Why do people talk so loudly at their tables? Do they really think everyone is interested in their conversations?
I must be getting old because I simply can't find a quiet restaurant anymore.
When the waiter first sat us inside, the forced water through the capuchino machine sounded like it was in my ear. Ruth had to scream at me to ask if we could sit outside.
But the five women at the outside table next to us complained endlessly about their relationships. Funny thing was, as each one groaned on, no one was listening. They talked over each other. No one responded in a thoughtful way. In fact, after an especially long winded complaint, the others jumped in simultaneously: "Men are like that."
We are? All of us? Really? Me too?
At one point in the meal three fire trucks punctured their conversation and deflated their lungs. There was a very brief pause. But soon after they were back at it again.
I looked over at Ruth and asked how she was doing. She screamed: "Can't hear myself think!" She wasn't saying much because she was afraid of losing her voice.
I believe that there is a market for quiet restaurants. I know there is money in it. I would pay more. Even though we used a 50% off coupon I don't think it was worth it.
I think the place is called "The Flying Biscuit" because I'm allowed to hurl them at other customers.
...dave
Quiet restaurants are an endangered species. - dave terry
I must be getting old because I simply can't find a quiet restaurant anymore.
When the waiter first sat us inside, the forced water through the capuchino machine sounded like it was in my ear. Ruth had to scream at me to ask if we could sit outside.
But the five women at the outside table next to us complained endlessly about their relationships. Funny thing was, as each one groaned on, no one was listening. They talked over each other. No one responded in a thoughtful way. In fact, after an especially long winded complaint, the others jumped in simultaneously: "Men are like that."
We are? All of us? Really? Me too?
At one point in the meal three fire trucks punctured their conversation and deflated their lungs. There was a very brief pause. But soon after they were back at it again.
I looked over at Ruth and asked how she was doing. She screamed: "Can't hear myself think!" She wasn't saying much because she was afraid of losing her voice.
I believe that there is a market for quiet restaurants. I know there is money in it. I would pay more. Even though we used a 50% off coupon I don't think it was worth it.
I think the place is called "The Flying Biscuit" because I'm allowed to hurl them at other customers.
...dave
Quiet restaurants are an endangered species. - dave terry
Labels: public sketching, sketch journal
Ruth loves garden books and I love art books so we decided to go to the bookstore last night.
We usually go late at night, about an hour or so before they close. It's usually quiet then and we can often find a chair to read in. I wish they were open 24 hours a day. We could sit in a Borders bookstore forever, without food and water. Well, maybe not without coffee. But I digress.
We started in the art section. I had found a very good watercolor book earlier that I wanted to show her. I was looking to "inspire" her so that she'd join me in this illustrated journal sketch activity of mine. She said she needs a "spark" to get started. But soon after I showed her the book, she disappeared around the corner.
Where'd she go?
I found her in a dark leather chair reading a huge garden book.
Ruuuuth! You're not focusing here. I thought you said you needed a spark to get started!? Whatdaya gunna to do when we go on the sketch date? You are NOT taking this seriously!
I think I'll be sketching alone while she goes out into the garden to pet the bees drunk with nectar. (I kid you not. She can actually pet the bees!)
...dave
Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization. – Lincoln Steffens
We usually go late at night, about an hour or so before they close. It's usually quiet then and we can often find a chair to read in. I wish they were open 24 hours a day. We could sit in a Borders bookstore forever, without food and water. Well, maybe not without coffee. But I digress.
We started in the art section. I had found a very good watercolor book earlier that I wanted to show her. I was looking to "inspire" her so that she'd join me in this illustrated journal sketch activity of mine. She said she needs a "spark" to get started. But soon after I showed her the book, she disappeared around the corner.
Where'd she go?
I found her in a dark leather chair reading a huge garden book.
Ruuuuth! You're not focusing here. I thought you said you needed a spark to get started!? Whatdaya gunna to do when we go on the sketch date? You are NOT taking this seriously!
I think I'll be sketching alone while she goes out into the garden to pet the bees drunk with nectar. (I kid you not. She can actually pet the bees!)
...dave
Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization. – Lincoln Steffens
Theoretically Related Posts
Labels: books, illustrated journal
Maggiano's @ Cumberland
2 Comments Published by Dave on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 5/25/2010 07:36:00 PM.
I've been wanting to do this for sometime but was never brave enough. So I went to the parking lot and drew during lunch. People were coming and people were going. Some walked right by the car but didn't bother me at all. Surprising.
This was the fastest sketch I've done to date. Just about 15 minutes or so is all it took. Didn't spend enough time but wanted to just capture the quaintness of the "Little Italy" Maggiano's.
Funny thing is, I've never eaten there!
I eat little bag lunches from home and spend the extra time sketching instead.
Go figure.
Now all I need is a cup of coffee.
...dave
Caffeine isn’t a drug, it’s a vitamin! ~ Anon
This was the fastest sketch I've done to date. Just about 15 minutes or so is all it took. Didn't spend enough time but wanted to just capture the quaintness of the "Little Italy" Maggiano's.
