Saturday, December 27, 2014

Sketcher's Gathering Seattle Center - Winterfest

How nice it was to be able to sketch outside in December and then meet inside when my whimpy self got cold. I saw a post yesterday from a European Urban Sketcher blogging about putting alcohol in their watercolor water so the liquid wouldn't freeze while painting in minus 13 degree weather. Yes, I will shut up now about being cold.

I did this sketch of the dormant popcorn booth called Popcornucopia. It has been part of the International Fountain landscape for as long as I can remember.

Pen and ink with watercolor in a Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Windy Ellensburg


Tamra and I went over to Central Washington University to watch Kiersten and the CWU Marching Band perform at halftime of the football game. So windy.

This was the last sketch in the Stillman and Birn Beta series sketchbook. Pen and ink with watercolor.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Post Alley Busker


Though there was an Urban Sketcher event going on in the Bus Tunnel, my girls were going to a concert at Benaroya Hall a bit later so we decided to commute in together. A brisk beautiful fall day in Seattle made for a busy Post Alley and often making the subject matter dissapear. The young entertainer was quite good and his dog would sing on command.

I had tested a new ink pen (disposable) on paper before I did this sketch - no bleeding. What I didn't do was test in on the watercolor paper of my sketchbook. With the exception of the door, I was going to have to be satisfied with shading using water and a brush pen.

Pen, ink, watercolor pencil in a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Leavenworth Sketch


Looking west from the gazebo on Front Street. This sketch didn't do the beauty right, it was more gorgeous than that. In a Stillman and Birn sketchbook.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Leavenworth Golf Course


Blessed with good weather for most of the week this was looking south over the golf course. Done in a Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook with a watercolor wash or two......

Leavenworth, WA.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Watson Summer Cabin - Lake Twelve


I was invited out to experience the annual picnic of the Watson family who have a summer cabin on Lake Twelve just east of Black Diamond, Washington. Great food, great people and entertainment by Happy Hans and Band made for a relaxing afternoon. I picked this spot (a bit away from the crowd listening to the band) for it's view of the lake, the only down side was being down wind of the bon fire. Stopped at the store on the way home and the cashier asked if "something was on fire?" My art bag still smells like smoked salmon.

Pen and ink in a Stillman and Birn Beta Watercolor sketchbook.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Collection of People Sketches from the 'Tiny Book'


Though I don't use it very much, I very much like this tiny sketchbook (3"x4") made by Pentalic. It's small enough not to be noticed by passers by or your sketch subject if it is someone you don't know. Not sure about the format - putting a bunch of sketches on one page, we see how it goes.

Pen and ink in a Pentalic mini.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

The Old Church - West Coast Urban Sketchers Gathering - Portland


This was the morning sketch done for the Noon sharing. It's embarrassing the amount of sketches I don't get done in a day. This is 'The Old Church' located at SW 11th and Clay St. was built in the 1880's.

Pen and ink in a Stillman & Birn Beta watercolor sketchbook.

Monday, July 14, 2014

2nd Annual West Coast Urban Sketchers Gathering - Portland, Oregon


With Seattle sketcher Gail Wong, I rode a Bolt Bus down to Portland for the day to participate in this annual event. It was my first real trip to spend any time in downtown Portland and was impressed with the architecture and culture of the city. I definitely will be back to do more sketching.

This building caught my eye because of the color around the windows of what seemed like a warehouse, only to be told by a passing mail courier that in 2012 it was the site of MTV's 28th season of 'The Real World', probably one of the original reality shows.



There were over a hundred sketchers attending the event and I met many great sketchers whose work I've enjoyed online and can now put a face to. I went back to Seattle that night on the bus, a bit much for one hot day (90+). Next time I'll stay for the weekend and why not, Portland has a lot to offer a sketcher.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

The Ryan Canyon at the Dinner Bell - Chelan, WA


It would be so easy to write a couple of pages about this sketch and the family homestead in Chelan, Washington; I'll try and keep it shorter. 

