Studio Bistro

Seattle Urban Sketchers - January gathering in the snow

2012-01-17T08:50:00.001-08:00

We posed for this picture after the sketchcrawl at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. This was a great turnout considering the weather. I really should have stopped to sketch some of the great scenery while hiking back to the bus, but it was cold and I'm a whimp......Frank Ching took this picture, I'm second from the right

2012-01-16T17:46:00.001-08:00

The graphite sketch is a sculpture of a monk at the moment of enlightenment, to be honest he looks like me trying to read a menu with out his glasses.

Took Metro into Seattle to meet up with fellow Seattle Urban Sketchers and spend time sketching exhibits at the Seattle Asian Art Museum (Capital Hill) out of the weather. Though there was a just a trace of snow when I walked in, a couple of hours later there was four inches of snow on the ground and not letting up. Capitol Hill is beautiful covered in snow and I enjoyed the walk to the Metro tunnel (downtown). It was much less stressful being a pedestrian in a snow storm……..Catching a bus home was a different story.

Home-made chowder and fresh baked artisan bread

2011-12-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

We had Tamra's family over for Christmas eve lunch/dinner. Served up home made Chowder (extra bacon and clams) and baked some rustic artisan bread courtesy of cook book from Sherri Sutton. Baked up at least six loaves and sent some home with family. Nothing better than fresh bread just out of the oven..... I will post the recipe here shortly.

Urban Sketching - Tacoma

2011-12-18T09:34:00.001-08:00

Drawn from the warm confines of Tully's in the Stadium district of Tacoma. On the left is Stadium High School which has a very 'Hogwarts School of Wizardry' feel to it. Yesterday was beautiful day for sketching (probably good for yard work too but we're not going there....). Pen and ink with watercolor in a watercolor Moleskine (and in case Santa is reading this, that is my favorite sketchbook).

Coffee house sketches

2011-12-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Charles Dallum invited me to the Thursday Night Seattle Seahawk game versus Philadelphia. Went into town early via Metro and sketched people at Zeitgiest Coffee located a few blocks from the stadium.

Veteran's Day Ceremony

2011-12-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

This older gentleman seemed genuinely sad. Is it reflection on how many you served with are no longer here? I don't want to outlast family and friends.....

Kentridge Jazz Cafe

2011-12-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

My daughter's Jazz band puts on a month jam called the 'Jazz Cafe'.

T.Y.A.O. School Concert Series

2011-12-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

Kiersten plays for the Tacoma Young Artist Orchestra and one of their obligations is to participate in a series of concerts performed at Tacoma Public Schools - It's a recruiting thing.....Tamra and I chaperoned, which was not a tough job. Lunch time was spent at a nearby park where the kids had to compete with hungry gulls for the pizza served up.

Roof Problems

2011-11-22T20:51:00.000-08:00

I guess roof leaks and bad weather go hand in hand. I hope the kid will understand that she's getting a roof repair on the rental for Christmas......

Climbing Mt. Si with Tamra

2011-10-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

This hike is tough on old bones and bad knees. It's four miles up with an elevation gain of 3150 feet and I obviously forgot how difficult it was coming down because of the grade. It was beautiful and windy at the top. I packed my sketching stuff but to be honest with you I was so gassed I just took pictures with the phone....

September Project

2011-09-26T09:30:00.001-07:00

The dirt path to the deck and front door is gone, replaced by a new walkway Tamra and I built using reclaimed brick. Our original walkway and concrete steps sunk down and destroyed the sewer line - yes, it was a mess......Now I can get back to doing some sketching.

Popsicle in Seattle

2011-09-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

This is a newer sculpture located at 4th and Blanchard in downtown Seattle. It's an instant favorite.

The 17-foot steel and apoxy dessert sits on property owned by commercial real estate developer Martin Selig and was created by his artist wife Catherine Mayer.

Eat Less Move More.....

2011-09-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

A friend recently told me that losing weight was easy - "Move more, eat less". It seems that LA Fitness wants to help - they took out a grocery store to put in a new gym in our neighborhood.....

Auburn Farm

2011-07-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Drove down some of the backroads between Kent and Auburn and ended up at this grain hopper (?). I find the mish mash of buildings appealing to draw. This was a two page sketch that didn't scan well, loses something in the translation......

