Monday, November 19, 2007

Sketching with Ronell


I belong to this online drawing community, EDM, with members from all around the world. It´s a great place to discuss drawing and general art issues with like-minded people, and to get some inspiration from other people´s work. I am one of few members in Sweden, though, and seeing how others on the list living close to each other go on sketchcrawls together every now and then, I feel a little off here in Stockholm at times. (A sketchcrawl is like a pub crawl, only skip the pubs and bring a pen.)

But sometimes life is so full of surprises! The other day I got an email from another EDM member, Ronell of Africantapestry, asking if I wanted to meet her in Stockholm, since she was coming up here for a few days. How likely is that to happen? Someone actually coming from France to Stockholm - in darkest November - wanting to meet and draw?

We decided to go get a coffee and do some sketching together Sunday evening. We talked a lot, and browsed through each other´s sketchbooks (hers is fantastic with glowing watercolors flowing freely over the pages - yummy!), talking about what we saw in ways that only initiated sketchbookers can, and had a great few hours at Café Gråmunken in Old town. We made a sketch each too - no, actually Ronell made two - from the interior of the café.

The internet is great. There´s a lot of nonsense out there, but here and there you´ll find real gems that make your life a little richer. Ronell is definitely one of them.

Ronell, it was so great to meet you and have a real art-chat and share some drawing time! I hope we can do it again some time!

17 x 22 cm, Lamy Safari with Noodler´s Lexington Gray and watercolours on Arches Satin paper.

29 comments:

Teri said...

Fantastic to meet another EDMer! It sounds like so much fun to meet her. I am surprised you got any sketching done with all the talk you two must have had. But you have a wonderful memory sketch.

juj said...

What a lovely sketch (that wall is so vibrant!) and what a lovely way to spend some time. It sounds like you 2 had so much fun. What a treat!

Jenny said...

Love your sketch with the emphasis on the brick wall. Very interesting!

It's wonderful that you and Ronell were able to meet and have time to chat and sketch. The scans of her sketches are so beautiful, so I can only imagine your delight in seeing the originals. And, vise versa.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Wow, two of my favourite artists together! How exciting. And what a stunning drawing Nina. Excellent.

dibujandoarte said...

WOW!!!! Andrea just said it for me! I'm REALLY sooooo happy for you both. by the way awesome sketch.

Anonymous said...

What a great time you two must have had -- So glad you could get together! And like the others already said: this sketch is awesome! I love the line work contrasting with the brick.

Anita Davies said...

Two of my most favourite bloggers and artists....Ooooh, I would have given my right boob to have been there with you both. (I need everything else)
Fabulous sketch...as always!

Deborah said...

Glad you had a lovely time and came away with a lovely sketch and a lovely memory.

Genine said...

I love this drawing!!!

It is amazing what how people from all over can become connected now.

I am so happy that you two got to spend time together sketching!

I too would love to have the opportunity to look through the actual sketchbook of both you and Ronell.

Anonymous said...

the sketch is beautiful and the meeting sounds wonderful. i dont see it happening in to me though. :P no one in edm from bangladesh or likely to come visiting. lol! Ever the optimist I live in hope that i'll be proved wrong!

caseytoussaint said...

What a wonderful sketch, Nina - it's so accurate, and the way you've brought out the brick wall. Stunning! - I'm so glad to hear that you and Ronell hooked up. I agree - the internet has enriched our lives in ways we are only beginning to suspect. I can't wait to see her sketches from the trip too.

PNH said...

It is such a treat to be able to work with someone who has the same interests "Grag the day"

joanieART said...

Lovely drawing...how fun to meet fellow EDMers and spend time drawing together. The wall, in color....brilliant!

Anonymous said...

Your drawing are Wonderful. Thanks for your comment on my blog. I'll come back on your blog, i think it's very nice , i just saw your last sketch this evening... Excuse me for my "dirty" english...

Joan Y said...

Thank goodness for EDM and our love for art that brought all of us together on the internet! What a fabulous time you must have had. Can't imagine a better combination of friendship, coffee, and drawing. Such a beautiful drawing and reminder!

Anonymous said...

Having had that same chance with a few other artist friends from around the world I know the excitement you share. Such fun! I usually have nothing to show, as I have talked the whole time.

Felicity Grace said...

Nina, hope you don't mind me answering here - thank you for the link, I'll look into those. (The whole range looks tempting!)

Anonymous said...

Nina, seeing your beautiful sketch brings it all back! I love the warm colour you put on the wall, it reminds me of the cosiness of the cafe. Thanks for a memory I will always treasure!
ronell

mARTa said...

Having had the opportunity to meet up with Ronell and Casey in France and Robyn in Florence, I can only say I know exactly what you are talking about! I have sat atop of pyramids, scaled mountain trails just to dangle my feet off a cliff and have marveled at the beauty of our world and the human connection surpass' it all! The internet truly has made our globe smaller and what a wonder when we come face to face with those we call online friends! Your and Ronell's sketches are beautiful and the joy of the meeting is clear in both! Maybe someday I'll come sketch with you in Stockholm?

José Louro said...

Yes i agree with you. We just meet here in Portugal with some friends from Spain who came trought the internet.
Its the good part of it.

Dee said...

Lovely sketch and what a great memory you and Ronell will always share. And how wonderful that the two of you have shared it with all of us. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Lovely work here. I came from Ronell's blog and so happy to find you.

Bill Sharp said...

Nina, I love your work and it's especially fun to see you've met up with Ronell. Great sketch.

Desiree's Designs said...

Wow, it sounds like you had such a wonderful time, I love your sketches. I am so glad you had the opportunity to meet up with her and sketch. Great story on both blogs

Serena Lewis said...

I've just come from Ronell's blog and I think it's great that the two of you were able to meet up. Your sketch is beautiful, Nina!

Making A Mark said...

Good to see two more bloggers meeting up. Great sketch

Judybec said...

You seem to easily find the right place for your line with no wavering. Lovely job and interesting focus of color!

Great to hear that you and Ronell were able to meet. Cool!

Making A Mark said...

Hi Nina - you've been spammed. The title of this thread - which i recognised came up on one of My Google Alerts (set up to catch spammers)

The spam blog in question is
http://caa2e.handigu.com/

and it then has Sketching-with-Ronell/
after the forward slash.

You can serve a notice on Google Ad-Sense if you want because they've got AdSense adverts on there - as the spam blogs always do!

Anonymous said...

Well, Nina, the new Blogger change to comments ticks me off horrendously! I love commenting on yours and other blogs, but not going to go anonymous.

Your time with Ronell sounds wonderful! Glad you got to get together!