Flowers in Market Square - May 9

This sketch was done today, based on a photo I took last week.

A YEAR OF DAYS -- Happy Mother's Day!

With love and hugs to my biggest fan, without whom there would be no paintings and no ME... Sending you much love on Mother's Day... xoxoxo

At the Sleepless Goat

I suffered mug envy. Feeling better now.

S&R Department Store

The whole city is mourning the demise of this famous store, which is closing after 50 years. It still has wooden floors and real live elevator operators, and is a warren of odd-shaped rooms that sell everything from groceries to hardware and prom dresses. These days, every time the name "S & R" is mentioned there is a little pause, and the speaker and listener look stricken. The store is scheduled to close in July--the end of an era.

Repairing a Brick Wall

I tried to get some reference photos of this man fixing the wall in our stairwell, but he didn't speak much English and I don't speak any Italian--and my pantomimes didn't work. He just kept beaming at the camera, so I drew him that way!

Fire Engine - May 6

Procedure for responding to sirens under your window: (1) Climb onto arm of sofa for better view and gawk into street. (2) Establish that you aren't actually in danger and in fact the fire trucks are already starting to leave. (3) Grab camera and take photos while taking care not to fall out of window....(4) Sketch! Click here to see the (blurry) photos.

Market Square on Sunday Morning

I had the "best seat in the house" at Sipps on Sunday morning--right in the front window. The coffee shop was full of cadets and officers in uniform (see previous post), and to my left was Market Square. It was perfect for sketching!