I got a commission to paint the Beale Street signs at twilight. It's taken me a while to get down there in the evening -- I've been just covered up with meetings and trips lately and had very few evenings free. I went down a while ago to start the drawing in the quieter daylight hours, and last night, Elmore went down with me to have a beer and hang out while I painted with the early evening light I needed to finish up. It's always cacophany down there, with street bands vying for attention from the tourists, but it's kind of fun for a short period of time. I also enjoy the Beale Street regulars who always come up to chat and see what I'm doing. There's a neat local culture down there underneath all the tourist crowds. But I was also glad to get back to my quiet home and clawhammer banjo once I was finished.
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6/1/2012 06:25:53 am
Looks good, we have an one a year event goin on this weekend in my town. It's loaded with people, I hope i can catch some sketches in, though I'm bot used to groups of people, any tips?
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Martha
6/1/2012 01:32:15 pm
Thanks, Benjamin! People are hardest for me. I read on Richard Sheppherd's blog (he had a great farmers market sketch a little while ago) that he tries to spot people deep in conversation so they'll stay put a little longer than the folks just drifting through. Sometimes I have people that end up being a composite of several people who drifted past. I also draw first in pencil and then ink over the top when I'm at least halfway satisfied with a gesture or stance. Usually I have to remember colors for later, since they don't stick around too long.
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![]() online store Martha Kelly is an artist and illustrator who lives and works in Memphis, Tennessee. Get studio email updates from Gideon and me. To subscribe to this blog, by email: Archives
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