When I first moved to Davis at the end of 2005, my wife told me about this cool thing she’d read about called ‘Sketchcrawl’, and that it was happening all over the world on the same day, and that there would be one in Davis organized by some local sketchers sketching the ‘Arboretum’ (another word that entered my vocabulary). I shyly met with a group of sketchers all buried in sketchbooks at Mishka’s cafe on a chilly morning and followed them to the Arboretum, by the creek, where evryone panned out and sketched away until it was too cold to do so. It was great, and though I didn’t draw outside for several months afterwards, and didn’t join another sketchcrawl for even longer, it was my first ever sketching day in Davis – the first of a great many. So for this latest Let’s Draw Davis sketchcrawl I was eager to show other people what a great place the Arboretum is to draw, but also to see for myself how my sketching has changed in the past five and a half years.Below is the same scene as above, sat in almost the same spot, but with my now differing styles.
- the same scene in december 2005
And below, here I am with Moleskine #7. More sketches to come!
petescully 
That bridge and I have history.
How interesting to see the 2 sketches and how your style has evolved! Also, lucky you to live where it’s already kind enough outside to sit outdoors and sketch. nancy
thanks!
I enjoy your blog tremendously and really, really like your work. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Jane
cheers!
What development and improvement. Gives me hope for myself!
thank you!
Terrific to see your progress, what a great idea!
thanks!! i am surprised i haven’t drawn this particular view more often. I suppose it’s a good way of measuring progress/change in style, doing the same scene.
For sure – I’ll have to try it!
Great post Pete, of real value to young and aspiring artists to see the payoff of diligence. I have to say your drawings make the Davis area quite appealing. Come up to Chicago sometime when you’re ready for a bit more grit. Cheers.
cheers Don! Yes, a bit of grit would be nice to sketch. Still I’ll sketching the Mission in SF on Saturday, which has some grit.