Saturday, November 30, 2013

Bay Area Chorus

Last Sunday my friend and I went to hear the Bay Area Chorus and their "Fall Festival of Song" at the United Methodist Church in Patchogue. The last few times we went we sat up in the balcony to sketch, but this time Susan got there early and sat right in the front row downstairs.

I was able to get a few sketches done. I used a Stillman & Birn Zeta Series sketchbook that was 5 1/2 x 8 1/2. I like the weight of the paper, but the surface is slick and will take some experimenting on my part to figure out how best to use watercolors on it. I began with pencil sketches (You can still see them.) The Zeta did a lovely job of taking ink. I guess it is more like hot pressed paper which I don't regularly use.

I started with a sketch of the director of the chorus, Martha Canpanile.

And then moved on to sketch one of the members of the chorus and a few of the musicians who were sitting right near us.







7 comments:

  1. Very nice post!
    Thanks & Welcome for your comment and your next visit to my blogs.
    Have a nice day! Cath.

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  2. Wow, Joan! These are fantastic. I've tried doing this at band concerts, and couldn't even come close. I love the closeup of the violinist's arm.

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  3. I love these Joan, through them I can imagine the concert

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  4. Thank you, Cath.

    Mickey - That was one thing that stayed pretty constant so I drew that part. lol It isn't easy doing musicians. Just when you start to get into doing the instrument they put it down.

    Lorraine - Thanks. Unfortunately when you concentrate and sketch you miss a lot of what is going on during the concert.

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  5. These are terrific, Joan! You probably remember that I recently sketched a quartet performing... I know how hard it is. Did you have to use a little light? Of did you have enough light where you were sitting?

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  6. These are wonderful, Joan! My favorite is the bearded violinist. How handsome he looks!!

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  7. Tina - Thanks. It was fairly well lit so I didn't have to use a light.

    Sherry - When I saw him I knew I had to sketch him. Thank you.

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