Month: May 2017

You can’t do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh.
— John Singer Sargent

Today was a big day as Heritage Montreal was co-hosting with the Montreal Urban Sketchers in Old Montreal and there were many things that were organized. A morning sketchout, a monument and buildings heritage tour, one in English and one in French, an Urban Sketchers how-to workshop on how-to draw on location, co-hosted by myself, Susan Cooke and Raynald Murphy for the English group. It was wonderful and everyone there seemed quite happy as I had to rush out as my husband was waiting for me back home for a small commemorative supper. This was a long day, but I am happy to have done it! The next outing is on Sunday June 25th at the Montreal Botanical Gardens.

 

Spotlessness is the niece of inspiration.
— Billy Collins advice to writers.

Here is my newly filled-up juicy colour palette ready for tomorrow’s Montreal Urban Sketchers outing in Old Montreal with Heritage Montreal as co-host. We are meeting at 10:00 am in front of Bonsecour Market.  If you are interested, go on our USK:Mtl blog to find out more information.

… material orderliness, he (Billy Collins) reminds us, fosters mental orderliness, and a mind unassaulted by chaos is a mind free to create. Not sure if this applies to everyone, but it sure does apply to me! Before I start to work, paint, cook, whatever I have to do, the space must be clean “beforehand”… and after I am finished I clean up again to clean up the mess that I created -LOL -)

I am planning our England trip and what better way of remembering where you are going than actually drawing a Great Britain map? So here are the highlights. We arrive in London and immediately travel to Bath, Britain’s Belle of the Ball as they say. I am taking a 5-day watercolour workshop there which I am looking forward to. Then we travel to the Cotswalds to see Castle Combe Village, Lacock Village, Silbury Hill, Avebury Stone Circles and finally Stonehenge. Then off to York by way of ancient Roman roads to see Viking heritage, walk in medieval streets with beautiful canals and gaze up York Minster Cathedral. Then off to London by train for six days of sightseeing and one day to Oxford to see its famous university and city. BTW, my ancestors come from Dunoon, Scotland and that is why I singled it out! All mingled in this tour are short spurts and periods of sketching, drawing and painting — can’t wait!

Moleskine Sketchbook 5″x8″
Sailor Desk EF with DeAtramentis Document Black Ink

If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.
— Marc Chagall

Went to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts today with one of my dear friends and we had the time to examine the whole exhibit from head to toe. It is a beautifully set exhibit with costumes, musical instruments and paintings that are joyful for the eyes. Chagall’s life impressed me as his life was one of a true artist. My friend remarked that because the exhibit was not really set in chronological order, it was difficult to understand the artist’s development and outcome… I wonder why the museum did not explain at some point why they had not done so? I drew one of the dresses that Chagall drew for the theatre.

On Sunday I also went with the Montreal Urban Sketchers as we were invited by Les amis de la montagne to sketch the beautiful Mount-Royal and 35 sketchers joined us. My two paintings were terrible, saturated — I really did not have the colours in my eyes that day and I was almost shy to show what I had done… alas, it was one of those days of painting but wonderful for everything else! One of the reasons why I did not succeed is that I have not painted in a long while, secondly I did not do a value sketch which is always very helpful. Next time -)

Paper: Moleskine Sketchbook 3.5″x5.5″
Description: Costume for Aleko, Society Lady, Scene IV. 1942. Dress of painted silk taffeta, silk leno and tulle.

Artists and art lovers are welcome to take part in an art day on Mount Royal with the Urban Sketchers of Montreal and Les Amis de la Montagne on Sunday May 21st.

* 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Join the Urban Sketchers Montreal for a sketching/drawing/painting day on the mountain.

* 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Exhibition of works by all participants at the Beaver Lake Pavilion Café des Amis.

Free admission
• Meeting point at 10 a.m.: Smith House, 1260 Remembrance Road, Mount Royal
• Meeting point at 3 p.m.: Beaver Lake Pavilion Café des Amis
• For lunch: Café des Amis or bring your own lunch on the lawns of this majestic mountain.
• This year, enjoy the hospitality of the Café des Amis in two stunning venues – Smith House and the Beaver Lake Pavilion. Menu includes full meals, sandwiches, salads, desserts, hot and cold beverages.

This activity is presented as part of May : Mount Royal Month.

Those interested in acting as volunteers to help new sketchers should arrive at 9:30 am so that we can share responsibilities.

Facebook LINK — for more information on this activity and future activities, please join us on Facebook -)

For additional information, please contact:
• Danielle Desnoyers :: danielledesnoyers(at)me.com
• Jane Hannah :: jane.hannah(at)csur.ca
• Jean-Claude Boivin :: boivin442(at)videotron.ca

DESSINE-MOI UNE MONTAGNE, une journée en arts

Les Urban Sketchers de Montréal en collaboration avec les Amis de la montagne invitent les artistes et amateurs à venir dessiner sur le Mont Royal dimanche le 21 mai. L’activité s’inscrit dans le cadre du Mois du Mont-Royal.

* 10 h à 15 h : Joignez-vous au groupe Urban Sketchers Montréal pour réaliser des dessins/peintures/croquis du Mont Royal.

* 15 h à 16 h 30 : Exposition des œuvres de l’ensemble des participants au Café des Amis au Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castors.

Activité gratuite.
• Point de départ à 10 h : Maison Smith, située au 1260 chemin Remembrance. Danielle Desnoyers et  Jane Hannah seront là pour vous accueillir.
• Rendez-vous à 15 h : Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castors
• Pour le repas : Le Café des Amis ou vous apporter votre lunch et profitez de la nature.
• Le Café des Amis vous accueille cette année dans deux lieux distincts – à la Maison Smith ou au Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castors. Vous trouverez au menu : repas complets, sandwichs, salades, desserts, boissons chaudes et froides.
• Les personnes intéressées à agir comme bénévoles pour guider les néophytes peuvent arriver vers 9 h 30 afin que nous puissions répartir les responsabilités.

Page Facebook LIEN — pour avoir plus d’informations et demander des détails joignez-vous à nous -)

Pour renseignements supplémentaires :
• Danielle Desnoyers :: danielledesnoyers(at)me.com
• Jane Hannah :: jane.hannah(at)csur.ca
• Jean-Claude Boivin :: boivin442(at)videotron.ca

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