I met with our local sketchcrawl group on Saturday for an afternoon of sketching along the East Bank Esplanade that runs beside the Willamette River here in Portland. I got there late but at least I got one sketch done with the group. I always feel inspired by their work. Our group is amazingly talented so I am glad they let me tag along. 
I had a hard time with the Hawthorne Bridge sketch so wanted to try something simpler next. This lamp post and shrub in front of the freeway and bridge supports seemed to fit the bill and I liked the contrast of the delicate against the massive.As I was leaving I decided to do a quick pencil sketch and paint it at home since it was getting late. I have been wanting to learn more about how to depict water, so these boats moored at the dock seemed like a good opportunity to experiment. I used Gordon MacKenzie’s book, The Watercolorist’s Essential Notebook, Landscapes as a reference for how to do waves. He says to lay down a smooth graded wash, then lay in the wave marks when it is dry (or you can do this wet in wet). I am pretty happy with the results for a first attempt. I highly recommend MacKenzie’s book, it is very thorough.
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).
I like all of these sketches Janene. The waves came out really well, I will have to try that method.
Looks like it was a fantastic day! I so wish I had a sketch group here…perhaps one day I’ll get one going.
Amazing! You’re just able to turn these seemingly mundane corners and scenes into beautiful and admirable piece of art… really makes people want to visit those places ^^
Your pictures are beautiful. I am sure your ‘group’ is honored to have you along with them. 🙂
Neat work. You have a great style, very subtle, detailed and expressive! Must be great to do a sketch crawl.
Wow, the way you sketched the water is really good. It shows the waves and the distance so well. Great work!
Great sketches, and done outside that is even better. Must be fun to have a group to go sketchcrawling.
Lovely sketches! And that water in your first atempt looks amazing! Thanks for the recommendation!
oh I love these quick sketches, and I think you did a nice job depicting the water
Oooh! How lovely and wonderfully done. How nice to be in a sketchcrawl group. Good for you!
All your sketches are great! I really like the way you did the waves in the last one. It’s perfect!
You may feel like you had a hard time with the bridge, but I think you rendered it beautifully! I agree – in your second one the juxtaposition of the delicate tree with the freeway support is just right! And, as everyone has said, your water is really great! Fine job all around!! nancy
These are beautiful! And especially that water in the bottom sketch is painted perfectly! I have that book – need to get it out and look through it again 🙂
Thanks for your comments, everyone. It is great to have a group to sketch with–I feel very fortunate.
Oh, these are wonderful! It doesn’t look like you had difficulties with the bridge at all! Thanks for the book referral, and for the link to your sketch group! I really do need to try to get a group together where I am…it doesn’t seem to be forming by itself!
Great sketches and it looks like you had a wonderful day with the sketch crawl group! I would so love to try that some time!
I especially like the tree in the top sketch (a willow?), it has that floating green spring feeling to it. Very nice!
Lucky you, to go on a sketchcrawl! Lovely sketches and I especially like how your waves came out.
-Krista
http://www.kristameister.com