Greatest Hits

Coming up to six months since I established this blog, I thought that the audience might like to know which posts have been viewed the most. The view of the Tuileries from Place de la Concorde in Paris (top sketch) has received the most hits, followed closely by the sketch of Paris' L'Arc de Triomphe (middle sketch). The most hits in one day goes to the watercolor of Bunny's Liquors in Urbana, IL (bottom sketch). Now, how does one explain the audience's interest? Some of it has to do with the subject matter of the sketches, I suppose; or it might be the medium that the drawing was done in; or it could be the style of the sketching technique. In order to make it easier to find a type of sketch or technique or media, I recently added more labeling gadgets.

Place des Vosges

Another sample of a page from my Paris sketchbook. Views of Place des Vosges, some of which were previously posted. Felt tip marker on Canson tracing paper, approximately 8 1/2" by 11" original size, done October, 1971.

Place Charles de Gaulle

A sample of one of the pages of my Paris sketchbook showing views of the Arc de Triomphe, one of which was previously posted. Felt tip marker on Canson tracing paper, approximately 11" by 8 1/2", done October, 1971.

Boulevard Saint-Michel

Two scraps of drawings from my Paris sketchbook, each no more than 2" by 3" original size, of the Boulevard Saint-Michel. Felt tip marker and pencil on paper, drawn on site, October, 1971.

L'Opéra Garnier

A sketch of the Paris Opera, approximately 4" by 3" original size, felt tip marker on tracing paper, done April, 1972, with color depth reduced later.

Café

There had to be a self-portrait sooner or later. A sketch of my reflection in a mirror at a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare. Dry tip marker on paper, approximately 4" by 7" original size, done April, 1972.

Café Bar

A view of a server at the bar of a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. Dry tip marker and felt tip marker on paper, approximately 4" by 6" original size, done April, 1972.

Café

Another view of patrons in a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare. Dry felt tip marker on paper, approximately 4" by 6" original size, done April, 1972.

Café

A view of patrons in a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. Dry felt tip marker on paper, approximately 5" by 7" original size, drawn on site April, 1972.

Café

Sketch of a patron in a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare. Dry tip marker on paper, approximately 7" by 9" original size, done April, 1972.

Café Bar

A view of patrons at a café bar near the Gare Saint-Lazare. The top sketch was drawn quickly on site and the bottom sketch is a cleaned up version of the top sketch done later. This café was all mirrors and neon lighting. Dry tip marker and felt tip marker on paper, approximately 7" by 8" each, original size, done April, 1972.

Café Bar

A sketch of patrons at a café bar near the Gare Saint-Lazare. The top sketch was drawn quickly on site while the bottom sketch is a cleaned up version of the top sketch. Dry tip marker and felt tip marker on paper, approximately 7" by 8" each, original size, done April, 1972.

Place Charles de Gaulle

Back to the right bank of Paris with a sidewise view of the Arc de Triomphe. Drawn on site in felt tip marker on tracing paper, October, 1971.

Place de l'Odéon

A rapid sketch done on site with the Odéon Theatre on the left. This Parisian public square reminds me of the Piazza della Rotonda in Rome, which also has a somewhat lunette shape in plan, but with the Pantheon as the focal point. Original size: approximately 3" by 3", felt tip marker on tracing paper, October, 1971.

Place de l'Odéon

Another approach to the place with the Luxembourg Garden in the distance and one side of the Odéon Theatre on the left. Original size: 3" by 4". Drawn on site with felt tip marker on tracing paper. October, 1971.

Place de l'Odéon

One of the least known (at least to Americans) Parisian public squares. A view down the Rue de l'Odéon toawrd the Odéon Theatre. As is typical in Paris, there is a vista pointing to a landmark, which is part of the architectural experience of the square. A rapidly drawn sketch, done on site, felt tip marker on trace, approximately 3" by 3" original size, October, 1971.

Boulevard Saint-Michel

A quick study done at a café, probably Le Lutèce. Felt tip marker on tracing paper, 2" by 3" original size, October, 1971.

Boulevard Saint-Michel

A sketch in front and under the awning of the papeterie Gibert Jeune on the Boulevard Saint-Michel in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Drawn on site in October, 1971; felt tip marker on tracing paper. Original size: approximately 5" by 4 1/2". As an aside, all of my tracing paper drawings were done on a sketch pad called a Croquis-Échelle Canson. This pad had a printed grid that I could tuck under the sheet of trace in order to assist in scaling and proportion.

Le Marais

This elevation of a student project that I worked on during my study in France in 1971 had the lofty title of "International Center for the Study of Diplomacy." The site was in the Marais district of Paris, near Place des Vosges. The building was a boomerang shape in plan that surrounded the Hôtel Salé (which much later housed the Musée Picasso). Ink and pencil on vellum (with Ock D. Eng); sepia tone added to image in 2011. Original size: 24" by 18".

Place des Vosges

One of the arcades in the place. Drawn on site, original size: 3 1/2" by 3 1/2", felt tip marker on trace, October, 1971; and posterized using Moodboard in 2011.