All Posts On: Washington DC

Washington DC Sketchbook, 2007, Part Two   July 19th, 2007

Continued from: Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One

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World War Two Memorial (larger)

After my stroll through the National Gallery I continued my day by walking the two-mile length of the National Mall. The mall features a series of iconic and monumental American sites, all arranged rather conveniently in a long line. I am not always one for patriotic monuments, but I figured I should visit these once in my life and am glad I did. [cont. below]

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Washington Memorial (larger)
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Lincoln Memorial (larger)
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Einstein Memorial (larger)


It was sunny, getting hotter, and quite dry, and I had trouble keeping my watercolor paint wet enough to behave the way I am used to. So, I ended up doing my ink sketching on site and adding the color later. [cont. below]

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Union Station (larger)

At the Lincoln Memorial I sat on the floor in the back of the viewing area and sketched him between openings in the crowd. There is a sign requesting respectful silence, so of course there was a lot of screaming and running about. And the hot dog stand was a much bigger draw than the Lincoln bookstore. ๐Ÿ™‚

It was a hoot throughout the day to listen to the other tourists, mostly families. They say the funniest things and at times I felt like I was in a Simpsons episode ๐Ÿ™‚ . One thing about traveling alone is that I am more aware of others around me: how they look and behave, and what they say.

The Einstein Memorial is a wonderful, super-sized (and climbable!) likeness of him, hidden from view in the dappled light of large shade trees. The surface of the sculpture is chunky, as if it had been molded out of clay by the hand of someone even bigger than giant Einstein. This memorial is more casual and inviting than the rest; an interesting contrast to the Lincoln statue and, I must say, more to my taste.

The last sketch was done the next day in Union Station while I waited for a train to New York. The station is a beautiful restored space, warm and light-filled, and even the shopping mall now contained within does not detract from itโ€™s ethereal atmosphere. This sketch shows the ceiling of one of the side alcoves; the main space is even bigger.

Next Up: New York Sketchbook, Part One, On to New York.

All posts from this Trip:
     Planes and Trains
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part Two
     New York Sketchbook, Part One
     New York Sketchbook, Part Two

❀   ❀   ❀

Washington DC Sketchbook, 2007, Part One   July 15th, 2007

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National Sculpture Garden (larger)

I started a day of sketching in Washington D.C. recently in the National Sculpture Garden, a relaxing place with fountains and plenty of shade trees. Perhaps an odd choice for the US National Sculpture Garden, one of the works is an original Paris Metro gate. There is even an entire cafรฉ building designed to match! I love the organic, otherworldly lines of these gates, and was happily surprised to find it here. [cont. below]

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Thinker on a Rock, Barry Flanagan, 1997 (larger)

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Paris Metro Gate, Hector Guimard, 1913 (larger)

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Untitled, Alexander Calder, 1976 (larger)

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Capricorn, Max Ernst, 1964 (larger)

I then moved on to the National Gallery of Art. Sketching is allowed in pencil only so I added the ink and color to these drawings later on. The Calder Mobile is huge, hangs in a large light filled space, and moves ever so slowly. Fantastic.

The Ernst sculpture sits in the same atrium. Although I liked it immediately, through the process of drawing it I really “got it” so much more. They say that drawing in a museum can greatly facilitate observation and now I understand why. The little details and manner in which this piece is so completely stylized are wonderful. And witty: I was laughing out loud as I drew it. One group came by and pronounced: “it is ugly, we can’t believe that is art, we wouldn’t take it if they paid us”. How original. I however, would love to have it in my front yard and it would look great there too (hint, hint, National Gallery ๐Ÿ™‚ ).

All posts from this Trip:
     Planes and Trains
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part One
     Washington DC Sketchbook, Part Two
     New York Sketchbook, Part One
     New York Sketchbook, Part Two

❀   ❀   ❀