Sketching the Historic Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge
Watercolor and text by Bill Blanski, FAIA | September 22, 2022
The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge from Lake Avenue in Canal Park. Artwork by Bill Blanski, FAIA.
POSTCARD
If you were to ask me for an accurate freehand illustration of nearly anything, I would have a hard time getting to the task. But ask me for a quick sketch and the lights in my head start blinking. This is the essence of my passion for sketching and the delight it brings me—the natural flow from my pen (always a waterproof, black Uni-ball Micro) to my toothy, 90-pound cold press paper. I like small sketchbooks I can carry in any pocket; I think that might contribute to why I am now working in sketchbook #212.
This sketch of the Lift Bridge in Duluth on a cold day was done from my car through the windshield on Lake Avenue. The drama highlighted in this axial view showcases a feat of engineering worthy of the time spent and was a fun takeaway from an early afternoon visit to the North Shore.
Sketching at eye level is always a preference for me; I’m usually sitting on a café chair, balancing my sketchbook on my cross-legged lap to keep it straight. Squiggly lines are okay if that’s the spirit of the sketch, but I prefer quicker, straighter strokes. My watercolor travel kit’s history goes back to 2000, from the weeks I spent in Spain on the Ralph Rapson Traveling Study Award. The kit always brings a smile, because Ralph told me once that my sketchbooks were too small (3.75 x 5 inches). But I say—as he would—if it works, go for it!
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