Tuesday 1 March 2011

Sketching the Old and the New



I've been working a  lot in Palermo the last few weeks and I grabbed the opportunity for some quick sketches.  These are  10 - 15 minute sketches from my car with a Pitt pen.
Looking at this apartment building I can see that it is leaning slightly....that's what happens when you draw in the car!

This is just the corner of one of the main old gates into the city, the front is so ornate I'd need at least an hour to draw it and my breaks aren't long enough.  Under this gate roars the city traffic, it's a wonder it stays up.
I'm not very fond of big cities, but I admit that I could be tempted to go there just to draw, there's enough there to keep me going for years!

14 comments:

Mari Brown and Colourblob said...

Those are great sketches made from a car, and I like the contrast between the old and the new buildings. I like the colours you used for the sketches,lovely!!!

thamizhparavai said...

Wow liked all quick sketches

Pelusa said...

Love them! I'm fascinated with architecture lately and these sketches are so inspiring! Thanks!

Malka Michaela Barshishat said...

Hi Cathy, theese sketches are so lovely1
What a great place to live! So much inspiration around you to draw such wonderfull architecture. I haven't been back home in Prague for years and miss it dearly.
The architecture there is excellent.
Have you ever been there?
I should get my hands on some of those Pitt pens ( I just found about thanx to your blog) and try them out.
Thank you for your comment on my drawing. :)

Sandra said...

I need to get my Pitt pen to work as well! These are lovely.

jenna said...

I'm extremely fond of big cities, but I envy your dusty lane, too.

Very productive breaks - the drawings look great!

Janene said...

These are great quick sketches. You are very productive on your breaks! My favorite is the top one with the tower rising above the foliage--such nice contrasts in texture, but all are good.

Gillian Mowbray said...

Oh how I'd love to sketch along with you in Palermo. Lucky you. These are great - I love the ink colour choice too. x

Alex said...

Awesome sketches Cathy =) I've always been fascinated by the sepia tones, and I know that you only do color pencils and watercolor pencils most the time^^ but this is really nice!

jill said...

I have some black pitt pens now I want brown. THese sketches are great and what a good idea to draw in your car, might have to try it. I also like the birds on the previous post, I also see them and would live to sketch them, I think it makes a great scene

Pat said...

Lovely sketches xx

nanke's stuff said...

These are really nice, and the color you chose is a nice change from black ink! nancy

Unknown said...

Excellent fifteen minute sketches!

Sara Light-Waller said...

GREAT sketches Cathy. :-)