My Sketch Book

5 years ago, I began sketching what I saw, when I saw it, in front of God and all mankind.  Well, I exaggerate a bit... but let me describe my experience.

From the time I had first learned to draw, in 4 years I realized I had filled many sketch books with  drawings and studies from magazines and photographs, but never in public.  This was always an exercise I confined to the privacy of my studio or kitchen table without any others around to offer critique.  I liked it that way.

Then, Sara and I had an opportunity to go to China. While on the River Li, I was taking photos  like all other tourists as our boat cruised by those beautiful karst mountains seen in asian art and currency. I don't know what sparked me, but suddenly I ran below, grabbed my sketchbook and pencil out of my backpack, and returned to try to quickly catch the shapes and mood in graphite before each "snap shot" receded from my eyesight and memory.  I became totally emersed in this collaborative exercise between my eyes and my fingertips. 

To top it off, I was not aware that many people were gathering behind me to watch what I was trying to do. Many offered compliments (I think) in French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and more! That day, my art became a delightful vehicle to engage others from all over the world.  Who would have guessed!

This Summer, I'll add sketches from my sketchbook, beginning with this from the River Li.

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