Ink with an ink wash

Georgetown Boots - Oxbow Park

2011-07-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

Went to Georgetown (Seattle) and stumbled across the landmark Hat and Boots. Once a gas station and part of a western themed shopping complex called Frontier Village in the 1950's, the hat (not shown) was the cashier stand and the boots were the men and ladies restrooms. They were rescued from a dilapidated state by volunteers and relocated to Oxbow Park.

When I first arrived a family of four were having a picnic on the toe of the first boot. The hat is place quite a ways from the boots and will have to be a separate sketch another day.

6400 block between Carleton Ave. S. and Corson Ave. S.

Construction site

2011-07-11T09:49:00.001-07:00

Stopped by the Fairwood Shopping Center for a coffee and a sketch. They tore down the vacant QFC building and are putting in a L.A. Fitness. There goes my excuse that the gym is too far away......

Pen and ink with a watercolor wash.

The Fremont Troll

2011-06-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

A sketching trip back to the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. One of my favorite sites in town is the Troll that lives under the Aurora Bridge. Amazing how many people stopped by here while we were sketching. It's also amazing how stupid people get while climbing around and on top of this 20'-25' sculpture. I watched a dad encourage his child to get closer to the edge of the top of the forehead so he can get a better picture......

The Fremont Rocket

2011-06-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

This rocket used to adorn the front of an Army/Navy surplus store in Belltown. When announced that it was coming down and headed for the trash heap, business leaders in Fremont made arrangements for the "center of the known universe" to be its new home. It sat for some time till it was installed ('94) on the front of what is now a ladies boutique.

Mailer for Gallery Show - July

2011-06-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Sketching Lenin in Fremont

2011-06-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Fremont District is one of my favorite Seattle sketch destinations. This quirky arts neighborhood has everything from old soviet statues to marine subjects on the Montlake Cut.

Memorial Day Sketchcrawl

2011-05-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

Joined up with classmates Val Thompson and Alex Poorman to sketch downtown Tacoma. It was the last day of the Norman Rockwell exhibit and the line out the door of the Tacoma Art Museum was a half a block long. Gonna have to see it another time.

This sketch is looking south toward the Tacoma Dome and the industrial part of town, done in pen and ink with a watercolor wash.

Sketcher's Gathering Fairview Area Seattle

2011-05-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

Alex and I met up with a huge crowd of urban sketchers for the May event. The first image is looking West toward Seattle Center. The second is of a small segment of the community garden and the rainwater catch barrel and pump.

Portfolio Show Artwork

2011-05-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

One of the pieces I submitted for the show. The original art work was used as an award given out at the end of the Tapps Island Jr. Golf Camp (2004?). Reworked it to appear as an ad for this years event. Created in Adobe Illustrator CS5.

sketch book doodle

2011-05-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

We are supposed to come up with a cubist deconstruction of a sport. Turns out I didn't come close to cubism but stay tuned, I think I can solve this problem. The final product will be a color painting with a medium of my choice.

SketchCrawl #31 Seattle Urban Sketchers April Event

2011-04-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

We got together at the Amgen Footbridge at the north end of Elliott Bay. It was a great turnout and we were rewarded with a rare stretch of time with no rain (though I inhaled a colony of pesky gnats).

This sketch is of a fishing boat docked at the Smith Cove Waterway. I will add some color and finish under the dock when time permits. Great to have fellow Highline students Val Thompson, Alex Poorman, and Brian Mason join us. Hope they get the bug and want to become regulars.

I got in some urban hiking for this event, got off the bus at Benaroya Hall in downtown and walked the 2.5 miles through Olympic Sculpture and Myrtle Edwards Parks to get to our rendezvous. It is a beautiful region we live in (when it's not raining.....).

Pen and ink with grey marker in the Eileen VB sketchbook.

Parenting Logo

2011-04-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

Stearman PT-134 Kaydet Trainer (1937)

2011-04-05T00:38:00.000-07:00

I was trying not to be so obvious with the second plane. This is the sketch for a watercolor painting due in next week's illustration class. There still are a lot of things to work out.....

Jet City Washer - Planter

2011-03-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

Didn't have much time on the schedule to draw, but Tamra suggested coffee and even if its a quick sketch at Jet City Espresso, I was a happy camper the rest of the day. Funny how therapeutic sketching can be...... yes, this is a subject I've done before. Cool to see things start to green up and bloom.

