We spent a lovely Canada Day long weekend in Kemptville, just south of Ottawa. It's pretty hard to sketch outside when you're scratching and swatting bugs left and right. I returned to Toronto with about 50 mosquito bites.

Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park

I made a quick trip to New York this past week, and we took a leisurely saturday wandering around Brooklyn.  Here is the Manhattan skyline, as seen from Brooklyn Bridge Park. What a gorgeous day it was to lie on the grass and paint.

Tequila Bookworm

I host a creative gathering called "Simply Sunday" every other sunday. The location changes every time, and this past week we met at Tequila Bookworm on Queen St. West. The interior was cozy and colourful, and on a whim I skipped the ink and went directly to my paintbrush. It was so fun and felt so free that I think I might be putting away my fountain pen for awhile.

Sliced

C. had an unexpected morning off work today, and so we braved the cold to go out for brunch. I've already had a late breakfast, so while he ate I whipped out my sketchbook and painted the building across the street, in which a gourmet sandwich place had recently moved into.  I like the contrast of the red bricks with the blue facade of the street-level cafe.

last night with Ames

Ames is, without a doubt, the cuddliest dog I have ever met.  He was adopted by a big and lovely family today.  Here he is nestled between us two humans on our last night together as a foster family.

Frizzzbee

Spending a few hours alone with Frizzzbee last week finally broke my dry drawing spell, and the closest things lying around were a ballpoint pen and a paper bag.

Aroma

Things have been busy lately and I've really been missing time for urban sketching.  I have, however, observed three new Aroma Espresso Bars opening up around my neighbourhood over the past month.  It reminds me of this drawing I did years ago, when there was only one Aroma in the Annex.

Toronto Urban Sketchers inaugural meet-up

I thought it was appropriate to start my first post here with my sketch from the inaugural meet-up of the Toronto USKers this past Thursday.  It was absolutely delightful to see everyone immediately whip out their sketchbooks and materials and get right down to drawing. Our waiter didn't even bat an eye!