Sketching on flight #2 home, part 1

Houston, USA to Calgary was our second flight. I found sketching while in a middle seat difficult as I had to keep my elbows in (both people on either side had the arm rest) but I had a lot of time to kill. I sketched the contents on my tray table but wasn't able to colour it due to the lack of elbow room.

The second thing to catch my eye was the cute napkin under my cup. I pulled out one water colour pencil for this one but did not use water. United does have great napkins.

Sketching on flight #1 home

The following sketches were done on our first leg of flying home from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. We were picked up by at shuttle at 6 a.m. for the 1 1/2 hour drive to the Leon, Mexico airport. We flew from Leon to Houston, roughly a 3 hour flight. The first sketch I tried to colour in with water colour pencils but was not happy with the way in worked on the 60 lb sketch paper. I had packed my brush in my checked suitcase so tried to activate them with water on my finger or the pencils.

The second sketch was done after looking out the window and singing "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", the clouds were all different shapes. I had started it on the first leg and finished it on the second flight.

San Antonio Church and Plaza sketches

Our our last day in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, I was lucky enough to be able to join the Urban Sketchers San Miguel de Allende on their weekly outing. This time we met in the San Antonio Church and plaza. Children were also off school so the plaza was very busy and active. The children were especially interested in what we were doing and a few posed for one of the sketchers.

I decided to be brave and try some of the people. I thought these 3 men were interested and the two "bookends" were sketchers. The middle person was waiting for his child to play for awhile and then decided to leave when he felt me looking at him. Sketching "sketchers" works so much better as you know they will be fairly still for awhile.

Sketching another roof terrace view

This is another sketch done from our roof top terrace of San Miguel de Allende. There is such a fabulous view and the architecture is so varied that I could probably draw a different point of view daily. We haven't been able to spend as much time as we would like due to the unseasonably cool and windy weather this month. I wish our holiday was longer!

Centre Square (Jardin) sketch

I was sitting behind this young woman deciding what to sketch. Her braided hair caught my eye and the rest was built after that. The upper part of the Parroquia was out of my view sitting under the "marshmallow" shaped trees of the Jardin (main center). I was happy she sat long enough to get her likeness. I am getting braver using an ink pen (thanks Rylla and Brian) instead of pencil.

Sketching - Back yard thoughts

This urban sketch included thoughts of my time here in San Miguel de Allende, particularly with the view from the ground floor patio of the house we are renting. We have thoroughly enjoyed fresh limes from the tree in the backyard, thankfully the umbrella stops them from landing on us. The amount of stairs inside this house and to get to the roof top terrace. The vast amount of potted plants surrounding the patio and terrace are lovely.

Water colour and ink in my regular 80lb sketch book.

Roof top patio view of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

We finally had a nice day so I went up to the roof top patio and sketched the view behind us of the buildings. There is such a variety of shapes and building materials that made it really interesting. I am getting bolder using a black ink pen without any pencil.

The second sketch was done of the view to the front of the house of San Miguel de Allende while Brian read the book he wrote "How Hammershod Got His Name" aloud to us. I found it alot easier to sketch this urban scene while Brian read and kept that side of my brain occupied. Brian and Rylla left San Miguel de Allende and are now home in Portland Oregon. I enjoyed every chapter of his book and was happy we were able to finish it before they left. I do hope he looks into publishing it!

Outing with San Miguel de Allende Urban Sketchers

I was lucky enough to join this group for another afternoon of urban sketchiing. We met at Calle San Grabriel #1, Calonia El Obraje Azotea for lunch on the second floor and then sketching. I went up to the roof top patio and didn't leave to go down for lunch. I enjoyed a cold beer and the view. I sketched in ink (no pencil) and then used my water colour pencils on regular 80 lb sketch book paper. The colours did not blend and the paper wrinkled but I was happy with the end result and a wonderful afternoon!!

This is the second sketch I did through a corner opening of the azotea. I did not have time to paint this but did have time to have another cold cervesa!

Sketching while being read aloud to

The first sketch is of our rented outdoor ground level patio. It is a view of the wall with the wide variety of planted pots and vines, While Brian was reading aloud "How Hammershod Got His Name" I sketched and Rylla coloured in her bird colouring book. It is amazing how well you can pay attention when your hands are busy.

The next morning Gord and I went to pickleball. In between games I sketched some of the moving players. It was interested as they were continuously moving. I don't think any of them would recognize themselves.

Sketching in San Miguel de Allende

I was on my way to meet Colleen for our afternoon of pottery when I spotted the beautiful grounds of St. Pauls Anglican Church. I was early so enjoyed sitting in the church yard and sketching the church walkway and entrance. This sketch was done in pencil.

This sketch was done in Cafe Rama while Gord had a late lunch of Tortilla soup and I enjoyed a Victoria cervesa while sketching. We walked back home and then Gord headed off to his Spanish lesson. This sketch was done in ink in a regular 60 lb sketching pad.