Vintage Fire Engine

2011-03-21T23:05:00.000-07:00

The Anderson Island Fire Department has this vintage truck sitting behind their facility. Love rusty old things.....This will be one of many sketches to try and get it right.

Six Arms - Seattle

2011-03-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

Alex and I did our own sketchcrawl today, starting at Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square and then to the Pike-Pine hill climb. This sketch was done of the unique decor at the Six Arms Restaurant and Bar. Lots of whimsical piping and mysterious crows that have (as our waitress Celeste would say a 'Where's Waldo?") quality to their locations all over the establishment. Good food, the porter was OK, maybe a 7 on a scale to 10. No this picture isn't upside down - the crow was.....

Anderson Island Fire Department

2011-03-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

For her internship, Tamra is developing a website for the Anderson Island Fire Department. While she was there taking pictures I got to sketch in and around the fire house. The firemen all have their gear ready to jump into when a call comes in.

Pen and ink with watercolor.

Seattle Urban Sketchers Gathering

2011-03-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

Our February gathering found us at Hale's Ales in Ballard. It wasn't a huge space but it was warm. This sketch was done near the entrance looking back to the brewing area.

Pen and ink with watercolor in the Marty book.

Weekend in Leavenworth, WA

2011-02-21T17:39:00.000-08:00

We spent President's Weekend at a time share in Leavenworth, WA. It's a touristy place that has decked itself out as a Bavarian transplant since the 60's. Beautiful weather and scenery were dampened only by my coming down with the flu bug.

Am closing in on the end of the Marty Sketchbook - This was straight watercolor a rarity for me, looking out our back deck at the Leavenworth Golf Course and Cascade Mountains.

Museum of Flight

2011-02-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

My digital photography class got together at the Museum of Flight this afternoon for a photo shoot. I got there a couple of hours early to get some sketching in. Pen and ink with water wash and gray marker, in the Marty sketchbook.

Arcturus Rough Draft

2011-02-11T15:09:00.001-08:00

Arcturus is a annual literary publication that is put out by the Writing Dept. at the college, each year the Graphic Design Dept. gets to compete for the cover design.

This years theme is 'water' so I went with a surreal take on the subject. The concept is by no means new, a local artist from the '80s created paintings with color on the outside and a b/w interior. I definitely like the contrast, though I'm sure they are looking for something with more sophistication.

I've promised my wife that I would come up with something new for the back cover - the dog floating in deep water gave her anxiety...........

Bellevue College Jazz Competition

2011-02-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

Am so very proud of my daughter (Kiersten) who plays trumpet for the Kentridge High School Jazz Band. They played in a competition at Bellevue College against nationally ranked schools like Seattle's Garfield and Roosevelt. This page was a collection of quick sketches done throughout the day. Pen and ink in the Marty sketchbook.

SketchCrawl #30 South Seattle

2011-01-23T10:24:00.001-08:00

This one got confusing. Drawn from the top floor balcony looking south through the girders (?) to the city stadiums and Georgetown. What a great place to draw in the winter time.

Worldwide SketchCrawl #30 Seattle Public Library

2011-01-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Met with the Seattle Urban Sketchers at the Seattle Public Library for a morning of sketching. The Library is a futuristic looking all-glass building that takes some navigational skills if your trying to get back to the lobby.

Seattle Urban Sketchers - January

2011-01-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

We got together Sunday morning at the Bauhaus Coffee Co. (E. Pine) to do the 'Coffee Culture' of the neighborhood. Good coffee can be had at seemingly every corner in the area - and there's an art supply store across the street.... I had the foresight to forgo watching the Seahawks-Bears game in order to join the sketch group, good choice it turns out.

Homework - Digital Photography

2011-01-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

Taking a digital photography class this quarter and I plan on posting some of the shots I think are above average - that's the beauty of digital, you can fire away and delete later.....

New Year's Day - South Park, Seattle

2011-01-16T19:18:00.000-08:00

To start the new year off right, I headed out to spend this beautiful day sketching. I ended up in South Park and found this great industrial site just off the Duwamish waterway. The barge in the middle ground is the Gold Seeker out of Ketchikan, Alaska.

It was eerie how quiet it was because of the holiday, I've been down here on a work day and there is no way one could set up and sketch without being in someone's way.

Pen and ink, watercolor in the Marty Book.

