Saturday, August 21, 2010

In the sketchbook -- A Room With a View: Chicago

"A Room with a View: In the Loop, Chicago"

We flew to Chicago for Bob's high school reunion. We spent the first several days staying in the heart of the Loop downtown. The area is defined by the elevated railway tracks that encircle this section. Our room looked down on a piece of the "El" that is seen in the lower left. Early one morning the sun was making the most interesting patterns on the buildings, so I snapped a photo and then drew and painted the scene. We are using lots of public transit to take in the sights.

I now have a 40-sheet Canson watercolor journal to contain my travel sketches. As we complete our visit and head home via Amtrak, I plan to capture some of the scenes of our beautiful country as they flash by my window.

9 comments:

Charlene Brown said...

This is Chicago, all right - Mies van der Rohe would have been proud to sign it!

Oh, I envy you, going home on the train -- definitely the most civilized way to see, and paint, the country

Autumn Leaves said...

Fabulous, Mary! Chicago is my kind of town!

Marie Theron said...

"Through the window" is a good idea, Mary. Remember Marc Chagall doing Paris through the window!

Mary Paquet said...

Charlene, I checked out Mies on google and wow on his architecture. Chicago is filled with wonderful architecture. The Art Institute had a great exhibit on the architect Louis Sullivan.

Sherry, I agree with you! Wonderful city.

Marie, I took a look at Chagall images from the series. Wonderful and I love his work.

Barbra Joan said...

Well Mary, you just keep rollin' along.... hugs, BJ

hw (hallie) farber said...

So simple--so well done. I'm reminded of Georgia O'Keefe and her paintings of New York.

Anonymous said...

I love this sketch! It's great how you captured the shadows.
You amaze me with all that you do.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary, I hope you have a fun trip. The train trip should be great fun. I wonder if you'll take the train that goes through Glacier National Park.

I look forward to hearing how you like your new watercolor journal. Wonderful drawing and painting of the Chicago building...all those wonderful, stately lines!

Becky Joy said...

wonderful sketches. Great architecture.