This is a collection of small ink and pastel drawings of scenes that I like. Some are scenes that I remember while growing up in Chicago, while others are scenes that I have enjoyed here on Washington Island. Other drawings that appear in this show have been inspired by places I have visited with my wife, Cheena. Because I enjoy drawing fish, I have also included a couple of hand colored, limited edition fish prints. And of course, no art show is complete without a Chicago style hotdog portrait. Thank you for viewing my work.
Bob Anderson
Ink and Pastel Artist
As a native of Chicago, I have always been fascinated with the architecture of older buildings. As a youth, I did pencil drawings of just about every downtown Chicago landmark including the Prudential Building, the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower.
In that same vein, I am still drawn to the details of period buildings, and much of my current artwork reflects that interest. Although, I have done works ranging from botanicals and wildlife to football players, the majority of my work still revolves around structure drawings and their surroundings. I usually work from photographs of scenes I find interesting or soothing. From the reference photos, I proceed with a series of sketches. I make small changes that enhance the composition…move shrubs, add leaves or even change the season. Using a grid technique, I transfer the final sketch to a sheet of drawing paper that is suitable for both ink and pastels. After roughing in the scene/subject in pencil, I start the inking process using a technical pen. After completing the ink drawing, I begin applying pastels in thin layers. Each layer is blended and subsequently softened using a kneaded eraser. I do this very carefully so that some of the pigment of each pastel is left on the paper. The technique leaves color that is very transparent and allows the details of the ink drawing to show through. The final work is sprayed with a fixative, matted and framed and sold for millions of dollars.