BC War Memorial

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.