5th St. Market, Eugene, OR

Nine sketchy artists gathered around tables at 5th St. Market this week – here are Barb Sh, Ken, Rita Cavin, Erik, Jan, Sandy, Sue Ashton, & Carol Schaafsma, with Jane behind the camera.

       Sue, Carol, & Rita are old painting buddies, who went on the sketch trip to Italy with Ken in 2015. After catching up, everyone was right into sketching (note Sue with scone model – yum!)

     Sue puts color to her scone sketch, and Carol tackles a perspective challenge, while Barb Sh and Ken talk to Rita  about her painting.

     BarbSh shared her 3-D pop out effort of Carlsbad Caverns – wow!

    Jan & Sandy, old TD buddies, enjoy chatting, too.

     Erik gets a image onto his paper – a familiar (but somewhat sad) sight in Oregon – a clear cut hill. Those stumps really tell the story. Nice to have a sketch of the bright sun behind a forested hill above.

       Jan used one of Erik’s water soluble crayons, and that found using a blending brush gave her the texture she was after for background.

     Jane and Sandy couldn’t resist the little Cream Cheese Danish with fresh raspberries – purchased solely to sketch, of course. (Yum, yum.)

       Barb Sh adds color to her museum sketch, and Rita shows us her sketch from the cafe across the way. Good to have her, Carol, & Sue with us again. We love the connection among artists.

   And speaking of artist connections, here’s our dear TD Joby clear across the world doing what we do, sketching (& biking). In the first photo she’s in Piata Amzei, Bucuresti; the second sketch is of Stjarisu, Transylvania, Romania. Thanks to her fabulously fit biking husband Jim for the photos. We love having artist support staff.

Barry’s Deli, Eugene, OR

Our meetings often start with catching up…

          Barb Sh’s sketchbook included a “perhaps finished” David Helphand concert at the masoleum, as well as the courtroom of a recently observed trial. Sandy added her backyard ceramic tree & stone fountain to the sketch of the fellow she did last week.

     Erik was a good example of how yes, you can appreciate the fine pastries at Barry’s and still turn out a stunning masterpiece.

         Jane resisted immediate gratification (surprise!) by sketching her magic bar first. Fast. Penny got to sketch the empty container (and don’t you like the loose watercolor of a flower she did previously?).

      Sandy got a different angle on the box, with untouched treat.

      Ken started sketching the trees outside, then some studies of Jane.

     Penny did a sketch of Jane, too, along with her tools, which Jane was busy sketching, too (here with the actual mini-palette on display).

     Barb Sh told Jane now she needed a hand reaching with brush into the palette, and proceeded to demonstrate hand sketching. Nice!

Barry’s Deli, Eugene, OR

Here’s the herd of cats: Barb So, Jan, Ken, Sandy, Sharon, Barb Sh, Erik, & Penny. Jane (aka, the cat herder) behind camera, Tricia – late!

   We started out by catching each other up to date – here Barb Sh shows Jan her sketches from a recent trip to Albuquerque.

    Then Jan showed her thumbnail sketch that lead to a ceramic piece.

   Ken couldn’t resist adding more color to the sketch he did last week of Erik. Tricia opened her sketchbook to a memory of red peppers.

      But Sharon topped it all – her last sketch was from the last time the TDs were here at Barry’s! But look at how the sketch developed.

     A look over Erik’s shoulder saw a scene emerge from his memory.     It looked good in color, but then came the black! It was night, he said, and then the drama unfolded. Wow, what an exciting rendition!

     Barb Sh showed us a thumbnail she made for a future sketch, but went back to finish one she’d started – images within an image – nice.

      Sandy’s eye was caught by trees & the people at nearby tables.

           Penny started sketching Sharon at the end of the table (who just wouldn’t hold still!), ending with loose watercolor tree sketch.

        It’s always so interesting to watch how Jan’s sketches develop.

        And here’s Ken at work, bringing color & depth to his tree sketch.

       Jane, who claims not to understand collage, did a page of collected images. Then she wanted to see what Tricia was up to – don’t look!

      OK – here’s Tricia’s finished sketch from Mt. Rainier, and her quick sketch from today at Barry’s, too. Another tree!  Trees rule. Mostly.

Cathy’s backyard, Eugene, OR

Ken’s friend Cathy invited us to come sketch in her yard – you can barely see her here, coming from opening up the door for the chickens to get out to play! She was the best host – lovely setting, lovely treats & drinks, and very unobtrusively let us do our thing!

         Here are two of the chickens, and here’s Jan sketching them, with results in process below:
         

       Erik’s the sun lover in our group, & Ken went out to see what he was drawing – totally distracted from what had been in his mind before!
    

         Jane did a quick sketch of the bird feeder, too, and leaf vignettes.

      Here are Heidi and Barb So getting ready to sketch – the arbor!

       Can you tell Heidi was an architect? And that BarbSo loves chicks?

Sandy & Ken are eagerly into sketching…what to choose…

     Ken took advantage of our favorite model – Erik! As did Sandy:    

    One of the things we appreciate  is sharing art work in progress, whether paintings or sketches, or just talking art.      

And we enjoy talking about upcoming trips – this one to Sicily! Satoko, Penelope, & Barb A are busy planning this trip together.

    Satoko and Penelope still found time to sketch in this beautiful backyard. Thanks so much, Cathy, for your wonderful welcome!

Eugene, OR

Ten years ago there was a sketch trip to Italy with Ken O’Connell:

When we came back to Eugene, we formed Top Drawers, and have been meeting every Tuesday morning to sketch together ever since.

TEN YEARS! That calls for a party! We invited the original group plus new friends who have joined us over the years – celebrate!

From our first group art show at Full City Coffee/Palace Bakery.