DUMBO

I recently went with my friend, Suzala and Robin, a visiting sketcher from LA on a sketch trip to DUMBO in Brooklyn. For those who don't know it stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Robin had sketched in the city before but hadn't been to DUMBO for the iconic view of the Brooklyn Bridge. (It was much more crowded than my sketch...maybe X50. It was a long ride in but Suzala's husband, Rick played chauffeur, tour guide and photographer for us. He gave us a tour from Long Island through the city describing and telling about each area.

This part of Washington Street is closed to traffic and there are tables set out which made sketching very convenient.

We even did a little throw down of our sketches. Left to right...Suzala, Robin, Joan.

Then we moved on to another area of DUMBO. Robin selected a different spot to sketch than Suzala and I did. We both sketched the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Again I didn't include the massive line of people waiting. I was so tempted...but resisted.

Top to bottom: My sketch, Robin's sketch of the Manhattan Bridge, and Suzala's sketch.

It is always fun to share sketching time with people from other locations.

DUMBO

My first weekend back the NYC Urban Sketchers went to DUMBO which is short for Down Under the Manhattan Beach Overpass. It is an area that right now is a big tourist destination. This first sketch that I did of the Manhattan Bridge had so many tourists standing in the middle of the street taking selfies. I think the street will eventually have to be a pedestrian only street because the people posing are an accident waiting to happen.

After lunch I went a few blocks away and sketched this view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

In the park in front of me was an interesting couple so I sketched them too.

DUMBO - Part 2

Back in DUMBO after lunch we headed off to sketch in another location that Mark had picked out....but on the way we saw a spot that we had to stop and sketch. lol So the plan was to sketch for 15 minutes before moving on. I said I couldn't sketch anything in 15 minutes but Michael told me to use pen, work within the confines of a small box and "just go for it." So I did...and did 3 mini sketches on one page at that location. I used a pen that bled a bit if you added water quickly.

It is rare to have us all sitting in one location so I was able to get a lot of the sketchers in a few photos.

Then it was off to Water & Washington Streets where some of us were actually sitting IN THE STREET to sketch. We were right next to a fire hydrant in the parking space, on the sidewalk and on the steps. Luckily there was very little traffic, and the artists who were standing in the street to sketch were able to move out of the way easily. This particular location attracts a lot of people taking pictures. While we were sketching there was a photo shoot taking place, and people were taking photos of us too. lol

This was what we were sketching.

At this point most of the sketchers were heading back where we had started in the morning.

My car was close to this location so Susan and I decided to sketch where we were rather than retracing our steps and then having to come back again. This was my last sketch of the day.

Although we didn't get to see all the sketchbooks at the end of the day, Shawne took a photo of all of them and that is what I am posting here.

Again, it was another full day of sketching.

DUMBO - Part I

After doing the "Paint the Great South Bay" on Thursday and Friday, my busy weekend continued. On Saturday the NYC Urban Sketchers met at DUMBO which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It is a great, energetic, fun spot in Brooklyn.

My first sketch was of the former lighthouse which is now an ice cream factory right by the Manhattan Bridge.

Then I moved on to sketch a view which included some of the other NYC Urban Sketchers sketching in front of me. That's Rayle, Mark and Shawne. I was right under the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge is in the distance.

Here is a photo of that location. Only Rayle was still sketching there when I took the photo.

We took a break for lunch and as always shared our sketchbooks.

Santi from Barcelona had such wonderful work. He sketched with us last week too, but this week was his last week of his vacation in NYC. We will miss him. Who knows...maybe we will visit him in Barcelona. He is planning on turning his sketchbook from this NY trip into a book. I know we all want copies.

To be continued....