Anderson Island Ferry Parking

2011-01-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

Ok, not very glamorous, but it was cold and damp and I did this from Tom and Jackie's deck (but then again, from my deck you see the cul-de-sac in all it's glory). McNeil Island is the land mass behind the trucks.
FYI - A cul-de-sac (literally "bottom of bag") is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, closed, no through road (UK, Australian and Canadian English). -Wikipedia.

Yea, that's right I had to look it up to make sure I spelled it right, thought I'd pass along a bit of useless information.

Pen and ink, watercolor in the Marty sketchbook.

Lake Washington Seattle View

2011-01-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

A couple of days before New Years I hiked out to the Lake Washington Boathouse. The view is looking Northwest to downtown Seattle (Mercer Island is on the right). I'm amazed at how much the end of the lake has filled in with sand, soil and debris. It's not seen during the summer months and I wonder if it is dredged annually. You can just see the Columbia Tower and a couple of other tall buildings peeking over the ridge and the Olympic Mountains were in crisp view.

This was a very cold day and the sketching was fast. Pen and ink with watercolor.

Pacific Science Center

2010-12-30T07:11:00.000-08:00

On a rare driving trip into Seattle (we were a large group) with family to see the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Pacific Science Center. The show was pretty slick, though as I noted, would have been too expensive (for what you experienced) if paying the non-member price. We got there an hour early which gave me time to sketch in the warmth of one of the other exhibits.

Urban Sketch Gathering - December

2010-12-17T10:37:00.000-08:00

Pacific Place was decked out for the holiday season, they also had a fundraiser going on where artists embellished the Nutcracker theme with the large pieces to be sold at auction. The sketch above is of Jimmy H the nutcracker (I didn't check to see who the artist was).

2010 Ryan Christmas Card

2010-12-14T18:24:00.000-08:00

Since my wife, 81 year old father and I are gymrats and get together every week to play hoops, this seemed like an appropriate card for the season.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Urban Sketch Gathering - November

2010-11-23T07:01:00.001-08:00

The Seattle Urban sketchers got together at Pike Place Market on a very cold November Sunday Morning. Decided to sketch the entertainment, the guy with the guitar was very good, the guy with the accordion, I couldn't hear (drew him from across the street) and not quite sure what kind of costume the dog was wearing - statue of Liberty maybe..... Pen and ink, watercolor.

Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC

2010-09-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

On a walkabout exploring Victoria, I came across Beacon Hill Park. What a beautiful place.....I sat down and sketched near one of the many ponds in the park.

BC War Memorial

2010-08-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

My Ryan ancestors arrived here in the states via Canada from Ireland. Tamra through her genealogy efforts discovered a few years ago that I had a great uncle who served in the Canadian Military during World War 1 where he was killed in action shortly after arriving in France.

Holland Point, Victoria, BC

2010-08-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

This was done on a great walk along the south (?) beaches of Victoria. Holland Point is a historical site of one the earliest settlements of the area. It was a beautiful day (as was most of the week) and sneaky warm with a breezy. Woke up the next day with a noticeable burn.....

Butchart Gardens

2010-08-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

After finishing up school for the summer, Tamra, Kiersten and I spent last week at a Worldmark time share on the inner harbour of Victoria. A trip to Butchart Gardens was a must during this beautiful week of weather and was only jeopardized by a can of spray on sun-tan lotion going off in my art bag. A river of liquid lotion ended up on the floor of the public transit bus and getting off as quickly as possible to try and salvage sketchbooks and supplies, I found myself a couple miles from the condo and soaked down the front with lotion - yes, it looked bad.

I made it back for a change of clothes and cleaned up the art gear (the sketchbooks were spared) and got to Butchart Gardens with enough time to do four sketches before heading back to town to meet up with the girls.
If you don't like an audience while you sketch, the Gardens is not the place for you. People will get up close and stay there..... Some will like your work, some will be indifferent, and some will seem a little pissed that you made them interested enough to stop, but weren't creating anything worth stopping for.

Nature reclaiming Grandpa's car

2010-08-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we took a road trip to Eugene, OR for a family reunion. Staying with Tamra's Aunt Cathy and Uncle Chuck on their farm just outside of city limits. This place offers up almost as many sketching subjects as Jet City Espresso and this sketch done in the 'Marty' book is of Grandpa's Lincoln (?) I never did go over and find out. Mother Nature is busy taking back that particular spot.

