This Is Not a Song

©2010 Steve Penberthy, This Is Not a Song
Watercolor on Arches 300-lb CP paper
9" x 14" (23 x 36 cm)

I was out sketching with the St. Louis Drawing and Painting Meetup Group for the St. Louis Public Library's "Not So Quiet!" lunchtime concert series.  It was a scorching-hot day, and the midday sun heated things in typical St. Louis summer fashion--it was 94 degrees and extremely humid.

This painting depicts a few members of the Bottoms Up Blues Gang band setting up their equipment.  Once they got set up, they did a quick sound check where the singer repeatedly sang "This is not a song, this is not a song, this is not a song, this is not a song" while the band warmed up with a three-chord blues progression.

I wanted to paint this because I was struck by the blazing-white umbrellas installed in this downtown plaza area, which provided shelter from the sweltering sun for the people who arrived early to get a shady spot (including me).

For this painting, I used a limited palette of raw sienna, burnt sienna, perm. alizarin crimson, ultramarine deep, and Payne's gray.  The shadow areas were created by mingling the alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue together on the paper wet-into-wet, which allowed the colors to mingle on their own.  I feel like I achieve a satisfactory color harmony that pulls everything together.

Watercolor Sketch - Lunchtime at the Public Library Concert, 9th and Locust, St. Louis

Lunchtime at the Public Library Concert, 9th and Locust, St. Louis
Watercolor and ink on Strathmore 140-lb CP paper
9" x 12" (23 x 31 cm)
©2010 Steve Penberthy

I sketched in downtown St. Louis over lunchtime and took in the St. Louis Public Library's "Not So Quiet! Concert Series." Today's entertainment was provided by the Bottoms Up Blues Gang, featuring vocalist Kari Liston, guitarist Jeremy Segel-Moss and Adam Andrews on harmonica. The BUBG plays a unique blend of originals and covers in the styles of Delta Blues, R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Blues-influenced Rock & Roll.

It was 94 degrees with a triple-digit heat index, but an occasional breeze, a shady spot, and some cold water kept the heat at bay.

Watercolor Sketch - Mississippi River south of Memphis, TN

Mississippi River south of Memphis, TN
9" x 12" (22.3 x 35.0 cm)
Watercolor and uni-ball micro pen in Canson Montval All-Media sketchbook, 90-lb CP paper
©2010 Steve Penberthy


This is the view looking towards Arkansas from the terrace at the National Ornamental Metal Museum, just south of downtown Memphis, TN.  The bridge at the right is I-55.

Had some great BBQ while in Memphis, and I'm looking forward to going back soon to take in more of the music scene there.