Greenwood Car Show 2013

Dream Cars, or How to Slay a Sketching Nemesis

6/29/13 Platinum Carbon Black ink, watercolor, Stillman & Birn sketchbook

When I was 16 and barely licensed, my dream car was the Datsun 240-Z. I wondered how long I would have to save my part-time, minimum-wage, concession stand income to be able to buy one. I knew it would be a while, but at least it would give me time to learn how to drive a stick.

 

That’s one of the memory lanes I cruised down this morning at the 21^st annual Greenwood Car Show which, according to its website, is “a mile and a half of classic rides.” Cars are still one of my sketching nemeses – all those smooth lines that are neither organic nor straight, all those shiny surfaces – so I thought the car show would be good practice while also being a lot of fun. It was definitely both.

 

A car that caught my eye first was one of my adult dream cars – in fact, the car I now drive (some dreams are possible to achieve once you start earning a grown-up salary): A red Mazda Miata. Compared to all the other souped-up beauties, this one seemed ordinary, and not even very old. The owner was nowhere in sight, but an admirer walking by told me why this Miata was special: It has a Corvette engine. Right next to it was a gorgeous yellow ’55 Chevy. Its owner, Steve, told me that although he has owned this one for only four years, he previously owned another of the same model that was originally purchased by his grandfather. When asked if he actually drives it, he said he and his wife use it to go get hamburgers.

6/29/13 Platinum Carbon Black ink, watercolor, Stillman & Birn sketchbook

 

Shortly afterwards I spotted my first dream car, or close to it: A metallic green 260-Z. David, its owner for the past 13 years, told me it is nearly 100 percent original, even the windshield wipers, and the only thing he has changed are the wheels. This baby is pampered – it has “never been in the rain,” he said. Well, except for this morning’s surprise sprinkle.

The Greenwood Car Show: I think it could just as well be called The Greenwood Dream Show.

Friday Sketch Outing

The Friday Sketchers from Urban Sketchers Seattle met at Jack Block park. 

I sketched a view somewhat similar to that which I did last year when we had a sketch outing here.


As usual, we shared our sketches and posed with them. 

Kate, Tina, Nilda, Frances, Susan, PeggyG, Natalie, Gardon

Sebi's Italian Bistro

I pass this restaurant every time I run the 7 mile loop around Lake Union, (a couple of times a week if Jackie shames me into it). Yesterday the light struck it just right and I made a mental note to come back and draw the view from the west side. When I got there, I noticed the light was even better from the north view, so I set up my stool in the shade of a street sign. I had to push the telephone poles around to make a better composition so things wouldn't all be parallel to each other, and the electrical hardware at the top of the pole was way out of view so I shortened the telephone pole considerably so I could include it in the drawing. That's why I always carry my artistic license.

Edmonds Sidewalk Sketching

Had a wonderful day with all the Seattle Usk sketching in one of my favorite places to visit.  I had never taken the time to draw and paint before Sunday though in Edmonds.

This first sketch of the theater was going fine until 2 big SUV's pulled into my view as I was adding color.  One of the trials of sidewalk sketching! 

I next turned my attention to one of the larger commercial buildings in downtown Edmonds.  Love the mission details of the second story.  

I decided to spend some time with this old Carnegie Library building across from city hall. I didn't want to rush through my sketch and take in all the fine details of this classical "Italian Palazzo".  An older women stopped to tell me that as a child she checked and read many a book from it.  Now days it acts as a museum for Edmonds history.

While waiting for the group to arrive for our sharing time, I decided to quickly draw the old "western, false front" barbershop across from our meet-up location.  This was the one time I wasn't under the cover of the store front awnings that protected much of us on this day of "spitting" drizzle. 

(came back later and added color in photoshop)

Finally after our sharing time I was driving out of town and this building caught my eye because of the blue color and the "Greek" influenced portico.  The Masonic Center is stately with its gold capitals on the 3 Doric columns at its entry.  I realized later that the charm of Edmonds is this potpourri of architectural styles and interpretations in a small town way. 

Plain and Simple Housing

A few days before I attended the Edmonds sketch crawl, I was sketching in the area of Seattle's Yesler Terrace lo-income housing.  Four rather utilitarian homes faced into a fenced garden, while hollyhocks, hydrangeas and roses spilled onto the sidewalk, and of course, the I-5 freeway sounds were just the other side of some old deodor cedars.  Always drawn in by the natural "embellishments" of a scene, I sat and sketched this scene.


Then, at Sunday's sketch crawl in Edmonds, I wandered about the lovely downtown fountain area - so many picturesque scenes! - What to choose.... After 2 false starts with scenes involving the classic fountain, and also the bell in front of the Edmonds Museum, I found myself wandering the alleys of the downtown.  I had been drawn in by the juxtaposition of several older homes, but then as I came closer to the home at 120, with it's purple fence of welcome, I knew I'd found my version of dwontown Edmonds!

