In the Manner of John Blockley

Going back to basics.  I have only taken a handful of watercolor classes. So I am now looking at the basics again and have started reading "Getting Started with Watercolor" by John Blockley who is a watercolorist from England.  This is a book that Frank Bettandorf gave me.  Anyway this is a painting I did of JM Cellars from a photograph but really working on values limiting the use of color and following the process that John Blockley uses.    What I like about this is that it gets me beyond sketching exactly what I see.  But works on observation of light, value and simplifies information.  It is not so literal.  Restricted use of color also pulls the painting together.  It looks great behind glass by the way.

Joe's Gardens in Bellingham, WA

I drove up to Bellingham today to drop off a some things to my son  who is studying at Western Washington University.  He lives right next to Joe's Gardens, a local farm and produce stand that has been around since 1933 (at least according to their grocery bags). 

I walked around a bit first before finding this great view that included these old farm buildings, the produce and the fields beyond.   I loved the long shadows  and the bright colors of the pumpkins against the stone wall of the building...and the contrast between the shaded areas and the areas in direct sunlight.  It captured the whole essence of the place.

The drawing and the first washes of light colors  and midtones were done on site.  I took and photo of the view before leaving and reinforced my dark tones from photos.  

 Here is the sketch looking towards the fields and the produce stand with piles upon piles of pumpkins.

Capitol Hill Library

Capitol Hill Library located behind the QFC on Capitol Hill Seattle, WA.  This view if from the second floor looking toward the entry. 

Second sketch at Olympic Sculpture Park

Here is the second sketch I did at Olympic Sculpture Park. It was a quick gestural sketch of the park before meeting up with the group.  Took me between 5-10 minutes to finish the ink lines and another 20 minutes at home doing the watercolor and pastel.  I was caught by the dynamic angles of the Park.

Sketching At Olympic Sculpture Park with WSU students

Saturday we had an adhoc sketch outing with WSU Interior design students and Faculty Bob Krikac, Kathleen Ryan, and Linda Johnson. About 40+ students, their instructors  and a handful of Seattle Urban Sketchers dotted the Park.  I walked around for about a half an hour trying to find a place I haven't sketched.  I found this spot near the Claes Oldenburg Typewriter Eraser.  A view through the trees.  I was intrigued by the peek-a-boo view of the sculpture and the trail beyond.

It is interesting to see how technology has changed what we understand and know.  When bringing my sketching class here this summer, one student said they didn't want to sketch the weird wheel.  I was wondering what they meant.  I realized later that they  didn't know that this object was a typewriter eraser.  Of course!  These students have never used a typewriter, they grew up using a computer!  Well I remember using this type of eraser....shows my age.   

La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza

Tonight we dropped off our son at Western Washington University in Bellingham for his second year in college. We had dinner at La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza.  Great place and atmosphere and tasty wood fired pizza.

Chocolati

Last night we went to dinner at a Thai restaurant on 45th Ave. in Wallingford and then walked down the street for coffee and truffles at  Chocolati.  Here is the sketch I did while sitting in the mezzanine looking across the room.  Pretty neat space.  Has a feeling of an old coffee shop hang out. Great atmosphere.

Jack Block Park View

The view from Jack Block Park looking towards Magnolia and Queen Anne. 

Jack Block Park in West Seattle

Sunday was our monthly sketch outing.  We met at Jack Block Park in West Seattle.  The park is located on a site that was previous used as a wood treatment plant.  The site was contaminated with creosote and designated as a  superfund site by the US EPA.   It was reopened in 1998 after environmental clean up and its development as a park.  This park has wonderful view of the Port of Seattle and sweeping views of the Sound and Seattle.  The following sketch was a view of the Port of Seattle looking through the Tower Lookout.

University of Washington Sundodger Invitational

Saturday we attended University of Washington's Annual Sundodger Invitational Cross Country meet at Lincoln Park in West Seattle.  We were there because our son Matthew was competing in the Highschool JV 5K race.  He completed the race with a new PR of 18 min 35 seconds.  It was a great day for a sketch too. 

The Wine Barrel at JM Cellars Reservoir

There is a  pond at JM  Cellars which irrigates the grounds.  A barrel sits at the end of a retaining wall.  Giving this area a point of focus.  I was naturally drawn to the location because of the reflections and view and shade. 

JM Cellars Gardens

Saturday a friend Cindy Esselman and I sketched at JM Cellars as featured artists.  It was a great opportunity to sketch and paint the grounds at a wonderful winery in Woodinville, WA.  We hope to get out there soon again to paint more. 

Moon Viewing At Japanese Tea Garden

Last night my husband and I attending a Moon Viewing event at the Japanese Tea Garden.  Lanterns,  lit sail boats in the pond, musical and dancing performances, and a Haiku competition.  Here is a sketch I did.  The drawing started while it was still light and as I got into the watercolor....it became harder and harder to see what I was doing.  It  became pretty dark and I finished the details at home.

Waiting for Matthew

While waiting for my son Matthew to get out of his Driver's Ed Class at Swerve I parked adjacent to a neighborhood park.  There was a beautiful shade tree framing this view so I thought it was a good opportunity to practice trees and creating spatial depth in the picture with values.

