This is one of the oldest parts of town and it’s right near the St. Lawrence Market.  I still struggle with drawing cars but I’ve learned to start with ovals and that helps get the gist.

City Bakery is a nice independent bakery/coffee house right on the edge of downtown.  I like it for good pastries and a relaxed place to sit and draw.  They come to you!

I had lost my sketch book after this drawing and was real disappointed that I almost filled it up and now lost a years worth of work.  Thank goodness that I put my e-mail info and a nice gentleman contacted me and reunited me with it.  This sketch is a down shot which is rare for me as I don’t look down much…which is important as an artist to get all point of views and perspectives.  Though I love how I drew the tire on the car closest to us in a different perspective.  I always loathe drawing cars as they require such precision and detail.    Often I can only draw boring boxy cars and when I try to get sleek or interesting, they fall apart.  That’s why I guess I was never a automobile designer.  I do respect those designers as it is my weakest trait.

The Grove Arcade is a wonderful Neo-Gothic style with some interesting shops.  This is the first time I just sat and drew inside.

This is the Old World or Old European Cafe or something like that.  It’s usually crowded and the service is slow, so it’s rare that I go in.  But it has a great window seat as you are literally sitting in a bay window elevated so you can see everything.  This was a quick night sketch which is always a challenge since you have to render lights and subtle darks with quick cross hatching.  It was a hot humid night and a nice quick down pour came in.  When I feel lonely and isolated, sitting in a nice comfortable seat in Asheville helps alleviate the blues.

The Grove Park Inn is a wonderful escape.  Located on top of Asheville it was built in the early 1900′s and has seen multiple U.S. presidents and celebrities visit.  I love the big fire places that bookend the cozy and spacious lobby.  I tend to spend entire Sundays there as they sell the NY times.

I always wanted to visit Monticello ever since I saw it on the back of the nickel.  Jefferson has facinated me when I studied the Lewis and Clark expedition.  I didn’t realize how much the third president has contributed to this country…good and bad.  Monticello was a paradox in that it celebrated the rational and scientific man, but at the same time was run by slave labor.  Jefferson ultimately fell on hard economic times and his entire estate was lost to bankruptcy.  Along with his farm, Jefferson designed the University of Virginia campus and it is a true gem of neo classical architecture.

Ottawa is a nice blend of architecture, nature and size.  It’s not a big imposing capital like Washington or London, but it’s not your typical bland non descript one as well.  Parliment Hill is a hybrid of English and French style of neo gothic and normand influences.  I usually attend the animation festival in October, but this year Ann and I went there in the summer.