Composition in Winter + Hafenkult Show

In the above sketch, I'm playing with the line between documentary sketching and sketching as art. I feel myself growing a lot through practice, and my abilities are expanding. I am always working to better capture the feeling of the place I'm drawing.

The row of houses in the above drawing are all dark, musky earth tones, and the sky is pale here in winter. These trees jump out at me every day when I ride my bike by them, because they are covered in brilliant green. It's always a show for my eyes despite the winter weather and general lack of foliage.

Speaking of riding my bike, this is a central part of life here, and winter doesn't stop that. Just layer up. Bike lanes will get you almost anywhere you need to be, and probably faster than any other means of transit (unless you have a car, but gas is expensive anyway).

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I was lucky enough to be asked to be present as a guest artist in the first of what will become a monthly event at the Hafenkult, a studio and gallery space in Duisburg. Das Hafensofa will take place the first Friday evening of every month. Visitors can stop by and chat in the living room atmosphere, view the studios, and talk to the artists. I had a little table for my sketchbooks, and I was around to talk to anyone who wanted to hear more about this concept and what I do.

Photo thanks to © René Hafkesbrink. A friend of mine who has since moved to New Zealand, I encourage you to visit this talented and growing photographer's blog to see more of his work: Westsee.

Here is a TV spot that appeared on a local channel. Bonus: I'm interviewed, so you can hear me speaking German!

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My current project: Books that fit in your hand

I've touched a little bit on my current project, which has been filling my blog posts of late, but I wanted to go further into detail to describe the idea behind these sketchbooks.

These books are small (an open book with both sides is 14x18 cm); a closed book is about the size of your hand. I carry my current book with me most everywhere I go, to draw in it when I find a scene I want to capture. Passers-by can share in my process of documenting places and life when they stop and watch me draw for a little while, an interesting side-effect of making art in public spaces.

However, there is something particular about this size. It allows people to be quickly drawn in, and serves as a center of conversation with the people who page through it and look at the drawings. With its small size, the viewer can observe the entire drawing in one glance without having to distance themselves from the work. It is the perfect size to hold in your hand before you. These sketches are finished pieces of art in and of themselves, but they don't need to be hung on a wall. They need to travel, like me. They need to be flipped through with human fingers, however quickly or slowly the viewer likes. The book, when filled, will be a finished work of art as well, one that slowly spells out a cumulative story with each turned page.

I also, of course, enjoy sharing the images here for those of you who can't see my sketchbooks in person. Here is a little chronological three-page taste for you. (I must also say, I enjoyed eating this banana so much after drawing it for half an hour)

There are more books to be filled, more places to be drawn ahead! Please subscribe if you would like to stay updated!