Elk Heights, WA

My sister had access to a friend's cabin in Elk Heights, Washington (between Cle Elum and Ellensburg), it turned out to be a great opportunity to get some of the Ryan relatives from all over the state together for a one day reunion in central Washington. The cabin sits high on a bluff with a magnificent view looking northwest to the Cascades.

 I sketched this while listening to aunts and uncles reminisce about characters and hi-jinx they were involve with years ago....It was so good to see everyone, what a treat.

Watercolor in a watercolor Moleskine sketchbook. 

Second to the last Huge Rental Project

I'm sure that friends and family are tired of hearing me talk, complain, rant or whine about the rental property. We are just starting the second to the last major project - replacing the failed decks that look west over the city of Kent. Gone are the woeful rubberized leaky surfaces, soon to be replaced with 12" decorative tile. It has been fun tearing the place apart (the contractor starts Monday).

The last huge project? I gotta paint it..........Then I'm ready for some serious sketching and painting.

Sketch from the Past...Sydney Harbor

This sketch was done from the Taronga Zoo just across the Sydney Harbor, we were watching a raptor presentation in a beautiful setting looking back a the city of Sydney and the opera house. We were in Australia because Tamra worked for a global computer software company concerned about the Y2K unknown, and she was there (Australia was one of the first countries to hit the new year) to be a troubleshooter in case things went bad....it didn't. Great trip, great people.

Tully's before a Holiday Concert

Tamra, Kiersten and I went to the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West concert at Benaroya Hall (Seattle) last night. What an outstanding event with a huge variety of music (and free to the public). The sketches here were people and things I came across on my way into town. The other unexpected pleasure of the evening happened at Tully's when a gentleman sat down and started (with great skill) to play the grand piano that sits near the entrance.

Trying to do a watercolor Moleskine sketchbook without using pen and ink. We'll see.......

Father's Day Sketching

My gift from my family was 'not' having to join them at the Seattle Symphony. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the symphony, just not on Father's Day......Father's Day is for sketching. Thanks girls.

Recycling the Datsun

Parked just off the Dash Point Park parking lot, this rusty back half of a Datsun Pickup sits loaded with wood just off the beach. It kind a seemed out of place with all the well cared for homes that surround the area. It was interesting just the same.

June Sketcher's Gathering - Seattle Center

Lauren's Graduation Party - Lake Saint Clair

Our best friend's daughter just graduated from college and the event was celebrated with a party at her grandparent's place on Lake Saint Clair located just east of Olympia, Washington. Nothing could make a person feel older......Congratulations Lauren Sutton, we are very proud of you.

This was done at lake side with pen and ink and a watercolor wash.

McNeil Island on the fly....

This sketch was done on the Anderson Island Ferry that passes McNeil Island and the penitentiary (I actually had to look up how to spell penitentiary....sheesh). Because this was done on a moving boat and time was limited, it kept me from overworking (and over thinking) the subject. Just glad it was a forty year old ferry with three guys downstairs peddling as fast as they can.

Sketched in a large Strathmore recycled paper sketchbook in ink with a watercolor wash.

Flat Tire? Where's the reset button?

I can't remember the last time I had a flat tire, especially in the Mazda work truck that I bought new in '86. Ok this was embarrassing, I didn't even know how to lower the spare from under the truck bed. Turns out there is a hole in the back of the pickup by the licence plate you stick the crank in, lowering it until you can crawl under the bed and drag out the tire. Did I mention the spare had been there since 1986....yeah it was flat too.
Now in this day of cellular communication you would think that a two flat problem could easily be resolved with a phone call, that is unless you have T-Mobile and are stranded east of Maple Valley, and area that gets as much cell service as the dark side of the moon......Time for a walk.