One wedding and a funeral
A week and a half ago, my husband and I traveled to see loved ones. We started in California where we celebrated a friend’s 30th birthday and elopement at the couple’s new home. A few days later we were in Wisconsin, comforting and being comforted by our family underneath fluorescent church lights and over cold ham rolls. It was wonderful to spend quality time with people we care about so deeply, and it’s bittersweet to know it will be a while before we can see them again. My heartstrings are still being pulled.
I didn’t think I’d have the time, desire, or space for my sketchbook and almost didn’t pack it.
On the last Wisconsin evening before coming home, I sat on the back deck of our Airbnb. It was the third time we stayed here with my husband’s family in under a year, and each time we gathered it was to celebrate the life of a beloved grandparent. It was the last time we’d be in Racine for the foreseeable future, and I hoped sketching the view of church spires from our backyard would help process my grief.
A few nights before, we sat around the coffee table at the birthday boy’s new house. I felt expressive, and did a live sketch with gouache. The mood was light as we laughed, drank, and debated the strength of vegans and what makes food sustainable. Back in Racine, the mood was somber, reflective, and peaceful. I sketched with blue and red colored pencils until the sun fell and the mosquitos began to swarm.
Our grandparents lived long, and they lived well. They too enjoyed their friends, their family, and their homes. As I looked up at the church spires, I hoped they were looking at us too.
Pros for sketching with red and blue pencils: 1). They capture values easily, and 2). They don’t take up a lot of room.
A sketch of our friend Dimitri (whose dad is vegan and strong enough to fight anyone).
I overworked this sketch, but I hadn’t made a live drawing like this in years. I’m proud of myself for being vulnerable and for getting back in the saddle.
As always, thank you for reading and be kind to yourself,
