Monday, May 17, 2010

Cactus Monday: Sketchcrawl!

Organ Pipe Cactus under a Mesquite tree - Conté and ink.  

Garden scene with a mountain view - Ebony pencil.

Last Saturday, I attended my very first Sketchcrawl at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.  Sketchcrawl is a worldwide event where artists gather from all corners of the world and join in a day of sketching and journaling, and then share their work on the online sketchcrawl forum.  I encourage all of my artist friends to get on the forum, find your city and join!  The next worldwide Sketchcrawl will be on Saturday, July 31st.  

I have met some wonderful people and had great conversations.  We also exchanged useful techniques as well as each others' supplies to try out.  I can't wait to try a new method for the next Sketchcrawl and my idea of sketchbook journaling has since changed forever.  I have been so busy working digitally, that I sort of forgot how it feels to get back to the basics with raw materials and get my hands dirty.  Although I felt a little rusty, it felt great to be sketching again.

I found out about the Sketchcrawl through a drawing group in the Phoenix area called Sketchy Doodle, and I'm looking forward to more drawing sessions.  A big thanks to my new sketch pal, Annie for being the group organizer.  Pop over to her blog and say hello, and check out her art.  Being an Arizona resident, I think she would have fun with the Cactus Monday group as well!

4 comments:

Teri said...

How fun to go on a sketchcrawl so soon after moving. Just perfect timing. I love your sketches.
Are you all settled in?

❤HCM❤

Margaret Ann said...

Wonderful sketches...the DBG is a goldmine of perfect plants...The Phoenix sketchcrals are always fun...Hope to see you at the one in July...It would be fun to meet another Cactus Monday member!:)

Julie said...

How beautiful...the Conte is very cool looking! I had to ask my artist daughter what it was...she has a color like this which she had had to get for an art class.

The sketchcrawl sounds so awesome! I will check out Annie's blog!

Happy CM!!!

Cynthia DiBlasi - Fine Art said...

Hello Cactus Monday ladies! Thanks for the comments. Teri, I'm almost settled, it's been exhausting! Margaret, I DO plan on going to the next sketchcrawl, and hope to see you. The DBG garden really is a wonderful spot, but shewww! It's getting hot here. Julie, thanks for checking out Annie's blog!