Spring sketching has been very fun! I’ve been out and about in St. Paul and Minneapolis for various things and caught a few sketches on the way!
A couple weeks ago, I captured a stylist cutting hair at Gent, a shop in Victoria Crossing on Grand in St. Paul. My friend and I were sketching outside the indoor shop in an atrium, and could see through the open glass doors and observe haircuts. I had to work fast, as she swung the patron around this way and that to cut his hair!
There’s always the challenge of deciding to start a sketch or not. On another page of my sketchbook, I began to sketch a man getting a shampoo. He was leaning back with his head in the sink. I debated whether I’d have time to sketch him, and by the time I jumped into it, I only captured his lower half! So I sketched a couple things while in my car on the way home. I had to stop for a train so was sitting several minutes, enough time to catch the face of a person and part of a building!
On May 18th, Urban Sketchers Twin Cities participated in Doors Open Minneapolis, which was a wonderful weekend event where 100 venues opened their doors to the public, so you could learn about the many historic, business, and cultural places in our wonderful city. I sketched some buildings and Westminster Presbyterian in the morning and at Open Book in the afternoon.
I chose a loose style with my pen, and a bit of wonkiness in line-work to be more expressive. Limited watercolor too!
I went with friends to Lost Fox, a wonderful cafe and coffee shop in Lowertown, St. Paul. I sketched a couple talking and some of the decorations (including a stuffed fox above the doorway) at the shop.
Our sketching group went there a few weeks later, and I captured a friend sitting at their large bar in a 2-page spread. This perspective was a challenge for me, but I had a lot of fun doing it!
Finally, I was in St. Paul to pick up some coloring books we distributed to Doors Open Minneapolis participants. I had time to sit across the Landmark Center and sketch the building, so I did a very quick sketch. I tried a different perspective and really like it!
Here’s the finished sketch:
I can’t wait to see what other fun places I’ll sketch this summer! The Twin Cities offers so much to see and do, there’s no end to sketch material! I hope your summer sketching inspires you; pick a spot and give it a try!