The DC Sketches - November 2017 #6 Sketching at SAAM

I saved the best for last, I guess. After visiting the NGA and seeing the new Vermeer and Genre Painting exhibit, I hiked up to the Smithsonian American Art Museum (in the Portrait Gallery building) to attend the weekly drop-in gathering of artists for drawing and sketching in the Luce Collection. This is the third time I have done this, and it won't be the last! The moderator gave us all the task of either choosing either something architectural to draw, or something from the craft collections. Instead of "either/or", I chose AND - something from architectural (a sculpture of a little River House on an Alabama river by William Christenberry) and a finch "house" from the Nam June Paik archive. 
This is such a welcoming group of artists, having so much fun. I am already planning my next stay in DC to be bookended by Tuesdays, so I can attend TWICE during my stay!

The DC Sketches - November 2017 #5 Navy Memorial

What a DAY!! Went to brunch at Teaism downtown on 8th St, and when I was done I made a hard right out the door, headed for the National Gallery of Art. I only got as far as the Navy Memorial, which was empty of people and bathed in sunshine. It was quiet enough to hear the music of the water flowing over the cascade, and the fountains were sparkling in the sun. I didn’t get any farther for the next hour, just sat, sketched and enjoyed. Someone had left a floral tribute next to the sea bag of the Lone Sailor’s, one of my favorite public bronzes. 

The DC Sketches - November 2017 #4 Calder Room at the NGA

My first stop of the day was the newly remodeled and reopened Calder Gallery in Tower #2 of the National Gallery of Art. So nice, so inspiring. I was just afraid to tuck my pencil away and get out my pen, for fear the (very lovely and nice) guards would call me on it. Had to wait til I got home to use the illicit ink and watercolor. Spent the better part of my morning in the new galleries in the NGA - Rothko, Frankenthaler, Close, Thiebault, Warhol, Pollock - the moderns, my favorites!!!!

The DC Sketches - November 2017 #3 Henry, the Rotunda Elephant

While Genna had to go back to work in Chicago on Monday, I had the first of two wonderful Days on the Mall. Stop #2, drawing #2, in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. I finished this one first because I was a rebel and snuck my contraband pen out after I’d finished with my sketch in officially sanctioned/approved pencil and completed the line drawing in ink on site. A no no. I added the evil, banned from all museums, watercolor after I got home. I love Henry, and he looks fresh and clean again, but I think I liked the old diorama he used to stand in better. Not happy with the “high tech” setting they’ve got him in now.

The DC Sketches - November 2017 #2 - Monument Sunset

Gracie and I went to the out-of town preview performance of Tina Fey's "Mean Girls" at the National Theater in downtown DC. Buzzing along on 14th St. in our Uber, crossing the Mall, I happened to glance over at one of the most beautiful sunset skies I've ever seen - stripes of red and yellow against cobalt blue, with the Monument in silhouette against them. I nearly had an attack trying to get a photo to sketch from, and it was pretty much a fail. Gracie thought I was nuts, but I got enough to sketch this from photo and memory. 

The Washington DC Sketches - November 2017 #1 - Gent House

I traveled again to Arlington, this time to spend Thanksgiving with the kids. I took all my sketching stuff, especially my "tiny kit", the one that fits in my purse. I figured to get a lot of use out of it. Surprise surprise, the joke was on me. None of the museums allow sketching with wet media - pencils only (or some pen, if you rebel and sneak one out so the guards can't see you.) Anyway, this sketch is the first one I did on the trip, sitting outside my daughter's house on the corner of the front yard.  A little chilly, but bright and sunny. I especially love their happy new yellow door. 

SKETCHING A LIBRARY BOOK in Freeland

We met today in the meeting room of the Freeland Library - a very comfortable way to sketch and socialize. Just inside are the stacks, and all the reference information we could want to paint a "forgery", find a gorgeous photo, or, in my case, happen on the terrific book by John M. Marzluff, illustrated by Tony Angell, from the University of Washington, which has everything you've ever wanted to know about Crows and Ravens. A definitive work about a definitive study of the cultural of these amazing birds. Fascinating!
I cribbed some of the foliage outside for a colorful still life, just because I could. 

HATS at PAT'S - The Miner's Hat

The days we dress up to sketch each other are just the BEST. We gathered at Sketcher Pat's house, and brought with us many and varied hats, which we sketched and wore. This is a vintage Coal Miner's hat with a brass, coal oil lamp, with its own flint and steel striker. FANTASTIC!!!

CHANGING IMAGE SIZE AND RESOLUTION ON YOUR MAC (USING PREVIEW)

MAC users - this is an easy way to change the size and resolution of images using the PREVIEW app that is right on your computer, and which you probably already use.

STEP #1 - Take a photo or scan an image.

STEP #2 - Put it on your desktop. 

STEP #3 - Click on the photo on the desktop to open it in PREVIEW

On the PREVIEW screen, click on TOOLS.

STEP #4 - After you click on TOOLS a screen will drop down that lets you change SIZE and RESOLUTION

 Click the down arrow to allow changing to INCHES, then change the largest measurement to the size you need (say to 7", for 5 X 7). Be sure there is a check mark in SCALE PROPORTIONALLY.

Change the RESOLUTION to either 72 or 300 (Tom says 72 is enough to keep FB happy)
Click OK to save your changes, and you should be done.