The other day I decided that it was too nice to stay inside playing with my video games and other indoorsy activities, so I went to the park. Here is a transcript of some writing I did that afternoon.
Today I am spending the afternoon at Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park. Please forgive the pencil writing, but I seem to have misplaced most of my pens. It is a sunny, warm day to be enjoyed by the beautiful people of Oakland and not by doughy pale bastards like myself. Too bad for them.
I need to try and relax. The job has not been going too well as of late. I discovered this morning that the company has been docking me two hours every week for lunch breaks. The funny thing is, I never take lunch breaks.
I drove to the Target in Greensburg this morning with the hope of finding a cheap navigation system for my car, but no such luck – Target seems to be in the process of disassembling their electronics department and in the process getting rid of all of their clearance merchandise.
Because that was a bust I decided to make my next stop Oakland. Finding parking was hard. I finally elected to use the parking garage and walk to the park, but the attendant got snippy with me when I couldn't tell her how long I would be, so I left that and drove pretty far into Schenley itself and parked near Serpentine Road.
Anyway… today I am trying to be more creative, so I brought my various artistic implements to the park with me. The first picture I drew was of the Cathedral of Learning. I turned out disturbingly badly, with a lack of detail and an abysmal perspective. That's what I get for trying to do it quickly, I suppose. I brought a book of drawing techniques with me to the park, but have not been able to decipher any of the pencil techniques. Still, the book cost $10 compared to my $70,000 "education" in art, so I'm not that upset.
I was in my own little world when it was invaded by a young couple trying to find a shady spot. Without their permission, I drew them as best I could. I am better at figures, but I didn't get a good look at their faces so in the drawing they are kind of shapeless. 
Their proportions are off, but it is still better than my first attempt at drawing them.
There are so many pretty girls here sunbathing. I can't bring my ugly face to talk to any of them.
Oh well.
I have since figured out that the paper I was using had too much "tooth" for the pencils I was using, making it hard to lightly sketch the drawings and then fill in the shade. The very next day I bought a new sketchpad and a proper pencil set, but the day was too overcast for me to get any decent lighting on the subjects (if that makes any sense at all). I might try again next week.
I'll wind it up with a panorama picture of Flagstaff Hill and the surrounding area. If you look closely, you'll see three young couples walking up the hill – they are in fact the same couple that I didn't notice as I snapped the pictures. I thought it was funny anyway.
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