Sketch for My Corner

Knowing school starts up again in a day or two I decided to get a sketch of my old corner: G&6th.  I spent many evenings after school on this spot hanging out with the Cushmans, Jamo, Arthur Pottie, et al and of course the girls, Julie Lynch, Judy Kelly (both lived across the street), Lydia.  I didn't have my leather coat or beret on today as I sat on my artist's stool with my back against a light pole and just took my time reminiscing and drawing away.  What a wonderful way to spend a morning.  A couple of friends passed by, admired my sketch and chatted a bit before going about their business.  A couple of school buses drove up; doing a dry run I suppose.  This sketch took about one hour to complete.  Please notice the linkage of darks and lights.  Try to avoid spottiness.  Remember we did the exercise of cutting black and white paper to reinforce this idea?  It is interesting to me that people respond so dramatically to black and white studies.  Although I had my watercolors with me this scene did not call for color.  I just needed to make a strong, accurate drawing and capture the light/dark pattern provided by sunlight and local colors, striving for balance, movement and linkage. I am very happy with this sketch.