Funny thing is, I've never eaten there!
I eat little bag lunches from home and spend the extra time sketching instead.
Go figure.
Now all I need is a cup of coffee.
...dave
Caffeine isn’t a drug, it’s a vitamin! ~ Anon
Labels: illustrated journal
All went well. I'm home now. All can say is:
The worst part is the day before and the best part was the meal after!
That's all I'll say about that.
So after a day drinking clear fluids and a half day waiting for the doctor, I was out within 15 minutes.
And again, why is this? I arrive at 10:45 for an 11:30 appointment but don't get in until 1:00 and still wait another 30 minutes? Do the doctors think they are the only ones who are busy? Don't they realize I've got sketching to do?
Afterwards Ruth treated me to an IHOP breakfast. She said I could have anything I wanted...just about. (Couldn't have bacon, sausage, or spicy stuff. Rats.)
So I ordered Strawberry Cheesecake Buttermilk Pancakes, three eggs, hash browns, and coffee. Whoa!
But I was still wasted after the meal so I listlessly lay out on the back porch for hours watching the clouds pass overhead and soon fell asleep.
It's a balmy 80 degrees outside with a slight breeze. Snickers (our cat) lay next to me sprawled out just as happy as a clam to have a backyard companion.
...dave
No man should plant more garden than his wife can hoe. - Anon
The worst part is the day before and the best part was the meal after!
That's all I'll say about that.
So after a day drinking clear fluids and a half day waiting for the doctor, I was out within 15 minutes.
And again, why is this? I arrive at 10:45 for an 11:30 appointment but don't get in until 1:00 and still wait another 30 minutes? Do the doctors think they are the only ones who are busy? Don't they realize I've got sketching to do?
Afterwards Ruth treated me to an IHOP breakfast. She said I could have anything I wanted...just about. (Couldn't have bacon, sausage, or spicy stuff. Rats.)
So I ordered Strawberry Cheesecake Buttermilk Pancakes, three eggs, hash browns, and coffee. Whoa!
But I was still wasted after the meal so I listlessly lay out on the back porch for hours watching the clouds pass overhead and soon fell asleep.
It's a balmy 80 degrees outside with a slight breeze. Snickers (our cat) lay next to me sprawled out just as happy as a clam to have a backyard companion.
...dave
No man should plant more garden than his wife can hoe. - Anon
Labels: doctors, illustrated journal
illustrated journaling
1 Comments Published by Dave on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 5/16/2010 08:07:00 AM.
What do the doctors do while I'm waiting?
I bet they are in the back room drawing too!
I do wonder why they have me arrive at 9:15 when they know they will not see me until 10:30. And don't get me started on the paperwork...I wrote my address on three separate forms. Don't they have a copier?
...dave
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. - John W. Gardner
I bet they are in the back room drawing too!
I do wonder why they have me arrive at 9:15 when they know they will not see me until 10:30. And don't get me started on the paperwork...I wrote my address on three separate forms. Don't they have a copier?
...dave
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. - John W. Gardner
Labels: illustrated journal
Veranda Greek Taverna
2 Comments Published by Dave on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 5/12/2010 05:24:00 PM.
Lemon Water...nothing like it refreshes.
We sat outside at the Greek restaurant last night waiting for our meal. It was a pleasant evening. Just a whisper of a breeze. After the waitress served the lemon water and went off to fetch our hors d'oeuvres, I sketched the water glass.
We talked with our guests staying with us for the TESOL class nearby and laughed at the events of the day.
By the time the waitress came back, I was watercoloring the glass. Since the illustrated journaling class I've become a bit bolder sketching in public. (Remember "It's only a sketch.") So when she came back she wanted to show it to the other servers in the restaurant. Then she took a few pictures of the sketch.
She was from Russia and spoke terrific English. She has only been here for 10 months! Of course, she majored in English before arriving in the United States, but still.
I added some of the text later in the day.
...dave
Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere. - Gilbert K. Chesterton
We sat outside at the Greek restaurant last night waiting for our meal. It was a pleasant evening. Just a whisper of a breeze. After the waitress served the lemon water and went off to fetch our hors d'oeuvres, I sketched the water glass.
We talked with our guests staying with us for the TESOL class nearby and laughed at the events of the day.
By the time the waitress came back, I was watercoloring the glass. Since the illustrated journaling class I've become a bit bolder sketching in public. (Remember "It's only a sketch.") So when she came back she wanted to show it to the other servers in the restaurant. Then she took a few pictures of the sketch.
She was from Russia and spoke terrific English. She has only been here for 10 months! Of course, she majored in English before arriving in the United States, but still.
I added some of the text later in the day.
...dave
Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere. - Gilbert K. Chesterton
Labels: illustrated journal
illustrated journaling
4 Comments Published by Dave on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 5/11/2010 11:52:00 PM.
I'm back to sketching now.
