Tree in Need of a Story

Give it your best shot! This is a tree in need of a story, and I'm asking—pleading—with you to give it one. Let's hear it!

A Brief Interlude

Last Friday Kenosha hosted a criterium very close to home sweet home. It was wonderful to beat feet out of work and come home to professional cycling!

My camera really isn't up to the task, but here are a few snaps anyway.



Above: Early into the race there were a few attempts off the front, but nothing really materialized until....





The group right up ^ got off the front and eventually lapped the peloton. That was a first for me.



Saturday night I went to Ravinia to hear the CSO play Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand". It was wonderful! And just to prove that I don't prey on strangers alone for my sketching fodder, the sleeping man is a close friend. He was a good sport about it when he woke up and caught me staring at his ear. But then the magic was gone, and the light was going, so he remains unfinished.

Thanks for stopping by!

Unsuspecting Fellow Commuter

The rain just started falling. It's a very soft shower, with a northerly breeze. Nothing like a frantic storm—we've had plenty of those lately.

I drew this gentleman this morning on the way to work. He was reading the paper, and intent on an article so he was relatively still. I would guess he could have sensed I was drawing him. The guy sitting between us certainly knew, and I caught him trying to sneak a peek now and then. I left the sketchpad pretty flat on my lap so he could peek while I looked at something outside the train.

I've only been called out a few times, and usually in a nice way. Once I was nabbed by the friend of the guy I was drawing. And I quote, "Hey, I think she's drawing you." And to me, "Do we get to see?" I showed them, they were not bowled over, and the magic was gone. As it turns out, he was a better model when he had no idea—not too surprising really.

I need to get out of the office at lunchtime again—I miss those lunch sketch sessions.

Thanks for stopping by!