Sunday sketch

I’m taking a cue from Pepperspectives, where each Sunday David Pepper posts a new painting. It’s a breath of fresh air; a reminder that even though we’re fighting for a better future, we also owe it to ourselves to occasionally slow down and appreciate the world around us.

I’ve been a fan — and an occasional practitioner — of urban sketching for years. There’s something about urban sketching that scratches a similar itch to when I’m drawing a cartoon. It’s a sensation I don’t get from other types of drawing. Maybe it’s the loose lines. Or possibly the fast drawing time. I don’t do it nearly enough, but when I do, I’m always reminded how much I love it.

I’m going to try to post an urban sketch each Sunday. Nothing fancy or extravagant. This is my way of getting myself back into the practice. Right now, the sketches are simple: fine liner pens, a gray art marker, and a red pencil. Maybe I’ll start playing with watercolors again at some point.

I’m going to start out by sketching some of the many of the buildings, tombs, and grave markers from Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. For those who aren’t familiar, Spring Grove is a massive historic cemetery here in Cincinnati. It may sound morbid, but Spring Grove is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in Cincinnati. You can easily get lost for hours as you hike its winding roads and hills, surrounded by massive trees, colorful blooms, wildlife such as deer, turkey, and coyotes, and, of course, the hauntingly beautiful memorials and tombstones. I’m lucky to live within walking distance of Spring Grove, and I walk through there several times a week.

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