Food recipes

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Getaway to South Dakota



We took some days to visit Badlands National Park and the Black Hills National Forest in the State of South Dakota. We drove there from Chicagoland. For those who have never been in the United States, there are rest areas along the Interstates highways. They are located just off the road 30 to 60 miles apart from one another. They are public areas which were built to provide all the necessary services for the traveler: restrooms, snacks and refreshments, information, maps and also tables and seats for picnics. Some states decor their rest areas accordingly. One of the stops in Iowa had metal panels in the picnics areas cut to resemble the agricultural fields. It's art really. What caught my eye was how the negative space was used to create the landscapes, I thought  it was a perfect example of it  and I undertook the task to sketch 3 different landscapes.


When we crossed the state limit to South Dakota, most of the rest areas had monuments depicting tee pees, honoring the local Indians, according to the tourist guide in the rest area. I found that ironic, given the fact that the land was taken from Indians, but that's another story. The structure was impressive therefore I sketch it quickly.


Badlands is one of the underestimated National Parks. It's a very arid land that erodes rather quickly but it has a unique beauty. After hiking some hundred feet I sat down on a rock under the blasting sun, there are no trees whatsoever. Pencil was the only thing I could stand to do. I watercolor it later at the hotel. This sketch doesn't make it any justice, but here it is my attempt to capture these exceptional land.

The next two days we visited the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park which is in the same area with same geographical characteristics. We drove scenic roads, drove through carved stone tunnels and pigtail bridges.The next sketch is the Scovel Johnson Tunnel in the Iron Mountain Road. This and the next sketch I did from pictures I took. The far end of the tunnel frames Mount Rushmore at far distance.


Also we watched wild animals, bison, commonly known as buffaloes, burros, pronghorn antelopes and lots of prairie dogs among them. 



We saw lakes and visited the Wind Cave, the second largest cave in the world and most intricate in the world. Our last stop was the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The facilities to accommodate millions of tourists each years has grown over the years. I sat among the crowd and made my last on location sketch of this trip.



South Dakota was unexpectedly beautiful! Back to home. I can't wait for my next sketching adventure, the 8th Urban Sketchers international Symposium in Chicago at the end of July. I hope to see you there!


Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Peach pancakes

A5 Handbook watercolor journal, pencil and W&N watercolors 

We went out for breakfast this morning, I ordered eggs Benedict over crab cakes and Bob ordered a Feta cheese and spinach omelet. His omelet came with plain pancakes and my eggs came with a peach in syrup, which I think it has nothing to do with my dish, weird combination. So...as a creative person, well everyone can be creative right? I gave the peach to Bob to eat it with his pancakes. As he was eating his first course I sliced the peach and placed it on top of the pancakes, I asked him of course. It was such a cute view and I was so proud of my inventive creation (ha!) that I couldn't help sketching it. I  don't sketch food, but here I am sketching other's food. I think they look more delicious than the real ones! Oh the wonders of watercolor......

Friday, June 2, 2017

Sunbathers, the victims of summer.


It's that time of the year when bathers become my victims. This scene catches how leisurely and carefree this people sunbath under direct sunlight. I, on the contrary, was in the opposite end of the pool, under the shade of a tree. The over sized man on the right is my favorite. His curves made his figure more interesting. The woman on the donut pool float was speaking with her hands, a lot of movement there. It was getting hot,  I dipped into the pool to refresh myself, took some photos and went back to home. This will be probably the highlight of my day, correction: a gorgeous day. This sketch was made in a postal card size Fabriano Artistico, pencil and watercolor.






Thursday, June 1, 2017

The Jacob Henry Mansion


This is the Jacob Henry mansion in downtown Joliet, Illinois. It was in my sketch to do list. I LOVE old buildings, particularly Victorian style. They are so charming and if I have the chance to enter into their interiors, the visit usually doesn't disappoint me. I appreciate the tall ceilings, grand stairways and carved woodwork built in these residences. That afternoon I sat across the street under a tree to sketch this view. I used Arches paper from an old sketchbook I made, pencil and watercolor. If I had use pen and ink, I probably would have lost out in the details. Sketching with pencil was actually more freeing of making mistakes, the lines and strokes I made where a little bit careless and I enjoyed the process. One of the jewels of old Joliet, still standing.