Blush Salon, Edmonds, WA

For this month's sketch outing in Edmonds, Steve and I walked around for a good 20 minutes before finding our spots. On the short walk around the little downtown and waterfront areas it was fun to see sketchers all  around town. This storefront caught my eye on the walk down to the ferry so after the initial scan, I ended up back here while Steve sketched the phone booth across the street. I set my chair up in the street between two parked cars to get the view I wanted which made for a four or five interruptions when I had to move when the owners of the cars on both sides of me came and went and new cars came to park, both times with clients of the salon. While sketching I could hear the stylist ask the clients, "So what would you like today?" A pretty little shop (Blush Salon: http://blushsalonedmonds.com/) in a sweet little town on a nice NW day with the smell of sea salt and intermittent sun and sprinkles.

Edmonds Town Center

Great turnout yesterday! I was initially attracted to individual storefronts in downtown Edmonds but couldn't help trying to capture this scene where Main Street intersected 5th Avenue, featuring paving strips spiraling outward from the fountain in the middle.

California Mission Style Building in Edmonds

It is interesting to see a Mission style or Spanish style building in the Pacific Northwest, and I actually live right next door to one.  So this building in Edmond's caught my eye.  Probably because it reminded be of an area in Niles California that I love to sketch.  Here is my attempt at capturing Main St. in Edmonds.  This tree lined street has a nice quaint human scale about it.

Main St.  right outside of Bill the Butchers.

Edmonds town center seemed subdued after the Fremont Festival

It was the Edmonds Theater that caught my eye in this sketch, though it was a lot to tackle.  I think I'll try to go back sometime this summer to work on some different scenes. I really didn't even think of going down to the waterfront when that is sort of the essence of Edmonds. I think I'll go for something more simple next time. 

I did have fun at the Honk Fest West at Gasworks on Saturday after the Solstice Parade. It was quite a congregation with several bands providing surround sound and thousands of people in various stages of undress. This drawing done from the hill doesn't come close to capturing the throngs. 

show time

two old theaters in one weekend

The Egyptian on Pine announced it's closing this week and caught a glimpse of the theater in Edmonds, WA the next day

some other sparse verbiage at  http://cotiesketch.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-weekend.html

Sketching in Edmonds

All of this quaint little seaside town to draw and I choose a phone booth. Well, they're cool and not going to be around much longer. And a lot more interesting to draw than the handhelds that are making booths obsolete. Even the iPhone agrees- look at the icon on your smartphone- an old-fashioned hand-held device from a rotary phone! Kids using iPhones don't even know what that is. Ever try drawing a microwave oven? Boring! But remember your great-grandma's stove? Buildings, cars, furniture- streamlined and sleep-inducing as drawing subjects. I know, I sound like an old man bemoaning the good old days. So sue me.

Sketch outing in Edmonds

The Urban Sketchers Seattle monthly sketch outing was really well attended in Edmonds this morning.  I got two sketches done.   I noticed this little blue monkey wedged in a tree.






This is Otherworlds   a store for Sci-fi, Steampunk, fantasy, horror.  I like the shop so I wanted to sketch it.

I counted 26 at our initial meeting. More arrived later.

So many sketch books that they didn't all fit on one table.

More photos of the sketch outing are in this set on flickr

Low Tide, Two Beaches



6/22/13 Richmond Beach



The past few weeks have been the lowest low tides of the year. Yesterday morning I went to Richmond Beach to sketch beachcombers in the warm sunshine. Today I joined Seattle Urban Sketchers in Edmonds, where it was spitting and drizzling off and on.

6/23/13 Edmonds near the ferry terminal

Edmonds Sketch Crawl

urban sketcher sketching on the beach at Brackett's Landing in Edmonds

geraniums on the stairs on Main Street in Edmonds

Sometimes sketch moments are frustrating...like sitting in "spitting" rain for a couple of hours while trying to sketch with waterproof Uniball pen. Black splots of ink litter the sketch like bugs. I huddled under my raincoat as an awning but eventually gave up.

As I walked up Main Street, I saw these pots of geraniums with stunning blooms contrasting against the white siding of the barber shop.  I sat under a tree on the sidewalk to paint this scene, glad to be out of the rain sprinkles. However, the aphids were soon dropping out of the tree and crawling all over my paint palette.

A huge turn out of sketchers! Thanks to the organizers for this "crawl"!

Poetry Reading at SoulFood Books, Redmond, WA

I went to a poetry reading tonight at Soul Food Books in Redmond. My mom, Esther Helfgott was one of the featured poets. It was a nice evening listening to my mom, her friend Joan Swift , and open micers read as I sipped my "Hippy on the Beach" tea latte. A relaxing evening with nice company, powerful poetry, and cool atmosphere. 

June Sketch Outing this Sunday

Join us this Sunday, June 23,2013:  10:00 am to 12:30

Downtown Edmonds

Meet out side Starbucks 10:00 a.m.

502 Main St, Edmonds, WA

This is an opportunity to sketch views that can be framed and mounted for the upcoming Group Show in October.  We will be posting more information on that soon.

