Moments to sketch

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I sketch in my "dead" moments. Others read, look at their phones or stare through a window. During the school year, these come while having to wait somewhere while they do an activity. Today, while my daughter was in her dance class, I went to the bank, then I sketched one of the musicians playing drums!

A very quick one from yesterday

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Yesterday evening, again back in Gex, as always following my daughter around. But at least now days get longer and, when work allows it (because yes, I also take work with me...) I get to scratch some extra time for sketching! 
This one was made very quickly, because I had 30 minutes, and then the shortcut to the road I wanted to reach was closed, so I had to take the longer way. I had to put the alarm in my cell phone because time was really short. And I wait for my daughter, but I don't like to make her wait for me!
The public library in Gex. Old buildings in Gex are special, aren't they?

Back in Gex

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For various reasons, it's been a while since I been drawing in Gex on a Wednesday afternoon. Today, happily for me, I was back!! And because I was so eager and drawing fast, I was done well before having to pick my daughter up, and could sketch some of the other people who were also waiting for their significant ones. Two in one, I couldn't ask for more!

First, I dropped my daughter and went to the Promenade des Bergers Journans, a path that goes parallel to a little river (yes, Le Journans, you guessed it!). It is full of nature around, but just going down the steps to access the area I was captivated by the view of the chaotic old houses in Gex, and I stop right there to draw them...

When I was done I still had more than half an hour left. I decided to take it easy and wait for my daughter in the hall of the MJC, where she is taking her theatre classes. Over there, I found some others that were also early as I was. Some looked around, others at their phone, a young girl was reading a book... and me myself, I had a very productive afternoon! ;)

Rooftops

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Today we've had a taste of Spring. More than 10 degrees temperature, sun and snow melting down. Coming from last weeks' -10C, 10 C positive feels like it is really warm. This might not be ideal for the snow in the mountain, but it is way better for sketching, so off I've been! 

This afternoon, in Gex with my dad and my dog, showing my dad around the places I've lately discovered in the beautiful vieux Gex, I've ended up in the Passage de l'Abondance, where I was last October, today drawing it from another angle, and focusing more in the messy and ancient rooftops. And this one, with just the lines, as no color is needed to translate to paper the charming chaos of the rooftops in this little street.

And a couple of pictures that my dad took :)

And this is where I wait...

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This is the hall of the gym where my daughter goes dancing, and this is where I waited last Thursday when I sketched myself sketching, and also where I waited today. Now thinking if I will sketch next Thursday, or if I will instead bring work to do...

Waiting... 

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When you pass almost every afternoon driving your daughter around to her various activities, and have to wait for her to finish because driving back home and then again to pick her up is not a possibility... well, you do what you can to make time go faster!

Hotel Bellevue

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This afternoon, while my daughter was in her theatre class, I didn't have to go to the groceries, nor I had anything urgent from work to do, nor I had any important obligation... so I just went and had an infusion in the Hotel Bellevue, in Gex, and sketched until I had to pick her up. Yes, you can say it, what a life! :)

Mothers Talking

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Thursday evening, waiting for my daughter to finish her dance class, other mothers were waiting too :) They were talking, I was quickly sketching them.

Experimenting

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Wednesday afternoon. Gex. It is a bit too humid and rainy, and I feel lazy to draw outside. I go to a bar, and I try something else. Once there I think it is funny how often I drew in bars during my youth, and how little I get to do it now. So I enjoy the moment. It is early afternoon and the bar is calm. There's only few people who seem to be the habituals, as the bartender seems to know everyone by their name. Almost everyone watches the horse races displayed in the TV, and one of the clients wins 4 euros. Then is time for me to go. I ask the lady, and she kindly stamps my sketch. 

As a side note: This is an example on how inspiration works. Because without yesterday's drawing, I probably wouldn't have thought of trying this today ;)

Rooftops in Gex

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Another Wednesday afternoon in Gex, but today with my dog. 
In the morning we'd been in the mountain, so I thought he wouldn't mind some rest laying down next to me while I drew. But oh! how mistaken I was!! I got the first whining after 10 minutes! But this time, although he didn't remember the mountain but I did, I ignored him for a bit longer than usual, and then gave him a walk :)

This is the drawing I managed in the end. It's a spot I always walk by on Wednesdays and think, I should sketch this. Well, finally today I felt like it was the day.

And my nice dog, aka "the victim". He really looks bored, poor him :D

Washed out

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Today we've had the first real snow of the season. You can picture it: everything is white and calm and beautiful, and I am eager to go out and draw. Like every Wednesday afternoon, I have to go to Gex, so I plan to sketch something there. Everything seems to just fit: it is still snowing on my way on to Gex, I have an umbrella, snow is calm and easier to manage than water. I also know beforehand where to go, since some days ago I had discovered a nice spot while walking my dog during my daughter's dancing class. Like I said, everything is just OK.

But oh, when I get myself installed, which is no easy thing (imagine: the snow, my back-pack, the coat, the gloves, my stool... and the umbrella), some wind starts blowing... not too strong, but enough to move my umbrella which I am only keeping in place with my armpit. My sketchbook starts getting soaked in water. I discover that my marker does not work in too wet paper. I turn my stool a bit to at least partially stop the wind with my back. Of course part of my stuff fells down in the snow. I pick it. All OK again. I manage to start. My expectations of what I will manage to do get downer every passing second, but I am OK. It is fun. Then at some point it starts raining, and then yes, that's a mess. Everything is soaked in water. My umbrella never seems to be big enough, and ok, I end up managing something as dirty as the washed snow, and I run away as quick as I can!

Wednesdays in Gex

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As many mothers, I pass my afternoons driving my children around to different activities. Not every afternoon, but some. Wednesdays I have to go to Gex, one of the largest villages around, and which is like 15 minutes away from my home. Although I have time to go back at home, I prefer to stay in Gex to sketch. The Vieux Gex is beautiful, and I always discover amazing places. This one is a little passage that starts in the Rue du Commerce, a small rue where cars are not allowed, and which ends going up and up surrounding the Château de Gex, high in the hill in Gex, and right next to the forest. A really beautiful and quiet place.

Going towards winter

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I had happily forgotten what it is to sketch when it is cold. This afternoon, back in Gex as I'll be every Wednesday for a while, the 12 degrees Celsius reminded me of it. Yes, it is not that low, but after a bit sitting still, and when few days ago I was happy with my 25 degrees Celsius, well, it felt cool, at the very least!

This is a little square without a name, in Rue de la Fontaine, in the center of Gex.

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