World Wide SketchCrawl #28 (7/31) - Lake View Cemetery

2010-08-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

A cold and grey Saturday in Seattle was the background for our sketchcrawl at Lake View Cemetery (next to Volunteer Park). Met up with Tim Taylor, David Hingtgen, Allison and Sara and we spent just under three hours sketching the monuments and trees of this cemetery founded in 1872.

Yes, I did come across Bruce and Brandon Lee's Memorial site. Lots of flowers and well wishers gathered around.

Seattle Sketchers July Gathering

2010-07-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Urban Sketchers got together on the Waterfront Saturday, starting out at the Bell St. Pier and getting back together at Anthony's Fish Bar for lunch. We had another great turnout (maybe 12-14) and cloudless skies to boot. Marty Bauer and I walked south and sketched near the Seattle Aquarium. Again the appeal of the 'not so perfect' industrial crane and barge moored at the pier seemed to call louder than the sailboats.

This is the last sketch in sketchbook #27. There is always a slight tinge of sadness when you put a sketchbook in the storage box, setting aside a constant companion.....

Ah, well enough of that sentimental crap, where's the new book..........

Pioneer Square Alley Door

2010-07-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sketched this just west of the J & M Cafe. There is something about the 'not so perfect' part of the city that appeals to me. Pen & ink in a Moleskine.

Seattle Center-EMP and Amos Lee

2010-07-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day, now I'm embarrassed with all the whining I did during the 'grey period' (Winter and Spring '10). Tamra and I Metro'd into the Center to see Amos Lee in concert at the Amphitheater. Getting there a little early (yes, I was excited to see him play again), Tamra had time to read and I to finish this sketch started back when the crane was still there.

Always found it hard to draw Frank Gehry's EMP, but then again, how could they tell if I got it wrong? This is drawn almost at the base of the Space Needle looking north. Pen/ink and watercolor in a moleskine.

And yes, Amos Lee and the Greennote benefit concert were outstanding.......

A great new sketchbook!

2010-07-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

A huge thanks goes out to my friend Marty Bauer who hand made me a beautiful leather bound sketchbook complete with sturdy watercolor and fountain pen friendly paper. This is a sweet book to sketch in and it seemed logical that a 'Jet City' sketch be the first. The horse is from a child's rocker.

Campus Sketch - The Mac Lab

2010-07-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Getting to class a little early provides the opportunity to sit and sketch. This is looking at the 'Mac' Lab where I take my two software classes this summer.

Fountain pen with water soluble ink, and watercolor in a Moleskine.

Back to School

2010-07-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Though I was dreading going back to school and being the 'really old guy' in class, I have discovered that I'm one of many really old people that have gone back to school. Homework has definitely cut back the amount of hours I spend sketching. This sketch was done on the first day of Summer Quarter looking West toward Vashon Island. This really is a beautiful campus, sitting on a hillside above Des Moines and overlooking the Puget Sound (that sketch will come soon).
Pen and ink, watercolor in a moleskine.

Homework

2010-06-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Went back to school this Summer, this and a resume were the first assignment.

King Street Station from Caffe Vita

2010-06-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

The back of a billboard isn't glamorous, but it did seem to frame the station tower.... Caffe Vita can be found in the Tashiro Kaplan Artists Lofts building just East of Pioneer Square. With an abundance of picture windows and a second story loft, it's a great place to sit and sketch. This was done on (what is now way too common) a dark and gloomy Saturday morning after I caught the bus into town early. There is a calm about Seattle this time of the week, without the rush to work and most of it's residents still in their robes - or in this part of Pioneer Square, sleeping bags. There but for the grace of good fortune, go I.

Merchants Cafe/The Back Door - Seattle

2010-06-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Merchants Cafe is Seattle's longest running continually open restaurant, there is a grand wooden bar and the typical grub and brews on tap. A trip to the restroom is a treacherous adventure downstairs and I would also consider this a sobriety test, if they don't make it back from the john, it wasn't meant to be......The happy hour menu offers up a pleasant surprise - for $3 you seem to get a full sized entree, not a Mini-Me version of your favorite burger. This image is of the backdoor and just a glimpse of the bar. Not sure where this door goes, an alley maybe? Does the stained glass at the top suggest that it had a grander purpose in the past?

