A Day in BC

Last Sunday I spent a day in BC with a global group of sketchers,  Don McNulty (Canada), Asnee Tasna (Bangkok) and Gabi Campanario (Spain).  Asnee is visiting Vancouver with his son for a couple of weeks.  So it was a great opportunity to meet him. Since Vancouver is just an 45 minutes from Bellingham, my husband and I went to have mother's day breakfast with our son at WWU then headed up to Vancouver.   It was a perfect spring (felt like summer) day.
Here are the sketches I did while I was there.

Burrard St. Bridge seen from Granville Island, Vancouver BC

Pacific Central Station, Vancouver BC

Opening Day at the Montlake Cut Panorama

I gave up on moving boats and started this sketch with stationary boats.  Added the moving boat while it was far enough away that I had a chance to capture it.

Opening Day Coast Guard boat and Fire boat

Much to our surprise we arrive at the Montlake Cut in time for the Opening Day Parade.  This was the first time I had been to it even though I live in Montlake.  It was great seeing all the vintage boats.  You have to be quick to capture moving boats.  I started drawing the coast guard boat and the view kept changing because it was moving.  Looks more like a small tug boat than the actual boat.

Sketches along My Saturday Walk

I get together with a friend to walk on Saturdays.  This time I decided to take my sketchbook since we were going to go down to the Montlake Cut to walk the crew races.  While waiting for my friend I killed time by sketching the Tot lot and a man talking on his cell phone and while walking his dog.
I was using my small watercolor moleskine book, lamy pen with noodlers ink and neocolor pencils and a watercolor brush.  Traveling light!

The Art Of Urban Sketching Book Talk

It was a packed house.  Standing Room Only!  And such a tribute to the "draw" of the Seattle Sketcher and how encouraging to see that people are still interested in seeing hand drawing!  Gabi really is a "Pied Piper"  of sketching and such a generous person encouraging and supporting everyone to go out and draw no matter what level of experience you are at.   It is a life long process of learning to sketch and a way to get in touch with your city and community.  The book is well worth the purchase price!

Gabi at the Seattle Central Library reading and talking about "The Art of Urban Sketching"

Teen Section of the Seattle Library

I had 15 min before we had to meet up to show our work and have a little lunch before the talk. Using my calligraphic Hero Pen and neo colors, I quickly sketched the area by the Teen section in front of the elevators.  The red floor draws one to this section.  Color is such a significant part of the building.  It is used as a way finder and accents particular areas of the library.

Teen section of the Library. (15 min)

Sketchcrawl and Book Talk @ the Seattle Central Library

Sunday we had our monthly sketch outing.  This time we met at the Seattle Central Library before Gabi's talk about his new book "The Art of Urban Sketching".  We had probably about 30 people show up for the sketchcrawl.  We met at 10:30 prior to the library opening and had intended to sketch out side until 12:00.  Hey,  luckily we had pull. With Gabi being there the Librarian graciously allowed us to sketch indoors prior to the library officially opening.  We had the third floor "living room all to our selves! It was great!
Here is the sketch of the main entry off of 5th avenue.  Check out the work of the other Seattle Sketchers.

Seattle Central Library,  Main entrance ( 45 min)

Sketching with the ipad

Sketching with the ipad and your finger is a challenge.  I am trying it out but still feel more comfortable with a pen and paper.  I might get a stylus and see if it is better. Here is a sketch I did this morning.
Just learning.

Ipad sketch Essential Bakery Wallingford Seattle, WA

The Art of Urban Sketching Talk and Booksigning

Sunday April 29th @ Seattle Central Library: 

Sketch and also hear Gabi Campanario talk about his new book "The Art of Urban Sketching"
We will meet up at 10:30 am for the sketchcrawl at the Seattle Library.  Meet at the 4th Avenue entrance near the fountain.  Outdoor sketching until the doors open at 12:00 p.m. then indoors for another half an an hour before Gabi's Lecture starts at 1:00.  Sketch while he talks too! 

Seattle Center Monorail

Sketch done of the monorail as it just enters the EMP from the station.  I was standing at the upper level entry to the EMP. You see the base of the space needle in the sketch.

Monorail, EMP and Space Needle

EMP

I have been wanting to go to the Seattle Center and sketch the EMP.  Great place for using watercolors.
I had a chance to do two sketches today.  This one is on the interiors on the upper level  looking towards the bar.

EMP Interiors looking towards the upper bar.

Pho Cyclo

We had dinner at Pho Cyclo Cafe on Capitol Hill.  The story about the name of the restaurant is that in Viet Nam people would ask the Cyclo (rickshaw drivers) where the best places to eat were, thus Pho Cyclo Cafe.   It is decorated with street scenes and set up as if you are having lunch or dinner out side in the courtyard.  Quaint and pretty good Pho.

Bellevue High School Plaza

Sketch from the upper plaza looking down at the track.  Great south facing plaza with big granite boulders to sit on and have lunch.

Bellevue High Plaza

WW Sketchcrawls 35 Bellevue High Invitational

I spent the WW Sketchcrawl 35 at my son's track meet located at Bellevue High school in Bellevue,WA.
Pretty impressive facility and the school looks to be in remodeling stage.  Here are some sketches from that day.  My son did his personal best breaking his past record by 8 seconds.

Bellevue Invitational

Old Rainier Brewery (Tully's Corporate Headquarters)

Last weekend we had our monthly sketch crawl and weathered the rain.  19 sketchers showed up finding places to sketch under cover...sketching from their cars and moving the cars to do another sketch.  Some enjoyed warmth and wine at Bartholomew's Winery.
Here are a couple of sketches I did from that day.  It was such a complex grouping of buildings, I found it hard to get the perspective just right.  I decided not to worry about perspective and instead experiment with the colors.  Unfortunately with no sun it lacked shadows. 

