On location at the Gate of Harmonious Interest
pencil, ink, and watercolour sketch
©2025 Charlene Brown
A couple of weeks ago I participated in the
Plein Air Challenge organized by Opus Art Supplies. I only had time to complete
the first two steps of the sketching procedure demonstrated by our instructor,
Peter Loebel. It was a hot day and there were a couple of cruise ships in town and
the shady side of Fisgard street was so crowded it wasn’t possible to find a
place to sit down ̶ and that’s my excuse for the shaky drawing.
The next steps, erasing the pencil lines and adding crayon and watercolour when I got home, didn’t tidy it up much so I decided to try a larger
painting beginning with more carefully drawn pencil and ink. I eventually decided I lack the steadiness or
patience to do anything carefully, but here’s the result.
Heading over to Fan Tan Alley
ink, crayon and watercolour
©2025 Charlene Brown
The title of this painting refers to the
pedestrians crossing Fisgard Street, heading toward Fan Tan Alley, the
narrowest commercial street in North America. (It’s .9 meters wide.)