Jules Maes Saloon - Georgetown/Seattle

2010-06-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

There is nothing fancy about Jules Maes, in fact it probably resembles what a real saloon might have been like in Seattle's infancy. They do have a big screen TV but you have to go find it in one of the back rooms, which is always an adventure because the floors rise and fall to different levels depending on what part of the building your trying to navigate. Consider it a sobriety test.......The food's darn good, a step up from pub grub and the friendly staff serves up a healthy pint of 9lb. Porter from the Georgetown Brewing Co. (my new favorite dark brew).

Jet City West From the Island

2010-06-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

This sketch was done looking West from Jet City Espresso (Renton) and incorporates the plant life that is coming into bloom as well as the vegetation that is flourishing in the old time washing machine. The wrought iron gates wired to the old gas station island makes an interesting pattern and challenge to draw. This was one of the few sunny days this spring in the Seattle area, fear not, by late afternoon it was pouring again.

A Terrible Beauty - Renton, WA

2010-06-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Irish pub in Renton known as 'A Terrible Beauty' (from 'Easter' a William Butler Yeats poem) has gone through a number of names and owners until getting it right this time. Though the outside of the building is one of the ugliest things ever designed, the inside takes you straight to Limerick and you won't go wrong ordering from the kitchen - both Irish and NW fare done well. The staff is friendly and it is not unusual to find a musician or two playing next to the fireplace on a Sunday afternoon. I called this sketch a 'Family Portrait' for the way they are all lined up together. This was a multi-visit effort (or just an excuse to go back)

Jet City Hats

2010-06-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

This was an attempt to go bolder in color. Much more practice is needed.

Folklife Festival - Seattle

2010-06-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

I've been going to the Folklife Festival for almost 30 years and over time it really hasn't changed much (a good thing I think). It has a tendency to get very crowded mid-afternoon even when it's raining. It's a celebration of music, cultures and many different lifestyles and has yet to disappoint when it comes to people watching and sketching.

World Wide SketchCrawl - Georgetown

2010-05-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Georgetown, just south of downtown Seattle offers a lot of subjects for sketchers to draw. I always enjoy the gatherings of sketching groups in town (Seattle Plein Air, Urban Sketchers, SketchCrawl and Sketch Pistols). Lunch was had at Jules Maes Saloon, after which everyone passed around the mornings creativity for the group to enjoy and learn from.

Lect's Soup Stop

2010-05-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

This tiny walk up soup place with a stock pot on the roof, sits just off Airport Way in an industrial area of Georgetown. At first I thought it must be difficult (because of it's location) to be successful, but as I sat across the street to draw it, car after car pulled up to pick up phone in orders. Obviously the food must be good, is this where the Soup Nazi (Seinfeld) ended up?

Waiting for the #157

2010-04-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

After dropping Kiersten off at school I stopped at a local coffee house and sketched the bus stop outside. This guy really didn't look that sad or pathetic, sometimes the pen has a mind of it's own....

Mexico Lindo Restaurant

2010-04-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

This place in downtown Kent is celebrating it's 35th anniversary, I've eaten there a few times. Drew this from a newly discovered coffee shop near the Justice Center called Kona Kai Coffee. There's lot of room to spread out and sketch, Espn is always on the big screen and the back room has comfortable couches. Cool.

Library Dragon

2010-04-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

This colorful guy supervises the children section of the library. I think the computers at our library get more use than the books......

Merchant Cafe

2010-04-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Seattle's oldest restaurant established in 1890 sits just south of the pergola and Pioneer Square. This was an Urban Sketchers get together. Great turnout and weather.

Tabasco

2010-04-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

I've been a long time fan of adventurously seasoned foods.......This chef is a kitschy wine bottle holder that has always held the favorite hot sauce of the month in the Ryan household.

Shopping Carts

2010-04-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

I think it tells you a lot about a person's character by what they do with their shopping cart when they are done with it. I've seen people put a huge effort into getting their empty cart into the nearest flower bed as opposed to walking it over the the cart park.

Band Competition

2010-04-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

I am so very proud of my daughter and her skills playing music (trumpet, flute and piano). recently her high school band participated in a competition in nearby Enumclaw.

Sleepwalking for coffee

2010-04-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

I'm guessing she's just dropped the kids off at school......but was it the right school?

