I enjoyed going to St. Paul to sketch the other day, as I was hoping to find something new and interesting. I have wanted to sketch the Schmidt Brewery, with its huge structures and prominent name, which you can see from a distance. This brewery has been in St. Paul since 1855, and became the largest in Minnesota in 1860. Check out this great link to read more about the history of the brewery:
https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/blog/history-of-the-schmidt-brewery/
I sketched two scenes. First, I parked in a lot of another business near the brewery so I could see the tanks and structures. I wanted to make sure I got the red “Schmidt” name.
Using pen and watercolor, I quickly sketched the areas I wanted. I then drove a little further and parked in an area that I think is the Schmidt Artists Loft. It’s also near the Keg and Case Market, the former keg house. I sketched at Keg and Case a few years ago, it’s a foodie haven!
I wanted to capture the tall vertical brick structure, so chose this view….
Here are the finished sketches. I kept them very loose and a bit wonky…