Summer Fun At South Lake Union Park

While waiting for my Architecture students to arrive for a sketch outing,  I started this ink sketch of the kids playing in the water fountain on the plaza.  It was on one of our hottest days in the summer.  The kids were running back and forth so it was a hard thing to capture.  The painting was done a couple of days ago.  I kept meaning to get back to paint on site but have not had the chance.

The Great Wheel from Bainbridge Island Ferry

We went to a friends house for an end of summer bbq.  Saturday was a great day to go on the top deck of the ferry and sketch!  Here is a sketch of the Great wheel.  Had just enough time to try to capture everything in ink as the moving Ferry  changed view points.

Riding the Sound Transit Light Rail

On our way back from California we decided to take the Sound Transit Light Rail to International District where my husband picked us up at the station... instead of driving through rush hour traffic.  I highly recommend taking the Sound Transit.  It was so easy..just the cost of the bus fare.  And a pleasant ride home.  I was even able to do a sketch.  The painting was done recently from memory.

Car Wash 2

The second car wash sketch from the Garfield XCountry Carwash.  That's my son cleaning the top of our van at our request.  Used regular Daniel Smith watercolors on this. 

Workin' at the Car Wash

Add caption

Garfield High School  XCOUNTRY TEAM had a car wash to raise funds for this year's team.  My son was doing his volunteer time in the afternoon.  I brought in two cars and each time was able to get a sketch in.  This is the first sketch using neocolor watercolor sticks.  Tomorrow I will post the second sketch.

Back Streets of Georgetown

Yesterday we had our monthly sketchcrawl in Georgetown south of the SODO.  It is an historic neighborhood with a saloon from 1888, great vintage shops...where you can buy vinyl records and comic books.  Where the Old Rainier Brewery still stands and parts of the bottling factory are now converted in to artist lofts.    ( I think I got this right?)  Anyway here is my homage to Georgetown.
We had 32 sketchers show up.  Check out Seattle Urban Sketchers blog for additional sketches.

SW 3692

On flight sketch

You can never be bored if you have your sketchbook with you and your pen, pencil and watercolors.
On this short flight this is what I was doing!  Perfect timing for a sketch or two.

On the way home

Sketches from the airport are interesting.  You  have a limited amount of time to sketch.  While we were waiting for our plane to arrive and boarding I did a sketch of gate 25 at the Oakland airport.  Right across the way from the food stands.  It was painted later from memory which helped me simplify.

Gate 25 South West Airlines Oakland Airport

Sketching with Bay Area Urban Sketchers

Euclid Avenue. Berkeley California

The nice thing about Urban Sketchers is the ability to connect with other sketchers around the world. Knowing I was going to be in the Bay Area I contacted a couple of Urban sketchers in the area to see if I  could join them on a sketchcrawl.  They graciously rearranged their typical sketch date so I could meet them.  We sketched together on the northside of the UC Berkeley Campus where Euclid Ave. meets the campus.   There are wonderful turn of the 20th century building still standing and in use...giving this street a quaint historical feel.  The scale is so human.  Here is a link to the Bay Area Urban Sketchers Blog.

Mission San Jose

Side door of Mission San Jose,  Fremont, CA

Took a quick tour of Mission San Jose in Fremont, CA.  It was founded on June 11, 1797 by the Franciscan order and was the 14th Mission built in California.  I was under an olive tree sitting in the middle of the courtyard.  Chose this spot because it was one of the only places with shade.

NIles Historic Train Depot

Niles Historic Train Depot

Covered walkway at the Train depot looking out towards the rolling hills of Niles and the Train.

Niles Historic Train Depot, Niles, CA

Niles California founded in 1850 is where Bronco Billy owned a film studio Essanay Studios and stars like Charlie Chaplin were filmed  during the 1910s.  This town has been saved as an historic district.  It is a wonderful place to sketch which I have done a couple of times when visiting my sister in Fremont CA.
http://nilesmerchants.com/historyofniles.html

My Sister's Back Yard

 In California the one thing you notice is yellow hills with a few Oak trees dotting the grassy rolling hills.  So different from our lush greens in Seattle, but just a beautiful.
This is a sketch of my sister's back yard.  She had peaches growing on the tree in the back.

Seatac Airport on the way to California

SeaTac Airport Food Court

Last week I went to California with my son to visit family.  When you get to the airport two hours early you end up having to kill a little time.  Here is a sketch I did at the food court while the sun was setting.   There was amazing color change as the sun went down.  From the plane the sky at the horizon was bright red moving toward a rich blue sky.

Gas Works Park on a Beautiful Sunny Day

Panorama's give you a wide expansive view.  Last Thursday I had my students try sketching panoramas from two different places at Gasworks park.  First down by the platform viewing area ....but we were interrupted by a wedding in the middle of our sketch.  Then we moved up to the top of kite hill.  To sketch at a higher location with a higher eye level.  Here is my sketch from that day.

Gas Works Park Play Barn

Last thursday I went to Gas Works Park with my Architecture Students.  While waiting for them to arrive I did the following sketch.