Saturday, on an outing with the Urban Sketchers Berlin group (for the first time in a long time) was an eye opener. We met in the Moabit area of Berlin at the "Classic Remise" show rooms for antique cars. Initially I was under the false impression that it maybe a small collection of Rolls Royce's and jaguars but the place is packed to the rafters with all shapes and forms of cars from the early 1900's to the present day sports cars either to buy or rent. the place is a treasure trove which I won't be long revisiting.

Citroen and Jaguar (I'll have two of each)

The only regret i had was not spotting the ailing Ford companies 70's saviour, Ray Iaccoca's 'Mustang' (also the hero of  'the dukes of hazzard') until it was too late to draw it 

Recently commited to paper

 Using both sides of the sketch pad can leave interesting water marks, my brush is a new pentel waterbrush which had to be bought as I lost my brushes and pens on a recent trip to Ireland. I am very happy with the  resulting stronger colours and wetter working. still not recommending the expensive habit of losing materials though

 

 

 My hair would never be thick enough for anything like this guy with dread locks, happy with the small bleed onto the other page and the mood created by people facing away.

 

 

Well it is Valentines day shortly, must remember the flowers and chocolate.

 

Sleeping worker seen through two beards (working Title!!)

flying

On the Ryanair flight back to Berlin after the festive season spent in Dublin 

Umberella meeting of Urban Sketchers Berlin

'Urban Sketchers Berlin' Met up yesterday in the Market hall on Bergmann Strasse (I've always known it as this only to discover recently it's called 'Marheinekhalle'. We were a healthy sized group and it was great to met, in person, a few people whom I know only as three centimeter photos on the Internet. The weather was not at all conducive to drawing or painting of any form luckily the Markthalle has a roof and we all remained in doors.

Fruchthaus Lorenzen

 They were all very busy at the fruit stand but the boss gave me the luxury of a three minute pose

Some familiar and some not so familiar faces of 'Berlin Urban Sketchers'. While we are not quite Honk Kong's Umbrella movement we are moving with Umbrella's.

After a strenuous round of afternoon sketching there was a little trouble finding a restaurant that was both big enough for a group of our size, and interesting enough inside to give us all something to draw. In the end Cafe Josephine won our custom I ignored the decor and drew Werner, Annette and Christian. It was great to have the opportunity to met up with the group again and thanks top Katrin for organising it  

Organ grinders alive and well

Organ Grinders, (or "Leierkasten", "Lyre cabinet" men as they are referred to in German) are alive and well on the streets of Berlin but their monkeys have been stuffed. Here's one spotted recently on the train looking absolutely spiffing old chap.

taking a well deserved reading break

 Perhaps it is all in a name. I used to see organ grinders in Dublin when I was growing up but they are now a thing of the distant past, no longer to be seen. The name "Organ grinder" has negative connotations, and has had for quite some time. Where as It wouldn't necessarily bother if me if I heard the 'Lyre cabinet' man was coming around the corner... even if he was dressed very similar to Otto von Bismark...

'Lyre cabinet' man in front of Alexanderplatz station with a stuffed monkey

Proper Nouns

 People in  Places

Just People

People in Places with some Things

People in Places

could be Lassie

A look at people from place to place

Pencils at dawn,  10 minute sketches in diary

 On the Ubahn with the dog and the news paper

 Night and day train montage