesday and will be opening up a few counters around town. I am really excited for him, so this one is for him.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Recent sketches

It has been noted to me, nore then once, that nothing new has been posted since Mothers Day. We are now in June and something has to go up. A small glass, a milkshake with my boy and view of Westcot street for Mike Ma.


The small glass contained an iced espresso from Cafe Express in Syracuse. SO GOOD.
The little combination of containers is just a record of a day with my 3 yr. old boy and sharing our first Milkshake. Chocolate. It was served to us at the Solvay Diner in Syracuse where the space is craving to be drawn some more.



This one is for Mike Ma, checkout his blog "booksketchin". This is a view down Westcott st. near the Syracuse Campus. I'm sitting in fromt of an amazing Latin restaurant, alto Cinqo. The sun was sharp the air hot but the shade provided just enough cover to enjoy the fare.