Garfield Community Center

East Entrance of the Garfield Community Center, Seattle, WA

The Art of Urban Sketching Booksigning Event

Gabi Campanario just came out with his book "The Art of Urban Sketching".  It is a great book that inspires each of us who love to sketch.  Some of the Seattle Urban Sketchers attended the booksigning event that was held at the U Bookstore tonight.  Here is a sketch from the event.

Stimson Green Mansion

Sunday the Seattle Urban Sketchers went to the Stimson Green Mansion for our monthly sketchcrawl.  It was a great space to sketch especially on a cold day.  For some history on the Mansion see the following Link.

May's Restaurant and Lounge

May's Restaurant.  Thai Cuisine.

I just decided to dedicate one of my sketchbooks to different restaurants and cafe's we go to. Last night we tried a Thai restaurant in Wallingford.  I have always wanted to try this place because the architecture from the outside looked so interesting.  It is on 45th near Wallingford Center.  The exterior railings are lazer cut panels of corten rusted steel  with a stainless steel top railing. The restaurant is on the second floor and the  Lounge on the first floor. The exterior of the building gives you just a hint of what you experience when you walk into the restaurant ...you are taken to a different country.  Wonderful atmosphere and authentic food.  It was rated as having the best Phad Tai in Seattle.  Prices are fairly reasonable!

Dinner @ Monsoon

Saturday we had an early Valentine's Dinner thanks to a gift certificate from a friend.  It was a great dinner, wonderful Vietnamese Cuisine, every dish was a treat!  To give me more time for a sketch we ordered Coconut Creme Brulee and coffee for dessert.  Here is a sketch from that evening.

Last Weekend in January

Glassy Baby Seconds Sale Line

Last weekend was a busy time.  Went to the Glassy Baby Second Sale and waited for two hours to get into a very crowded store.  Was in and out in 5 minutes.  Sunday we attended the Garfield High School Winter Waltz an annual event put on by the Garfield High School Orchestra at Benaroya Hall.  Sketches are from both events.

Winter Waltz 2012  Benaroya Hall

Seattle Asian Art Museum

I went to Seattle Asian Art Museum again today and sketched the interior spaces of the museum. Trying to practice pencil sketching.

Charcoal pencil

2b mechanical pencil .5mm

2b mechanical pencil .5mm

Winter sketches from Seattle

Sketches from the last two days.   I am taking some time to sketch the snow.  Interesting experience in painting in the negative spaces.  The second sketch I used a mask to keep the areas white above the shrubs.  It is really hard to not want to paint.

View from the back yard

View from our window seat

Images From the Seattle Asian Art Museum

Today we had our monthly sketchcrawl, and despite the weather 20 people showed up. Sketching at the Seattle Asian Art Museum was fun but we were restricted to sketching with graphite. It has been a while since I have sketched with graphite so my work is a bit rough. I will have to practice that more. Here are my sketches from today and a watercolor sketch of my backyard. A bit snowy today.

Richard E. Fuller Atrium

Iron Gate Detail

Porcelain room

Snowy backyard

One last sketch before packing up Christmas!

Here is one last sketch of a Christmas ornament we bought for our son.  This ornament was also designed and made by Lynette Johnson for her Art sale Fundraiser.

Beadman Ornament

Christmas at Home 2011

Wishing you all Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year 2012! Some sketches of homey Christmas in Seattle.

Luminaires I bought at Souluminations Holiday Art Sale made by Lynette Johnson.

John and Matthew playing Othello Christmas Morning.

Sanyo Band and Garfield Orchestra @ Meany Hall University of Washington

Tonight was a combined concert of two great high school music programs.  Garfield High School Orchestra hosted the Sanyo Band from Japan this week.  This is an ongoing musical exchange between the two schools.  Music was absolutely astounding from both schools and played at the Meany Hall for Performing Arts at University of Washington.  I have taught at the UW for a long time but have never been in Meany Hall!  And to find a Chilhuly Glass installation as well as a mural by Jacob Lawrence was an extra treat!

Meany Hall, Sanyo Band Performance 2011

 

Meany Hall Lobby, Chihuly Glass

Sketches from Thanksgiving

Finally getting a chance to post sketches from our thanksgiving.  We had a wonderful time with dear friends on Bainbridge Island who graciously open their house to about 16-20 of us for thanksgiving each year.  The numbers have changed as kids have grown up and moved away for college or work  but they all seem to want to come back. We start the holiday on Wednesday evening avoiding the Thursday traffic to Bainbridge....but we've noticed people catching on to this trick.  Wednesday night we had to wait for a later ferry because the ferry lines were so long!  Thanksgiving is a holiday we always look forward to.

Waiting in line for the Ferry to Bainbridge

Thanksgiving morning breakfast

Playing Rummio

One half of the long table waiting for dessert.

Eagle Harbor Bookstore

On the way back.  Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal.

Sketches from the Wing Luke Museum

Urban Sketchers had an opportunity to sketch at the Wing Luke Museum.  This museum celebrates the Asian American History in the Pacific Northwest.  Here are a few sketches I did as we were touring the museum.

Montage sketches from a scrim that was used as advertisement space at the Nippon Kan Theatre at the turn of  the 20th Century

The Association Hall where family association groups would gather for meetings.

Association Hall and Kitchen,  Turn of the century stove with wok.

Sketch from Essential Bakery on East Madison

Front counter @ Essential Bakery

I did the line work on Sunday before we had a brunch with friends.  Then I added color this morning after a meeting.