kitty, where did your head go?

Sketch from our lunch at BitterCreek Ale House. No matter where I sat at the table the cat's head was missing... sorry kitty. ;)

Corintian Column

View of an exterior column from the second floor of the Statehouse (looking south). This is the 'more ornate' Corintian column - Doric and Ionic columns are also used in the building. The acanthus leaves adorning the top were so busy and challenging to draw so I had to improvise!

American Elm Pots

I was honored when Lisa invited me to the first-ever Boise Sketch Crawl! Sketching in public was intimidating - at first - but soon I was able to rid myself of my shyness and start the ink flowing! We visited our newly renovated Capitol building. These wooden pots were made by Boise artists from the salvaged wood of the trees removed from the grounds (as told in Lisa's 'A Tale of Trees'). I loved their smooth lines and satiny sheen...

A Tale of Trees

A bit of history, and the reason I was so intrigued by these wooden busts.

It all began in 1887 with the completion of the Territorial Capitol. Aroung the perimeter of the bulding Ash an dElm were planted. In 1891 President Benjamin Harrison visited Idaho and planted a Water Oak tree in front of the Southwest corner of the building. In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt visited Idaho and planted a Rock Sugar Maple tree next to the Water Oak tree. In 1911 President William Howard Taft visited an dplanted an Ohio Buckeye tree next to the Rock Sugar Maple tree. In order to complete the current Capitol Building, the original Territorial Capitol Building was removed.

These trees graced the Capitol grounds for 120 years. In 2006 a decision was made to remodel the current Capitol Building and add new underground wings. This being the case, the trees would have to be removed. Representative Max C. Black, with the help of many other volunteers, salvaged the trees and distributed the wood to Idaho artisans. these artisans were able to diip a piece of the wood for themselves, in turn they were asked to make an item to be donated back to the Capitol building. As you walk through the Capitol you will see the amazing abilities of the Idaho wood artisans who took part in the wonderful project.

2010 Brings with it a new Era of SketchCrawlers to the Boise Area

Feb. 27th marked the first SketchCrawl Boise has seen in many years. I have wanted to participate in an International SketchCrawl for many years. This year I decided to start a Boise group. My hope is to see  artists from multiple disciplines come together on a specific day each season and bond. I want to see painters, printmakers, graphic designers, illustrators, sculptors and photographers all documenting the world around them in their own unique ways. I want to feel the collective energy from all these like minded souls.

Feb. 27th 2010 began with 3 artists meeting up at the newly remodeled State Capitol House. We explored, learned some of our city's history, and sketched....

 

 

I have more sketches I will post soon of the sculptures carved from the trees that were planted by our past presidents. As well as sketches from our lunchbreak.

I am looking forward to May 15th the date of our 2nd Boise SketchCrawl!