Sunday, January 17, 2010

Abandoned Detroit IV


Foreclosures are rampant in Detroit because of the economy and the trouble with auto industries. This house is on Canyon in Detroit, one of many. It's in (or at the edge of) the Copper Canyon area, which used to be a bit of an upscale neighborhood.

Here's a new sketch of hubby.

Biker Buddy, Resting, by Mary Stebbins Taitt. Markers. Quick sketch. Click to view slightly larger. (Detroit artist at work.)

and another set of new sketches from last night:

Last night I was fooling around doing an experiment. I did a value study of BB's face in our normal diningroom lighting using markers and then colored it with markers. It's not a great portrait (it doesn't look as nice as he really looks!), but it was a good experiment. Click to view slightly larger.

12 comments:

Dick said...

It's very sad to see all those abandoned houses, maybe times will get better, let's hope.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I do hope times get better--I worry about the people who lived int hese houses--so many of them--where are they now?

Unseen India Tours said...

Oh this is so sad !! Nicely explained !!

Unknown said...

I like seeing your experiments. :)

It's incredible how bad the economy is in Detroit! It seems such a waste for those homes to be neglected. Very sad.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thank you so much! It is very sad.

I do enjoy experimenting. :-D

Anonymous said...

It's everywhere, even in Northern Oakland County. I hope it comes back...

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I sure hope so, Tony!!!

VP said...

Sad to see these houses, let's hope things will get better...
This time your experiment wasn't so nice to BB: may be it's the color, the B&W was better.
Keep experimenting, you have a very patient model!

merrytait said...

I don't like it either--it's hard to get the color right with markers. I'm just a beginner. I'll never be a great artist!

Lowell said...

I don't understand how you get as much done as you do...these great photos, beautiful paintings, books, poetry...you're amazing!

HGTV had a show about a young woman buying her first house in Detroit...she got a very good deal, I thought!

Have you ever heard of a Detroit architect by name of Liebman?

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I'm SUPPOSED to be working on my fellowship grant appliction, not painting and drawing.

Leibman? I'll have to look it up--BB probably know,s but he's not home--he's lived here all his life and I'm a relative newcomer.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I didn't find anything on my first try, I'll ask BB when he gets home.