I am preparing for a summer abroad (stay tuned for a lot of travel sketches!), and while packing, I came across some sketches from various times at home. So, enjoy some scenes from OH-IO:
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Last summer, my family visited the Brandywine Museum (every illustrator should visit! #inspiration), then toured Philadelphia and Gettysburg. On our way back from PA, we went for a riverboat ride in Marietta, OH. Here are two marker sketches from the excursion:
I dug through some older sketches and found some I had done at the annual Greek festivals, both in Columbus and Savannah. I enjoyed meeting new people, enjoying baklava à la mode, touring the Orthodox churches, hearing great music and watching the dancing.
Festivals are great places to draw because one has to be quick, selective, and willing to talk about the drawings with passersby.
En route from Savannah to Mt. Gilead, I stopped in Charlotte to see David Černý's Metalmorphosis. It's good to see works in person versus in photos (not to mention the food trucks parked next to the sculpture...).
My art criticism professor shared this and I had to pass it along. If you can ignore the frequent close-ups of the judges, the performance is impressive. I love the integration of visual and performance art, and I know that it must have taken a lot of rehearsing.
A few weeks ago I took the ferry across the river and spent some time gazing back at Savannah as the sun was setting. Since I was alone, I decided to sing one of my favorite hymns:
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
A few days ago I was watching some distant summer lightning from a Savannah park bench, and again this passage from How Great Thou Art struck me.
The concept of the sublime is one that has fascinated me for a while, and my interest was recently rekindled reading a tiny bit about Lyotard's theories. The term refers to depicting overwhelming tragedy in a beautiful way. There is a conflict of interest as the viewer grapples with sadness, grief, and the elevation that comes from viewing something grand.
Turner's Snowstorm before the Port Entrance (translated)
I know I am guilty of diminishing the words 'awful' and 'awesome' (think Little Women), which should be reserved for the terrible, wonderful, and divine. If you catch me at it, just wink and say 'sublime.'
