I’ve started a new assignment and have a lot of background reading to do (which I don’t find to be very exciting)…so I rewarded myself by doing this sketch (in the clubhouse of the development where we live), after I’d gone through a 70 page document and made notes.
Thu-26-Jun-2025
This day I was trying to start my day in a better way. Rather than doomscrolling, I sketched this view from our balcony (as I have done several times before – see sketch No. 1424), while I had my morning coffee. I took off the washi tape border for this one as I wanted to fill the paper with the lush greenery.
Wed-25-Jun-2025
I sketched this while I went along with my wife who was having a consultation in PGH. As a man, I had to wait in a separate are as otherwise (I was told), I might see (peep?) into the ladies examinations rooms.
Sat-21-Jun-2025
I had just enough time to do a quick sketch on our way back home – and I could’t help but think what a pleasant clean and spacious airport it was in South Korea – we certainly experienced the opposite when we arrived at NAIA terminal 1.
Sun-15-Jun-2025
Here is my last sketch in Canada – and the first sketch in a new Sketchbook (still using Umae hot press paper). I missed sketching the day before this as we were too busy with shopping, visiting the Esker Gallery and packing. With a midday flight it was an easy start to the day, but WestJet still insist that each bag weighs 23k or less, despite us having far less weight overall…so again we were those unfortunate people you see frantically repackaging in front of the check-in desk! That grey blob on the plane, splashed onto my painting from another sketch!
Sat-14-Jun-2025
Here is my last lake sketch…some people who look at my sketches, may be relieved! On this day we did a hike to Grassi Lakes, but it was raining so I didn’t sketch there. We then ended up at Barrier Lake (which is actually a manmade reservoir) having been turned away from one spot because of the G7 meeting which was being held in Kananaskis starting on the 15th. We had our packed lunch here and then went for a short walk.
Thu-12-Jun-2025
On this day we took a long drive up to Jasper National Park (seeing three bears – but not Goldilocks – and a deer on the roadside on the way up) to go on the Ice-field Experience where we got to walk on the Athabasca glacier, driven there in huge snow coaches. This vintage yellow snow coach was sketched at lunch and was one of the first used to take tourists onto the glacier. We then went on the Skywalk (a glass floored observation platform) and visited Sunwapta and Athabasca falls.
Wed-11-Jun-2025
I did this sketch after our walk back down from Lake Agnes, I had stiff legs and sat in an awkward position which I don’t think helped me sketch well. And then I thought maybe I have sketched too many lakes in one day? As I was sketching this, the light changed the colour of the water, going from bright turquoise/cobalt green when the sun was shining, to dark viridian/blue green when the sun went in.
Tue-10-Jun-2025
After Moraine Lake we drove to Lake Louise and luckily found a parking space. We then walked from Lake Louise up to Lake Agnes, going past Mirror Lake. There were all types of walkers on the trail – some with very serious looking hiking gear, and some out for a stroll and completely unprepared! That day I did 22,000 steps – the hike had easy gentle slopes but it was a long one.
Tue-10-Jun-2025