Continuing with my travel sketching adventures with Suhita…

After our short visit in Wroclaw we had a few days in Warsaw. I really loved Warsaw and found it very sketch-able!

There was the city wall with multiple layers.

Lots of interesting buildings at different angles and with ‘good volumes’.

And there were so many interesting street views.

The main square in the old town was nice but I was more interested in the side streets!

On the first evening we sketched during dinner. I started borrowing Suhita’s Tombows but as I didn’t know the colours I ended up adding a few additional layers to adjust the hue.

We were staying opposite the city wall with a great view of it so on the first morning we sketched from the window. I did two versions – for the second one (included above) I pulled out my Poscas which I hadn’t touched since my time on the Isle of Lewis!

A quick ink and graphite sketch later in the morning completed the double-page spread.

I borrowed Suhita’s markers again and did this very experimental sketch alternating between marker and Neocolor. It’s so much fun to work in this way!

I then found two buildings which were really fun to sketch!

There were so many interesting corners and views in the old town.

Here are a few photos of the churches and domes of this part of Warsaw.

After lunch we caught up with Paulina – one of the Poznan Symposium team! It’s interesting to see a progress photo of my sketch showing how I was adding a lavender marker over a pink Neocolor shape.

Here is the finished version!

We then caught up with Marek and some other local and visiting sketchers – and learned about the Warsaw uprising and how the Polish Resistance used the sewers to escape. 

A slower start the next morning with a little time in a local cafe. I loved the yellow cups!

And here is a photo of the two of us.

It was time to leave the Old Town even though I could have happily sketched there for our entire visit! We ended up heading for the University.

We had heard about the roof garden on the top of the Library.

It was a cool place – very different from what I was expecting. Lots of interesting textures and shapes.

A shape-first sketch (using tempera sticks) before it started raining. 

After lunch at a nearby bakery I did these two Necolor II sketches from our spot at a window seat.

Then back to the Old Town and sketching one of the street views (in very windy conditions!)

We ran into Isabel and MaOdeparis at dinner time…

and then ended up doing some night sketching!

I used lots of Indanthrone Blue in this sketch.

So much fun!

My last morning in Warsaw…

 
Back at the local cafe.

And another street view sketch.

There was time for one more sketch before I left for the airport so we returned to sketching the city wall.

And oh! I did a second sketch – using ink and Neocolor II and alternating between line and shape.

Thanks Suhita for a truly wonderful time sketching and chatting about art!