Congress Pkwy & Michigan Ave. sketch

So I had to work this weekend. Unfortunately my train gets me downtown about two hours earlier than I need to be. I decided to kill the time by sketching some things here in Chi-town.

This is one of my favorite statues in the Loop! It's called Magdaline and was created by artist Dessa Kirk.

The statue is located on the small median at Congress Pkwy and Michigan Avenue.

It appears to be constructed entirely out of metal. The coolest part is the lower half of the body which is made up of rebar that digs into the ground below. In the summer, morning glories and other flowering vines literally climb up the base and overtake her torso. So frickin' neat!

A little known fact about me is that I love plants and have about 50 houseplants at home. This nymph-like, plant woman was just begging to be drawn.

It was raining off and on that day which made the limited grassy area muddy. Thankfully I had a RedEye with me to sit on. That free newspaper saved my ass....literally!

There were a couple challenges trying to draw the statue.

Traffic was zooming by on both sides of me. I was sitting down on the grassy area right where that blue vehicle was (shown above). Should a car accidently make a wrong turn....I'd be splattered all over the intersection. For those of you who don't think I suffer for my art, just remember that!

Also, the rain picked up during mid-sketch. I had to juggle an umbrella with one hand and draw with the other. Quite cumbersome.

Keep in mind that this is a relatively quick sketch. It does not do the original work of art justice. Dessa Kirk's "Magdaline" really does need to be seen in person. So if you're a Chicagoan or just visiting the area, check out the real thing!