Hoop Series #3

2010-04-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Basketball hoops and courts come in all shapes and sizes, I've decided to combine my love of basketball and art by doing a series of interesting (to me) hoops that might have a story to go with them. This hoop is located in downtown Kent, WA and for years the ivy has grown over the backboard, the owners have always done a good job of trimming the growth so you can see the goal.

Dad's Herb Garden

2010-04-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

We've been spending more time at the homestead while Dad is recuperating from a short illness. In recent years he turned a dairy trough into a raised herb garden off the kitchen door.

Relaxation 101

2010-03-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

If I have learned anything from my cat, it is the ability to lounge.

Gumball Technician

2010-03-22T22:27:00.001-07:00

Tamra gave me this gumball machine a while ago as a gift and it's normally filled with Jelly Bellys, however, it has developed a malfunction. Who do you call when your gumball machine breaks down?

Sketching at UW Campus

2010-03-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

Sort of cold and wet, the Seattle Sketchers group got together Sunday at the University of Washington campus to try and capture the cherry blossoms and architecture.

Any Flavor With That?

2010-03-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

First posting since the shoulder blowout. Tamra and I had a cup of coffee at the local SB.

Deluxe Junk/Fremont - unfinished

2010-02-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

Unbelievably good weather and way too many subjects to draw - a sketcher's dream. I plan to make another trip here to put down color. Pigma pens and a 14x11" Canson watercolor field book.

Always enjoy the gatherings, looking forward to seeing everyone next month.

Hungover Stuffed Animals

2010-02-24T20:55:00.000-08:00

These two guys were sagging at a table in the Covington Library, their slouching posture suggested a late night of over indulgence. Reminiscent of some of our "Hockey Trips to Canada" to see the Canucks play.

Naturally, after I started drawing them a child came over and rearranged the entire scene - "Hey Kid, quit playing with the toys...."

I've gone back to using my fountain pen (with my newly learned technique for controlling line weight). It works better on watercolor paper than the Pigma Pens, the down side is the water-soluble ink, meaning no color wash. Always learning.

Aphrodite's Torso - SAM

2010-02-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

After getting wet trying to sketch downtown I bussed over to SAM and did this sketch of Aphrodite's Torso. It was the Urban Sketchers assignment this week - Museums.

Time has been tough on Aphrodite, she's chipped, cracked and missing all limbs but still in better shape than I am and I haven't been around since the 2nd century B.C. (although it feels like it).

Chinese New Year - Seattle

2010-02-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

Some of the hardiest Seattle Urban Sketchers and Seattle Plein Air group braved the weather to get together (briefly) on the 13th to sketch/paint in the International District. We met at covered tables outside Starbucks (just west of Uwajimaya, where this is drawn from).

I got down there early and started a larger sketch (from the children's park) on watercolor paper, but it will take a few more visits to finish.

The weather was wet and sort of cold, not a great day for sketching. We all decided we wouldn't try and get back together in the afternoon but would post what we had done on the sketcher's site.

After giving up on the weather I headed to SAM for some indoor sketching.

Online Coffee Company

2010-02-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

Provided transportation for a friend to the Group Health Hospital in Seattle, while waiting we made our way to an internet cafe called The Online Coffee Co.. Wi-fi was free with our purchase of a slice of quiche and coffees (both were very good and cheap). Like libraries, people don't move much and make good drawing subjects. Just have to find the ones with character....or in this guy's case reading concerning news.....

Market Theatre - Post Alley

2010-02-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

Sketching in Seattle started with Dim Sum in the International District and making my way through downtown looking for something interesting to draw. I know Pike Place is a tourist destination and is often overdone but there are the out of the way nooks and crannies of the place that still have character, historical or otherwise. The small cobblestone road that descends behind the information booth underneath the market and leads to seldom known gems like IL Bistro, The Market Theater and the Alibi Room.

Rice Bowl Neon

2010-02-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

Tamra and I took the bus into Seattle, getting off in the International District. The sketch on the left was done at 6th & Main of the now defunct Standard Cafe. A tour guide informed me that the neon rice bowl and sign were coming down soon (and that I might want to step back, there was a bus load of tourists about to walk around the corner). The sketch on the right was done after eating at Zaina, a middle eastern restaurant located at the north end of Pioneer Square. Great food and friendly staff.

