Diary of a Stealth Sketcher

My Sketching Obsession: A 9 Year Challenge

December 9, 2016 by Carol Lambert 2 Comments

In 2007 I travelled to Palo Alto, where the trees grow tall.

Coming from South-Central Alaska, where most trees are short and we have limited species, I felt lucky to see the variety born of a warm climate.

Sketchbook in hand, I spied three towering pines, so close together they looked like one tree. How, I wondered, does anyone fit a tree that size onto a mere piece of paper? This is how my sketching obsession began.

First I drew the bottoms, then I drew the tops. I kept sketching, using different kinds of line, different drawing tools, trying to see the trees in their totality.

Spotlight: Two Modern Museums You Will Love

November 21, 2016 by Carol Lambert 1 Comment

Yes! Modern museums can thrill this classical painter.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the brand new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I also spent time in Palo Alto, CA, where I got to see the almost new (2014) Anderson Collection at Stanford University. If you plan to be near either of these modern museums in the future, I recommend them.

The Anderson Collection is housed in an airy, bright building next to the Cantor Arts Center, on the campus of Stanford University. Over 50 years, the Anderson family acquired outstanding examples of American modern and contemporary art. Now they generously share their collection with all of us. Admission to both the Anderson Collection and the Cantor Arts Center is free.

This brochure from the Anderson Collection shows some of Nick Cave’s wonderful “Sound Suits”, on display through August 14, 2017. If you enjoy fiber arts, modern sculpture, dance, and theater, you will want to see these.

Drawing Skulls, Animal and Human

October 21, 2016 by Carol Lambert Leave a Comment

A skull can be a treasure for an artist.

Skulls show us the intricate architecture of tooth and bone, the structures beneath skin and fur. They let us see how creatures live and die. We can use them to compare different species, and individuals within a species. To an artist whose work includes portraits, figures, or wildlife, a skull reveals essential truths.

I stay on the lookout for skulls to sketch.