A new chapter in our summer sketchbook—today, as a part of the OAA Summer Sketches Series, we are sharing the work of Alistair Grierson (Architect).

This series of sketches grew out of a change in routine. Before becoming a parent, I would attend meetups with Urban Sketcher Toronto to draw from observation on location. Public places framed by urban elements were often the most interesting subjects, like a good neighbourhood fruit market, or big events in the City like the CNE. 

Since having my daughter, those kinds of sketching sessions are much less frequent. However, we regularly walk through High Park together, which has become a different kind of creative practice. 

Over the past spring and early summer, I’ve been drawn to the park’s willow trees. They are among the first to experience bud break, and their vivid, almost neon green stands out against the grey-brown canopy before the rest of the landscape comes to life. While walking, I often photograph a tree that catches my attention and later use those photographs as the basis for a sketch. 

Although these drawings focus on nature, they are similar in intent to my earlier urban sketching practice, in that they are observations about where people gather. The willows often frame pathways and the edges of open areas where much of the park’s activity takes place. From a distance, especially in early spring, their colour becomes a signal of the activity to come. 

Click here to see more Summer Sketches.