Memorial Day in Washington DC.
My husband and I spent a long Memorial Day weekend with our son, his wife and our 3 year old grand daughter Annabelle in Washington DC. When she was born, I started a sketchbook for her and I routinely fill one page each day that we visit. It is part travel sketchbook and part visual journal of our days together. I completed 4 pages during this visit and I'm including them in this post. Prior pages can be seen by clicking on the Washington DC category at the bottom of the right-hand side bar.
The sketchbook is a 10" x 7" Cachet Linen watercolor sketchbook - the same one that I used for all of our trips to London. I can work on both sides of each page, but there is a little buckling that you can see when the page is scanned.
We watched the Pixar movie "Cars" our first morning and she requested that I draw and paint "Mater."
We took Annabelle to the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall and while my husband took her through her favorite simulators, I sketched an aerial airplane and painted it later from a photo I took.
One morning I took Annabelle to buy art supplies and thought that she would love using the Crayola Paint Brush Pens. But after she used the first one, she insisted on using the other new brushes and Crayola pan watercolors I bought - and I couldn't convince her that the brush paint pens weren't markers!
It was really hot in DC all weekend, and Annabelle spent several hours with one of her friends in an Arlington playground with lots of waterplay. I sat in the shade and did quick sketches of her, pail in hand, to record the event.
Comments
I love your sketches of your granddaughter - isn't it wonderful how each time you look at a sketch, the memories of that moment come back- together with the feelings you experienced! Far better than photographs.
Posted by: Margaret | June 2, 2011 3:44 AM
What a treasure you have created for your granddaughter. You make me want to be a better grandmother.
Posted by: Sandra Torguson | June 2, 2011 10:37 AM
What a wonderful idea, a sketchbook of the grands. I might have to take up this idea myself as mine live far away and I see them less often than I like. Thanks for sharing your trip.
Posted by: Zoe | June 2, 2011 12:42 PM
MATER!!! =) Like Tomato without the Te
Love the sketches.
Posted by: Alex Tan | June 2, 2011 6:02 PM
The sketches of your grandaughter are so lovely and sweet!
Posted by: Cathy Holtom | June 3, 2011 7:21 AM
Shirley, I want to take a few moments this morning to thank you for all your sketches of the museums and other goings on in New York. They are fascinating and you are lucky to have all the opportunities available. And your sketches are SO well done. Thanks for sharing these parts of your life.
Posted by: Sandy in Michigan | June 5, 2011 6:40 AM