Snow Day in Seattle

Japanese Tea Garden Gate on a Snowy Day in Seattle

It is frigidly cold, snowy but bright.  Of course when we get snow in Seattle,  everything basically shuts down.  With all the hills around here very few attempt their normal routine.  So this was my snow day...I took a walk to the Arboreteum Japanese Tea Garden thinking it would be open to see it in snow...but of course it was closed!  I decided to paint the entry anyway.  Tricky painting snow.  Basically you leave it white and paint the blue shadows...but you have to have the right blue.  I wasn't too happy with the blue I chose.  What was interesting was doing water color when the temperature is below freezing.  The watercolor would ice up as soon as I laid it down on the paper.  So I literally had a glaze.  When I tried to lay it down a second time without dipping the brush in water, the brush would get stiff. 

Pike Place Decked Out for the Holidays!

Yesterday the urban sketchers met at the Pike Place Market for the November sketchcrawl.  We had about 12-15 people show up.  Every one was bundled up with their fingerless gloves and jackets.  It was very cold.  I almost packed it in on my first sketch for a warmer location.  But decided to get initial color on before going inside.  The Market is under going renovation for seismic up grades. Despite some areas being screened out for work it really was the same market and most places were still open.  The market is just getting started in hanging Holiday greenery as you can see from the sketch below.

Pike Place Market All Decked out for the Holidays!

I did two sketches.  One in front of the main entry information kiosk looking toward the Public Market Center sign and clock.  The second was in the market at the entry to Lowell's Cafe.  Lowell's is an historic cafe in the market.  It was where Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner ate lunch in a scene from the movie Sleepless in Seattle.  I didn't get a chance to put water color on the sketch.  I will have to go back another time and splash on some color.

Entry to Lowell's Cafe

Garfield H.S. Music Program

The Seattle School District has a history of great music programs happening at the middle school and high school levels.  Each year our local school bands, orchestras and vocal choirs come home with national trophies which is a testament to how successful these music programs are.

Last night I was thrilled to hear the Garfield Orchestras play in the new Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center at Garfield High School.  All three orchestras were impressive.  I am amazed at how much Mr. Tsutakawa is able to accomplish with these students in a matter of  two months.  The orchestras are playing at a very high level.  Each parent should be proud of what their child can do as part of these groups.

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 @ 7:30 p.m. the Garfield Orchestra will be playing selected pieces from  Handel's Messiah at Seattle First Baptist on Capitol Hill. $12 for adults and $6 for students. Check out the Garfield Orchestra website for more information about upcoming events @ www.garfieldorchestra.org