Chapel St., Cincinnati - House Sketch

For years I have driven by this house near the corner of Victory Parkway and Madison Ave. and thought, "we should sketch that house... it is so interesting."  So yesterday Christina and I walked from my house over to Walnut Hills and spent a beautiful morning sketching this unique house. 

Christina is amazing and finished her entire sketch, watercolor and all, while we sat there.  You can see her sketch here.  But I was only able to finish my pencil sketch and finished later at home.  Sometimes it is hard to look back at a sketch and see all the "mistakes" I've made.  When I see that in other people's sketches I always tell them that is gives it character (and I truly mean it).  But somehow, when I see it in my sketch I just think it looks terribly wonky or googly.  However, I am at least able to see the things I like about it too.  And in this one I liked the color palette. 

George came to pick us up and bring us to lunch and snapped this photo of us sketching.  Somehow I ended up getting a sunburn on the tip of my knee (oh, the dangers of sketching!).  Although I haven't sketched in a while and felt a bit rusty, I am always thankful Christina gets me out there and back at it again.

“A man's mistakes are his portals of discovery” ― James Joyce

Creative Juice Group Exhibition

I am excited to be part of the Creative Juice Group Exhibition that opens May 5th at the Park National Bank Gallery at UC Clermont.  The opening is this Friday from 6-8 pm.  As you can see above my Maple Helicopter linocut will be on display along with the work of 21 other Cincinnati artists.  The show will include both 2D and 3D pieces in a wide range of media including acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, fabric, photography, henna, linocut and woodcut.

This show came about because every Monday you will usually find me attending a group called "Creative Juice".  This group is a motley crew of artists and creative entrepreneurs who meet to discuss all aspects of the creative process.  We have lively discussions every week on topics ranging from how to use social media to market your business to the best programs to make your website to how not to fall apart when you face rejection.  There is hearty debate, laughter, sometimes tears, coffee and a deep sense of community.  If you are interested in finding out more visit our Facebook page or morecreativejuice.net.

So one day last year we got on the topic of having a group art show and Frank Satogata suggested we have one at UC Clermont where they have a beautiful gallery.  We applied and were accepted and now it is finally happening this week!  Below is the show postcard. 

Last week a group of us headed out to UC Clermont, loaded the show in and had a really nice time hanging the show.  I love it when you are worried about something and it not only goes well, but is actually fun.  These women are amazing and talented and I am so thankful to them for reminding me of the joys of working together.

If you are in Cincinnati please come out to the show.  The show runs May 1st to June 28th.  The gallery is located in the Snyder Building, Room 140 at UC Clermont College.  For driving directions and a campus map visit the gallery website here.

“When you find people who not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them with glad cries of “Me too!” be sure to cherish them. Because those weirdos are your tribe.”― A.J. Downey

Photo credit: Christine Kuhr