 I did two straight days of adulting on so many different fronts, so when my friend Christina suggested lunch on Friday, I was more than ready. We both gave ourselves the beautiful afternoon off and had a leisurely lunch at Cafe Eclectic, enjoying the sunshine on the deck. Henry had a ball too, especially when our nice waiter brought him a plate of bacon. I did a sketch with the black waterproof DeAtramentis ink I'm using for M is for Memphis in a bent nib pen. We walked into the neighborhood afterwards and sat to sketch. For the second sketch I used my Ancient Copper ink by Diamine. It's water soluble, and I love it in the trees, but it's always a little more iffy on a building. I dove straight into the roofline without looking or measuring as well as I would have liked to once I screwed it up, but overall it's a fun sketch of a lovely day and a hillside of daffodils on a block I walk more days than not. So happy. And we had a lovely visit while we sketched. Afterwards Henry and I took a long loop through the forest at owl time as the sun was getting low. A perfect afternoon. 
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I'm still working slowly toward M is for Memphis. It's a mix of new sketches (the drummer at the I Am A Man mural, based on a photo Jude Dippold took when we were there a few years ago) and sketches from previous outings, like the sculpture and plaza I did with Memphis Urban Sketchers. It's fun to have a way to use some of my sketchbook images I'm proud of and also fun to be revisiting and sketching places around town. I've got a few days to work hard between a house guest and a visit to my sister, so I'm diving in. Obviously I is for I Am A Man, along with the IBC (International Blues Challenge) that's such a big deal for Memphis.
 We had a truly lovely week this past week, perhaps as cosmic atonement for the awful snow and cold, and I made the most of it. I've been outside sketching and lunching and walking and generally hanging out. Friday Jude and I had brunch at Cafe Eclectic. I get there a lot, but they're four blocks from my house, dog friendly, and are consistently willing to serve outdoors, unlike some places that shut it down no matter what the weather through the winter months. With a separation anxiety dog, I'm grateful for anywhere that lets me bring him to hang outdoors when the weather permits. For the afternoon we wandered around downtown, letting me take photos for the M is for Memphis book, and we ended up at the river for the late afternoon and sunset. This sketch was when the sun was higher, but the sunset put on a real show, and it was lovely to sit and watch. One of the best things about Memphis.  |
online store Martha Kelly is an artist and illustrator who lives and works in Memphis, Tennessee. Get occasional studio email updates. Categories
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