Bangkok

Today was the last destination for #VirtualSketch. The plan was to give artists a way to create during the pandemic, but now in many areas artists are able to go out sketching in their areas. I know I could do that here, but with taking care of Jerry it is easier to sketch from home. The final destination was Bangkok, Thailand. I found a view of the floating markets. My friend, Ai lives in Bangkok and has sketched these markets many times, so it was fun to think of her while I was sketching this.

Rio de Janeiro

#VirtualSketch has taken me to so many great places that I know I would have never sketched on my own. This was sketched from Google Street View in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One of my favorite things to do when I am in a new location is to go to a local market. Feira Livre da Gloria had all kinds of foods and merchandise, but I couldn't resist the colorful flower stall of Elite Flores.

La Paz, Bolivia

I still have a few references to do for #VirtualSketch. This one is a music shop I found in La Paz, Bolivia. I was wandering along the street using Google Street Maps and saw this llama poking his body out of the shop and knew I had to stop...wouldn't you. I hope my friend, Jo Castillo visits the blog and sees this. She lived in Bolivia for a while and had all kinds of treasures from there, many of which were lost in the wildfires that spread through Texas a number of years back. I was wishing I could buy something Bolivian for her.

Bridge of Sighs

I've been to England but only to London. Thee are so may other places there to explore and #VirtualSketch has given me the chance. Who knew that Oxford, England had a Bridge of Sighs. I am only familiar with the one in Venice. This one is a covered walkway that connects two parts of the Oxford campus. 

The Eternal City

Ah...Rome...the Eternal City. #VirtualSketch was wandering the city sketching yesterday.

I was in Rome a few years ago and this scene looked so familiar I knew I had to do it. This is the view from Via di San Pietro.

#VirtualSketch will be stopping in less than a week. It is assumed that most people are able to get out IRL to do some sort of urban sketching. This has made it easy for me to get some sketches done in the evening when things are usually quiet here. I will miss that, so I guess I'll have to find new locations on my own. lol Or maybe I'll go back and do some of the ones I missed.

Carousel in Lucca

The destination for #VirtualSketch yesterday was Lucca, Italy. We did visit Lucca for the day on one of our trips to Italy. I promised Jerry we could go to Puccini's house and museum so he was willing to make the drive from where we were in Tuscany. Unfortunately when we got there we found a big sign on the door saying, "Closed for renovations!" We were really disappointed! I do remember the carousel so when I saw it last night I knew that was my sketch. I did this in a Strathmore toned tan sketchbook and the white is a white colored pencil.

Mongolia

I must say that Mongolia was never on my bucket list to visit, but #VirtualSketch was doing a sketch walk there yesterday, so I joined in. There were some really colorful monasteries there like this one which is the Dashchoilin Monastery.

Berlin

I finally found a little time to get back to #VirtualSketch. In my absence they went to a lot of interesting locations including Berlin, Germany. I saved this reference photo from Google Street Maps just in case I had time to participate. Anyone interested in joining me for a beer? I tried to find out what the sign meant but had no success.

Shropshire

I am enjoying all the virtual travels to locations picked by the organizers of #VirtualSketch. This is the Iron Bridge in Shropshire, UK. I did it directly in watercolors so it will also fit into the #30x30DirectWatercolor Challenge.

Cut Red Pepper

I am behind in posting for #30x30DirectWatercolor. This one was done from a bit of the fresh produce I bought.

Jakarta, Indonesia

For my latest virtual visit with #VirtualSketch I found myself in Jakarta, Indonesia. I looked around for a colorful location that had a distinctive look to it. This is Jin De Yuan Temple. It is funny because I get so used to using ink to make things stand out. It was difficult to make the lanterns stand out from the background color of the building.

I did this in direct watercolor so it would meet the #30x30DirectWatercolor Challenge.

On the Ponte Vecchio

#VirtualSketch had Florence, Italy as a destination recently. I was there with Jerry for a few days on our first trip to Italy and then visited for a day with a friend who lived in Tuscany. I do remember being on the Ponte Vecchio. There was a man doing paintings that were about the size of a stamp. lol This view I found on Google Street Maps. I also did this directly in watercolor for the #30x30DirectWatercolor Challenge.

Bali

Sketched for #VirtualSketch using Google Maps Street View in Bali. Bali was a location I always wanted to visit, but due to the distance I never got there.

Saltzburg

When I think Salzburg, Austria my mind usually goes to "The Sound of Music." I didn't find any beautiful, sweeping, outside vistas but found this lovely view of a wall and stairs at Mirabell Palace. #virtualsketch has taken me to a lot of interesting places.

Cherries & Malaga, Spain

Today I did a cherry painting for Day 2 of #30x30DirectWatercolor. I love finding these in the stores at this time of year. They are delicious to eat and delicious to sketch.

#Virtual Sketch visited Malaga, Spain recently. I am trying to catch up on a few locations that they've visited that catch my attention.

Trafalgar Square

#VirtualSketch took me to London, to Trafalgar Square. I have such great memories of being there in the early 70s when I was in college. We sat on the steps of the monument near the lions just hanging out with all these people we had met. I wonder if they still allow you to do that.

Every year at this time there is a challenge for 30x30 Direct Watercolors, which means no sketching in pencil first and a watercolor each day of the month. With everything that is going on with Jerry I'm not sure I will get all 30 done, but I'll give it a shot. I did this of Trafalgar Square for #VirtualSketch directly in watercolor as part of the challenge...again I did it on crappy paper. I was too lazy last night to get off the couch and get better paper. lol

Jerry took his first actual walking steps since the surgery last week. He walked about 6 feet and it exhausted him...but it is progress!

La Rochelle, France

#VirtualSketch took me to La Rochelle, France for this trip. How could I pass up this bell tower?

Newcastle Upon Tyne

#VirtualSketch is still traveling the world. I don't get to do all the cities but I do try to look for a minute or two using Google Maps Street View to see if something catches my attention. When I roamed around Newcastle upon Tyne in England none of the outdoor buildings or landscapes called to me. I followed one of the links into Ginger Market and saw this man at the counter in his red jacket. I knew I had to sketch him.

Frieda Kahlo Museum

Hola! #VirtualSketch took a trip to Mexico City the other day. I roamed around and found the Frieda Kahlo Museum. It looks as colorful as her artwork.

Stonington, CT

#VirtualSketch visited Stonington, CT recently. It is a place I've wanted to visit but yet to get to. This gave me an easy way to do that. The building I sketched is actually an antique store. I always love buildings with awning...and striped made it even more special.