The great
Ronald Searle passed away last week - my correspondence with him will be sorely missed but his influence on my work will remain. We didn't meet often enough that I would consider him a mentor but I was able to show him some of my drawings and get advice from this master of reportage. He was always encouraging and positive about my work-the fact that he was even interested was astounding to me!
Out and about over the holidays I managed to make some quick location sketches around Portland, Oregon. These were done rapidly, on the hoof, as it was a lot colder and wetter up north!
Vignette views of downtown Portland
Free standing wall in the Pearl District
'The Steel Bridge'
'The old oak'
Native American lodge recreation at Ridgefield
Back in San Francisco I passed a couple of days in and around Chinatown where I was able to make longer studies. I've learnt a lot from studying Searle's location sketch work and always have him in mind when I'm drawing. The example he set of sheer discipline and prolific output keeps me going on the days when I think I suck or can't be bothered!
Grant Avenue
Fruit & veg market on Grant & Pacific
Washington & Grant
Cable car intersection at California & Powell
McTeagues on Polk St.