Washington St. Boat Landing

2010-01-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

Seattle built this galvanized iron shelter in 1920, supported by 16 decorated steel columns, is very similar in appearance to the earlier iron pergola [in Pioneer Square].

Over the years this building has fulfilled a number of uses: as a landing for ferries and ocean-going ships, as the headquarters of the Seattle Harbor Patrol, and as the U.S. Navy's official shore-leave landing and departure point.

A plaque at the pergola reads "Beneath your feet lies the wreckage of the pioneer sidewheel steamer Idaho, which served from 1900 until 1909 as Dr. Alexander De Soto's famous wayside mission hospital. Here Dr. De Soto ministered to the needs of seafarers and the destitute, donating his time and funds to their care."

Located just south of the Ferry Terminal.

Gesture sketches on the Sports Page

2010-01-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

With my favorite Rotring fountain pen I decided to quick sketch (on my newpaper) people coming into Starbucks for coffee. As luck would have it, the A Crew was working and people were through the line and out the door in a flash. Hey, stand still...........

Dungeness Spit

2009-12-30T23:44:00.000-08:00

The Heron was drawn on the same trip. He was originally sitting on a log outside our timeshare in Victoria Harbour. Since this sketch lacked a focal point I took license.

Stalking it's prey.....

2009-12-28T13:07:00.000-08:00

A lot of the farm land near Seattle (with few exceptions) has been paved over with industrial parks and warehouses. This morning I discovered a resting bulldozer after it had carved a new entrance onto one of those remaining fields with the farm sitting in the background. I picture Robert Duvall in a military uniform overseeing the site, " I love the smell of diesel in the morning, it smells like......money."

Seattle Urban Sketchers on Local NPR Station KPLU

2009-12-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

This link is to the sound bite KPLU did on Gabi and the Urban Sketchers during the last SketchCrawl at Volunteer Park.

Saltwater State Park - Des Moines, WA

2009-11-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

This was done on a warm June afternoon at Saltwater State Park near Des Moines, WA. A rare occasion that I had the will power not to embellish with ink.

World Wide SketchCrawl - Volunteer Park, Seattle

2009-11-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

Did you ever notice how easy it is to get up in the morning for an activity you really enjoy. For me our Urban Sketchers get togethers are one of those events that I effortlessly rise for. We met on this cold and cloudy day at the Conservatory in Volunteer Park. When we were let in you are instantly warmed by the climate needed to preserve the tropical and desert plant life. OK, it was cold, but not that cold (40 degrees) I'm just a cold weather wimp.......

I did a couple of outdoor sketches that lacked any inspiration as soon as my fingers went numb. We had a great turnout (more than twelve) and joined by a reporter Florangela Davila from KPLU who interviewed most of us and will be airing a story about the Urban Sketchers sometime after Thanksgiving.

In a mad scramble (my time management sucked today...) and with help from fellow sketcher Tim Taylor, I met Tamra and Kiersten at the Key Arena to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. The last sketch was done during the post-concert dinner at Fuller's (Pike Place Market) on the paper table covering of a gentleman eating dinner by himself and enjoying a good book.

A fun, long day...need to remind myself not to take it for granted.

Could Be The Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done

2009-11-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

I'm putting down hardwood bamboo flooring in our house and was at the point of framing the fireplace hearth, this meant ripping floor pieces the long way on the table saw. Instead of a normal table saw we have a ShopSmith which gives you the option of using the lathe, joiner or the now dreaded table saw. Unlike a normal table saw, the blade under the cutting surface is exposed and after cutting the wood I reached under the table to turn off the saw and stuck hand into the running blade. As luck would have it, I just mangled the end of the ring finger of my drawing hand, it could have and should have been much worse.........

Down Time

2009-11-14T12:14:00.000-08:00

We been dealing with a lack of Internet access and cable TV, seems our 23 year old cable connections no longer support the new technology. So off to the library to use their wi-fi and sketch. Comcast is in trouble, we are starting to get used to life sans cable....

Dad's 80th Birthday Celebration

2009-11-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

With a lot of help from friends and family, Dad's 80th birthday celebration turned out to be a fun day of basketball and food. Reporters from a number of papers showed up to cover the event, the following link is to the Seattle Times article written about Pete still playing basketball at the age of 80. My thanks to all who participated/attended and donated to the Maple Valley Food Bank, you made his 80th a very special day.