Cathy Loos joined Urban Sketchers Daytona Beach

As of April 2023, Cathryne Loos became a resident of New Smyrna Beach (NSB), Florida. NSB is a vibrant art community, and it is situated just off of the Atlantic Ocean about one half hour below, south of, Daytona Beach.  It is home to the 50th annual “Images” and 64th annual “Art Fiesta.” Cathy has immersed herself in several working artists communities where she has the opportunity to learn and share artistic skills and communicate with like-minded people.

She recently joined Urban Sketchers Daytona Beach (Facebook). The group is brand new, and Cathy is thoroughly enjoying their outings.  This sketch was at the Casements in Ormond Beach, Florida, at Rockefeller’s former winter home.

Cathy Loos' sketch captures a quiet, contemplative moment, rendered entirely in pen and ink—a medium that demands precision and patience. This detailed drawing of a period dress could almost portray a solitary figure slumped comfortably in a simple spindle-back chair, evoking the stillness of rest. One can imagine a woman clothed in a hat and a long dress, with intricate line work and cross-hatching articulating the nuanced textures and folds of the fabric. The head leans forward, resting gently on the chest, suggesting a deep calm or gentle sleep. The legs cross with casual ease, one foot grounded, the other suspended, emphasizing a natural, unguarded posture.


Cathy’s process included engagement with the Urban Sketchers Daytona Beach community. This piece drew inspiration from one of her urban sketching outings at The Casements, once Rockefeller’s winter home in Ormond Beach, Florida. The connection to a specific, storied place, grounds the image in a sense of quiet history and reflection.  Her sketch provides a focused and intimate portrait, responding to light and shadow while preserving the tactile quality of ink on paper.


Working with pen and ink meant embracing the discipline of layering lines to produce depth and the subtle gradations of shadow that bring the figure’s presence to life. The interaction of light and structure here is deliberate—shadows do not simply fall but shape the mood, lending a weight and realism that invites viewers to enter the stillness of the moment.


Interested in Urban Sketchers Dayton? check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/883268494106575/

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