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.

SKETCHING IN A RETRO "JAPANESE MODERN" HOME

We met at Sketcher Annette's unique and lovely early era Japanese Modern style home overlooking the Sound at Mutiny Bay. The view is extraordinary from her decks, and we all settled in comfortably in cozy deck chairs at tables. The spectacular, the view didn't appeal to me as much as did the exotic decorative pieces around the home. This golden rooster, one of a pair of handsome fighting roosters, especially caught my eye. I paired it up with a gilded imari bowl from a different room. Perfect together!
Fellow sketcher Judith lent me use of her neat set of gold watercolors, which made this guy really crow!