The family ranch was homesteaded in 1901 and located some 15 miles north of Chelan. As a young teen, I spent my summers in Chelan working in the apple orchards (thinning) and staying with relatives both in town and at the ranch, a gift that only years later did I realize was priceless and too often taken for granted.

Currently the family is working hard to change this canyon into a wedding ceremonial site. What was a canyon floor planted with alfalfa, has been transformed into a beautiful and naturally landscaped setting for marital unions complete with willow trees whose leaves in the afternoon subtle breeze is just as likely to put you in a meditative state (in my case sleep) especially if you were sketching. The planted grass canyon floor is a stark contrast to the brutally picturesque and stunning canyon walls that frame this remote piece of heaven.

This visit was a 4th of July family reunion complete with skillfully barbequed meats and every traditional type of side dish possible. I was able to take advantage of the time before the food was ready to take a stroll down the canyon to sketch; I had already picked a point of view from a family walk earlier. I sat down and was joined by the family heard of horses who originally thought I might have some food for them all, but settled for grazing around me as I sketched.

This sketch was done about half way to the wedding site looking back to the ranch. Pen and ink in a Stillman & Birn beta watercolor sketchbook.

As soon as I heard the dinner bell (actually a triangle) some half mile up canyon, this sketch was over.....there are very few things in my life that might trump the creative process - hunger for a good home cooked meal is one of them.  


Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Where Did I park That Jet?


This was a January sketch, which means my whimpy backside didn't get out of the car. I drove around south Seattle for a while and ended up in the parking lot of the Museum of Flight. From where I was sitting it looked like the jet was brought in by just another soccer mom with a slightly higher budget than most...Yea I know. Three engines on one side, two on the other. I'm not just whimpy, I'm lazy.

Pen and ink and watercolor wash in a Stillman & Birn sketchbook.

Monday, June 30, 2014

A Day at the Zoo


While going through older sketch books for painting subjects I found this series of sketches done at the Woodland Park Zoo. Pencil sketches with walunt ink washes.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Sketching at Alki




The June sketcher's gathering took place on or around Alki Beach at West Seattle. Beautiful weather, too nice maybe, by the time I did my urban hike back to the truck I was quite burnt - the forgotten sunscreen still sitting on the bathroom counter.

Pen and ink with watercolor in a Stillman & Birn watercolor sketchbook.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Board Game


I did the mass transit route to get up to Lake Forest Park, surprisingly easy (light rail and the #522). We had been invited to sketch during the annual flower and plant sale taking place at the Town Center. Though I did some sketches of plants and a local radio personality doing his show live, I couldn't resist sketching these three guys who were engrossed in their board game in the Commons upstairs. These guys were serious players complete with box of supplies/reference material and a hand cart to haul it with.

Pen and ink with a watercolor wash in a Stillman & Birn watercolor book.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Garrison Keillor at Benaroya Hall


Tamra gave me tickets to see Garrison Keillor for Christmas. I have always been a fan of his and the radio show A Prairie Home Compainion. I did this sketch from a photograph just in case I could get him to sign the sketchbook (the opportunity didn't happen) , evidently the photo wasn't recent, he did look a touch older.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Lost Lamy, coffee and a sketch


This was a tough week for losing my art tools.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Urban Sketchers Gathering International District - Seattle



It was cold and wet, hell all of March was wet. The green awning is the Fortune Garden Restaurant I believe. Pen and ink with watercolor.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Urban Sketchers Gathering October - Craven Farm, Snohomish, WA


This was done last October on a crazy packed Craven Farm in Snohomish. Ok for a sketch, but lacks a focal point and the subltle sky and clouds washed out. Next time.

Watercolor in a Stillman & Birn watercolor sketchbook.

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Seattle Urban Sketchers January Gathering at MOHAI



The Museum of History and Industry. Toe Truck second time around. Pen and ink with a watercolor wash in a Stillman & Birn Alpha series sketchbook.

Father-in-Law's Road Grader and Tanker


This sketch was done during a holiday visit to the In-laws.

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