Union Square Area Sketches

Last Sunday the NYC Urban Sketchers met at the Union Square Holiday Market to sketch. Our area has been having unseasonably warm weather but Sunday was cold! I made sure to dress warmly with several layers under my down jacket. I was quite comfortable when I found this spot to sit and sketch. I liked all the activity going on in front of me and all the colors and patterns of the fabrics. Several of us perched ourselves on a raised platform which was a great way not to be trampled by the crowds of shoppers.

Next I faced into the market at one of the entrances. Right before I was finished the sun had moved and I was sitting in the shadow of the buildings. My fingertips were freezing and I could feel the cold between my shoulders. Luckily lunch indoors came next.

After lunch the plan was to sketch the Strand Bookstore from outside. But when we got to the opposite corner we found there was a Pret a Manger with tables near the window that had nearly the same view. Why sit outside when I could be sketching in comfort with a cappuccino in front of me? From the table that Pat and I picked we had a good view of the street, the bookstore, and Mark sketching as well as another couple by the window. 

Around 3 o'clock we gathered at the Reservoir Bar a few blocks away to share our sketches. The Steelers football game was on full blast and the place was very noisy...so we all sketched for a while while we had a drink... conversing wasn't easy. Then we shared our work.

I sketched the guy at the next table and then a table of Steeler's fans.