So Long Marla

The latest Dr. Sketchy's this Sunday featured Marla Meringue's last session before traveling around the country with the Wizard of Oz for a year.  She is one of the consistently best Dr. Sketchy models  in the DC Baltimore area, she'll be missed.

700 Delaware

Sometime late last year street artist Hense came to DC to work on a former church south of the Capitol area.  The project had some minor controversy over whether this was respectful to the history of this particular site, but nonetheless it's pretty awesome and fun to see up close.

I certainly couldn't sketch this without involving all these great marks and colors, so it took me a little while longer than usual to finish the drawing.  I sketched the basic structure and a little of the surroundings on site, but had to color it at home... after running to the art store for a few more markers...
[You can check out more about the project at Design Boom.]

InaugBlog

So as we were Sketchcrawling our way along the National Mall, we caught the attention of a PBS videographer/journalist who was out look for pictures and stories.  After a call to his editor, he got a bit of an extension on his deadline to join us on our 'crawl.  Here is what he's posted on the PBS New Hour InaugBlog!

Sketch Crawl from NewsHour University on Vimeo.

Kind of fun to get a little publicity. Though I never really like hearing the sound of my voice... Thanks Patrick Record all the same for finding us worthwhile of the attention!

Sketchcrawl #38. Three views of the Capitol Building. Part 3.

And finally, here are three views of the Capitol building.





Last Port-o-potty, I promise.

Sketchcrawl #38. Part 2.

The landscape of the National Mall changes quite a bit with the coming of the inauguration.     News trucks, t-shirt vendors, security, etc... Though not quite a Tardis, the Police box certainly caught my eye as an interesting addition to the surroundings.  And you can't miss the Port-o-potty's, and checking out CNN was just kind of fun.

Sketchcrawl #38 The National Mall, leading to the Inauguration. Part 1.

For this past weekend, we decided it would be timely to have our Sketchcrawl on the National Mall here in DC, as the Presidential Inauguration is happening shortly.  I got there a little early to get a sense of what was around, and there was plenty to see.  My first couple of sketches, as I waited for the other 'crawlers to arrive, aren't strictly Inauguration themed, but a couple of scenes of the Mall.

The East Wing of the National Gallery- in the midst of a face lift.


And a view of the Natural History Museum from Hirshhorn, across the Mall.

I'll post another batch in a moment or two...

Collaborations

So, my friends Greg & Yayoi and I work together over the summer at a fantastic high school age arts program called NYSSSA (send your kids).  They also wisely use their free time there to make beautiful spontaneous collaborative drawings and paintings together.  Of which I am invited to participate in, but am usually too worried that I'm going to ruin what they've done.

Now, Greg and I have often talked about working on some sort of project together, but we have both been a bit busy to start anything.  He more than myself.  So as the year came to an end I thought I'd try and put the beginnings of a drawing together that could perhaps bounce back and forth between us.  Being the cautious type I started two drawings so I could senf him which ever i thought turned out best. Which frankly just made things harder, as I couldn't make up my mind. eventually I thought "Hey, I should send Yayoi one of these!"

I then proceeded to spend a day or two flip flopping between who would get which one.

Anyway. I thought I would post these, as some small way to pressure and manipulate  encourage them to continue the drawings!

Greg got this one.


Yayoi got this one.

Now get to work.