It's great to be back in the saddle after being away from sketching for sometime.
It doesn't mean I haven't been sketching at all, I have, but just not regularly in my personal journal. So here it is in all its raw form.
These were all done at a class I took from Marilynn Brandenburger at the Spruill Center in Dunwoody Georgia. I took the class to better hone my skills on mixing color, page layout, page balance (writing and images/sketches). All of these areas are part of what I do daily at work so I was glad for the opportunity to go to something local. (My employer was willing to pay for the class.)
Marilynn did a great job of stepping us through the process of blocking, layout, inking, and color balance. One of the bonuses was her education on tools and process. There were several in the class planning trips to other countries and wanted to sketch their journeys. One student is going to Jerusalem. So Marilynn even covered the logistics of a minimum travel sketch kit, what to bring and what to leave at home.
She started showing how to sketch and paint a humble radish. Then we went back to our desks and tried to do the same. Next we advanced to sketching an entirely different item, something we had not seen her sketch or paint (mine was a potato chip bag in my lunch). Next we took our sketch skills on the road and went into the "museum" outside the doors of the classroom of the art center. We tried to sketch sitting on little stools and balancing our tools on our laps. I found this to be most difficult. I really had to simplify my sketch kit down to the bare minimum. Next we sketched from a picture. Then finally on the last day we went into the wild outdoors and tried to sketch sitting in the shade. (The wheelbarrows and rake sketch.) One challenge, among others, was that water dries very quickly outdoors. I had to work fast. I couldn't dilly dally. Get the essence down and move on. "It's only a sketch!"
The running joke was: "Sketch quickly the bus is leaving for the next town."
As we tweaked our sketches and labored over small elements of the sketch she kept saying:
"Remember that you are just doing a sketch and not creating a masterpiece."
She taught us to get the essence down within 30-60 minutes.
"Your travel partner and tour group will not wait for you. It's only a sketch."
If you live in the area and are interested, here are her classes for 2010.
...dave
I draw like other people bite their nails. - Pablo Picasso
Theoretically Related Posts
It's great to be back in the saddle after being away from sketching for sometime.
It doesn't mean I haven't been sketching at all, I have, but just not regularly in my personal journal. So here it is in all its raw form.
These were all done at a class I took from Marilynn Brandenburger at the Spruill Center in Dunwoody Georgia. I took the class to better hone my skills on mixing color, page layout, page balance (writing and images/sketches). All of these areas are part of what I do daily at work so I was glad for the opportunity to go to something local. (My employer was willing to pay for the class.)
Marilynn did a great job of stepping us through the process of blocking, layout, inking, and color balance. One of the bonuses was her education on tools and process. There were several in the class planning trips to other countries and wanted to sketch their journeys. One student is going to Jerusalem. So Marilynn even covered the logistics of a minimum travel sketch kit, what to bring and what to leave at home.
She started showing how to sketch and paint a humble radish. Then we went back to our desks and tried to do the same. Next we advanced to sketching an entirely different item, something we had not seen her sketch or paint (mine was a potato chip bag in my lunch). Next we took our sketch skills on the road and went into the "museum" outside the doors of the classroom of the art center. We tried to sketch sitting on little stools and balancing our tools on our laps. I found this to be most difficult. I really had to simplify my sketch kit down to the bare minimum. Next we sketched from a picture. Then finally on the last day we went into the wild outdoors and tried to sketch sitting in the shade. (The wheelbarrows and rake sketch.) One challenge, among others, was that water dries very quickly outdoors. I had to work fast. I couldn't dilly dally. Get the essence down and move on. "It's only a sketch!"
The running joke was: "Sketch quickly the bus is leaving for the next town."
As we tweaked our sketches and labored over small elements of the sketch she kept saying:
"Remember that you are just doing a sketch and not creating a masterpiece."
She taught us to get the essence down within 30-60 minutes.
"Your travel partner and tour group will not wait for you. It's only a sketch."
If you live in the area and are interested, here are her classes for 2010.
...dave
I draw like other people bite their nails. - Pablo Picasso
Theoretically Related Posts
Labels: illustrated journal, sketch
Ah, class was over but it was hard to go.
I met so many new friends and had so many happy experiences.
On one of the last days of class I sat looking out of the 15th floor classroom window and in a poignant moment was touched by the beauty of it all.
Sorry to gush on so.
...dave
The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand. ~Frederick L. Knowles
I met so many new friends and had so many happy experiences.
On one of the last days of class I sat looking out of the 15th floor classroom window and in a poignant moment was touched by the beauty of it all.
Sorry to gush on so.
...dave
The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand. ~Frederick L. Knowles
I had a wonderful time in NYC. Just indescribable. Off the hook great.
I mean like, wow.
This was the first night there. After this, I just looked at books. Class demanded my full attention.
...dave
Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time. ~E.P. Whipp
I mean like, wow.
This was the first night there. After this, I just looked at books. Class demanded my full attention.
...dave
Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time. ~E.P. Whipp