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Thursday, May 31, 2007

Memorial Day Weekend




Memorial Day morning at Knoxville National Cemetery, which adjoins the historic Old Gray Cemetery in downtown Knoxville. I had to go into work for a couple of hours, but did so early enough that by the time I got off the sun was clear up and beautifully bright, and before the arrival of the daily haze we've had in the heat this past week. This monument is known as The Tennessee Monument, The Wilder Monument, or the Union Soldier Monument -- depending on what source you use.



Note: For more information about the monument at the Knoxville National Cemetery, click HERE for a rather interesting history, and, amazingly, the only photograph of the monument I could find on line. I think I'm going to fix that problem, and will be posting a photo soon! If you read the information, you'll note that I took a bit of artistic license with the monument, shortening the tower by about the height of the figure, in order to get the bits I wanted to fit on the page. I wanted to get the top against the sky -- the arches with the door and wreath -- and, most importantly, the nearby bright red, white, and blue flag.









And here are some Canadian geese along with their latest addition at Norris Lake on Sunday. There were several families with baby geese, and they were so cute! Ma and Pa Goose stayed close by, and didn't hesitate to take turns hissing at anyone or anything that came too close to Baby Goose. Since it was a holiday weekend the lake was MUCH too crowded for our taste. Still, we went out to do some start-of-season cleaning and maintenance on the boat and had to take just a short run up the lake and back. NEXT weekend, if the weather holds, we'll be out on the water playing! I do love summer ...



The technical bits: I did this with 2B and 6B pencils in my new Raffine sketchbook -- the very large one (10.4 " x 15.2"). There's not been enough time yet to pass judgement on this sketchbook -- the paper seems a bit more textured than what I'm used to, but I do love the size! However, it doesn't fit onto the scanner, so I had to use the camera, and found that it's much easier to photograph a watercolor than a graphite drawing. I had to adjust the contrast some to get these to look right, and this is as close as I could get it!



19 comments:

Teri said...

Beautiful sketches Linda! So glad you finally tried the Raffine. I do get a commission you know :) I like the thickness because it takes so much abuse. And there are times that I really give it abuse.

Thanks for thinking of me.

Jan Allsopp said...

What a strange but interesting looking monument. I had to look at the photo on your link just to check if all your drawing skills hadn't suddenly left you and you'd done something weird - but no, it's not you, it's the monument!

Kate said...

Wow. Really amazing drawings. I love the splash of color you used on the flag.

Karen Sandstrom said...

Oh, my. I just caught up with your adventures in the art show. You guys are great.

Unknown said...

Wonderful drawings Linda.

Lin said...

GORGEOUS, Linda -- absolutely GORGEOUS!

Bonny said...

Love the Geese! I saw some the other day but, a you said, they don't let anyone near when there is a Gosling. This guy was trying to get close enough to take a photo, but he should have left well enough alone. He just chased the Geese into the water, thereby spoiling a look for a few other people.

Anonymous said...

Very nice geese. We have so many geese around here and I have tried to sketch them many times, but they rarely stay still for long...

mrana said...

Beautiful sketches! I really like the way you've added colour to just the flag. And congratulations on the art show and awards!

Cin said...

I love to draw statues, they hold still so nicely but this would definitely give me pause, such a difficult perspective to tackle and with elipses too! Bravo for braving it, it turned out very well!

Penny said...

Love these drawings, I really like the way you did the monument.
Congratulations on your art show success.

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

I enjoy both photo's. You not only have detail but a loosness going on...

Jane LaFazio said...

Lovely work, Linda. The memorial day image is quite moving, with only the flag in color. And good for you sketching those cute geese. You must work quickly!

Brenda Yarborough said...

Outstanding drawings and I, too, really LOVE the flag being in color!! What a statement!!!

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

Lovely drawings Linda...I love the little touch of color on the Tennesee monument. you have some lovley details on the monument drawing!
Ronell

Laureline said...

Looking at these makes me long to go out on a sketching expedition! It's been so long since I was able to. Glad to see your wonderful work again, Ms L.

Jana Bouc said...

Great sketches! They're both wonderful but I just love the baby geese. They are so cute!

mARTa said...

hey Linda! really fine sketches! Your work is so diverse....I love coming to visit and getting a surprise!

Chuck Rose said...

Hey Linda,

The drawing at the cemetery really brings back memories for me. I went to school at UT a LONG time ago.

The style reminds me of Laura's. That's a compliment!

Nicely done.