seattle.urbansketchers.org

Hello everyone,

Take note of the new address of the blog and update your bookmarks and links: seattle.urbansketchers.org.

Two from Bellingham

The first one was on location. It is an old structure along the industrial section of the waterfront in the area that they are demolishing to make way for a new real estate development.




This one was sketched from a photo. I suppose it doesn't belong here as it was not done on location. The question / answer process that leads to an understanding is the same for me though.

Drawing in Acapulco

Drawing outside a little tienda in Acapulco.

This is Paoli. She touched every page in my sketchbook, and Jackie's tatoos. I tore a sheet out of my sketchbook and she drew a scene of flowers and rainbows. 

This is her tio Carlos. He borrowed some materials and drew a scene of federales gunning down people from helicopters. Several other kids gathered around. They were all very sweet and patient with our mangled Spanish. Carlos was fascinated with my kneaded eraser so I broke it in half and gave it to him when the kids had to go help their parents make tortillas to sell in a nearby parking lot.

Value Studies in sketching

Last week a friend of mine and I substitute taught Frank Ching's Architectural sketching class at the U.W.  It took two of us to handle a class of 40 which Frank teaches by himself.  Great fun though.  We introduced watercolor to them  focusing on value.  Here are thumb nail sketches I did talking to students about doing a quick value study.  Also a sketch that I did there.

Elliot Bay Plus

I loved the contrast of Beth sketching in her straw hat and black coat against the structure of the bridge. Gail is in there too. People in structure. 

Then back over to the east side to get another structural view plus two sketchers.

The next day I decided to use my Groupon to the Zoo before it expired on April 30. 

Many of the zoo's residents were hidden from view. 

Maybe its still too cold for tropical critters. 

The flamingos were out in full glory, however, and I got these quick sketches.  

InterBay Pea Patch

‎04.29.09_INTERBAY PEA PATCH

pencil sketch done on the fly during a bicycle ride to Golden Gardens

04.19.11_CONSERVATORY at VOLUNTEER PARK

It ‎is the coldest April on record in Seattle. So sketching or painting outside has been a challenge. It was sunny on Tuesday and I wanted to paint but had no idea where to go. Liz suggested Volunteer Park. It's close and has some interesting features so I went. It was just barely comfortable enough to paint outside for the time it would take to do a decent sketch.

No guts, no glory. I've never painted anything with so much glass and such a classic form. But I took a shot and here it is.

Dalvero Academy/Urban Sketchers Seattle Workshop

Veronica (Ronnie) Lawlor and Margaret Hurst, co-founders of Dalvero Academy and Urban Sketchers correspondents,will be teaching this three-day workshop specifically geared to urban sketching enthusiasts on June 24,25, 26 2011. All competency levels invited.

We will meet at a Seattle location each morning at 10 am and again for a critique at 5pm.

Tuition: $350.00. A non-refundable deposit of $50.00 is due by May 31, 2011.(A 10% donation from the proceeds of this workshop will go to the Urban Sketchers non-profit fund, for the promotion of location drawing worldwide.)

Please email us at dalveroinfo@mac.com for more information.

See News and Upcoming Events for full description of this workshop.

Sketch Crawl #31_near the helix bridge on the waterfront

It was just warm enough to work outside comfortably and the muses held off the rain until we were about to adjourn, so conditions were very agreeable. Everyone had a good time and as always, the sketches are as interesting as they are varied.

I chose the ship at the grain elevator. A dark sky, interesting colors on the ship, the Seattle skyline as a backdrop and the steel loading structure all were elements that fit into my new watercolor sketch program. These sketch crawls are really enjoyable due to the attitude and enthusiasm of the people who attend and Gail's deft hand at bringing the group to a consensus on where to go next.

Looking forward to it...

SketchCrawl #31 Seattle Urban Sketchers April Event

We were treated to a stretch of fair weather and I'm sure the waterfront was more sketch friendly than the Museum of Flight on a free admission day. Good call Gail. This was a working boat docked at Smith Cove Waterway.


Pen and ink with gray marker.

A Successful Sketchcrawl just Dodging raindrops

We did it! We were able to have a sketch crawl avoiding April Showers out doors, but just barely! It started to spit as we met to pass the sketchbooks around.  Below are sketches done on saturday.  A napkin sketch quickly done for the Seattle Architectural Foundation, a sketch of the bridge looking towards Elliott Bay, and finally a sketch of downtown Seattle and the train yards and grain elevators by the bridge.  A "must come back" location for the summer.

View through Elliott Bay Foot Bridge

Elliott Bay Footbridge

Napkin sketch

A great sketch setting

There was something for everyone at Elliot Bay Park. It was a new discovery for many of us. We had several hours of good sketching in peek a boo sun. Here is my sketch of the grain elevators. I've never seen them up close before. While we were sitting there, we could hear a whoosh, whoosh as a nearby Panama ship was being loaded. (or unloaded?)

across the Helix Bridge

Here are 14 of 15 fearless sketchers who laughed at rain and were rewarded with sunshine -- however brief! we regrouped near the fishing pier to pass sketches and take this shot for Worldwide Sketchcrawl 31. Note the giant grain elevator at back left. What a pleasure to see/know/meet you all! And here is my sketch looking north off the Helix Bridge, watercolor/gouache/ink.

Elliott Bay Foot Bridge - 4/16/11

Kudos, as usual, to our organizer Gail for finding this great location with views in every direction; I think it's on everyone's "Gotta Go Back" list. I did this sketch on a photocopy of a 1912 map of Seattle that was featured in last Sunday's Seattle Times.

Reminder 31st WW Sketchcrawl Saturday April 16th

Saturday is the 31st WW Sketchcrawl.  We are planning on meeting at 10:00 AM at the Elliott Bay Foot bridge at the intersection of Elliott Bay Ave and W. Prospect right by Blackstocks.  There is inexpensive paid parking at a parking lot across the street.  Also there seems to be limited free parking at the park entrance along Alaskan Way but it is tricky getting to that lot.   Bus routes 15, 18, 19, 24,  and 33 run along Elliott Bay Avenue.
The Bridge is covered, if it is lightly drizzling  we should be okay.  If it seems like it is going to storm...look at the website on Friday for a possible alternative location.

Paid Parking lot across the street.  $2.50 for 0-4 hours on Saturdays.

Pop's Concert @ Garfield High School

We were entertained by a great concert last night.  Here is a sketch I did drawn and painted in the dark....
for more on the program go to http://glwsketchworks.blogspot.com/

Studio sale.

Shedding my old skin for a new life in China.

loyal and high

Today I had occasion to be parked outside the Loyal Heights Community Center for a bit. Our first sunny day in 3 weeks! Too good to pass up.

Staff Meeting

                                               Time to submit the budget for next year.

Yuma, AZ

Drawing People

I have been forcing myself to practice drawing people whenever I get the chance.  So here is my son watching TV.  He said to call it "the slouch"!

The Slouch

teaching perspective