See you Sunday! 

5th and Columbia - Downtown Olympia

I've been working on sketches of downtown Olympia recently. I love the bright colors of these three eat/drinkeries. 

I have a special fondness for the red one with the arched windows. Many years ago when I was going to Evergreen I worked as a waitress when it was called the New Canton Cafe. The chef was an immigrant from China and spoke no English, his wife, an American born Chinese woman who had graduated from the University of Washington had the business saavy. She used to entertain customers with her accordian music on Saturday evenings. That may have been why there were so few customers. 

UW Commencement 2013

I attended my youngest daughters graduation from the U of W and I wanted to have something to remember the day,  so I brought my sketchpad.

Western Washington Urban Sketchers Invited to Join Group Art Show this Upcoming October

Think Globally, Sketch Locally
Urban Sketchers Celebrates Edmonds

SHARE AND SHOW YOUR WORK
Urban sketchers from Western Washington communities are invited to join members of Urban Sketchers Seattle in celebrating the sketchability of the Pacific Northwest during October 2013 at two concurrent shows in Edmonds. The juried show will be presented at Gallery North, Edmonds’ premier artists cooperative. The open show will be on concurrent display at Café Louvre nearby. 

SUBMIT SKETCHES
You are invited to submit original sketches evoking a sense of place that have been created on-site in the Pacific Northwest in the spirit of the Urban Sketchers  manifesto.

To submit work for the exhibition, post jpegs of up to three sketches in the Flickr group “Urban Sketchers Celebrates Edmonds” by midnight August 10, 2013.
Urban Sketchers Celebrates Edmonds flickr group

Please include in the image description:
·         the sketch title or text
·         approximate creation date
·         price (framed)
·         image size
·         media used

The jury expects to notify everyone (through Flickr) of their venue — juried show at Gallery North or open show at Café Louvre — by September 1.

MONEY STUFF
If your sketches are accepted for the juried show, you will be asked to pay a hanging fee of $10 for the first piece and $5 for each additional piece, for a maximum of $20 per sketcher, to help Urban Sketchers defray expenses for receptions and publicity.

Sketches exhibited at Gallery North must be offered for sale at a minimum price of $75. A 40% commission on all sales goes to Gallery North, and an additional 10% to Urban Sketchers. 

Work displayed at Café Louvre may be sold without commission, but artists are asked to donate 10% of sale proceeds to Urban Sketchers to help defray the costs of the exhibition. 

ARTY PARTIES
Everyone is encouraged to turn out for receptions at both venues on Sunday afternoon, October 6, and during the Edmonds Artwalk on Thursday evening, October 17. We hope to create a progressive feast of sketching between these two venues on the streets of Edmonds. We will need many hands as street stunt sketchers, reception greeters and servers, and to share sketching materials with passersby to spread the joy of urban sketching. 

COOL TOOLS DISPLAY
A window display will preview the show at Gallery North during the month of September. We seek the loan of a few sketchbooks and sketching kits for display during September and October. If you are interested in sharing for this purpose, please send a photo and your contact information to Teresa at teresa@tlawson.com.

SKETCH WITH US
Sketch our region during two summertime outings with Urban Sketchers Seattle:

·         June 23 — sketching in and around Edmonds
·         July 21 — sketching in and around Mukilteo

See details on the blog of Urban Sketchers Seattle.

FRAMING
All exhibited sketches will need to be matted or floated, framed in black, and wired for hanging. An outside size of 9x11 or 14x11 inches is recommended. Please be aware you will need to work outside your sketchbook, or be willing to remove your sketch from your book! 

You can purchase black frames and precut mats at Aaron Brothers or elsewhere (some frames come with a mat). It is easier if you plan the size of your sketch so you don't need to have mats cut. See framing and hanger guidelines at the Flickr group “Urban Sketchers Celebrates Edmonds.”  Currently Aaron Brothers is having their buy one and get one for a penny sale as of June 16th.  See attached ad.

URBAN SKETCHERS MANIFESTO
·         We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
·         Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
·         Our drawings are a record of time and place. 
·         We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
·         We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
·         We support each other and draw together.
·         We share our drawings online.
·         We show the world, one drawing at a time.

FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information or questions, please contact Beth at halfsweet@comcast.net.

Gasworks Park Again

I was sitting here at my desk, shading this drawing I did today, thinking how nice it was at the park and on my long bike ride and how kind the rain was to wait until I was in for the night when I remembered I left my sunroof and windows open. I rushed down the stairs and outside to roll them up, and locked myself out of the building. Not wanting to disturb any tenants, I paced on the wet sidewalk, barefoot and in pajama bottoms trying to figure out what the room numbers might be for the two units that still had lights on at midnight. I made a few guesses and pressed some buttons but no one buzzed me in. Back on the sidewalk I tried calling up to the open windows. "Excuse me! Hello?" Nothing. I tried a few more buzzers. Nada. I had the car keys- should I drive to a friend's? Wait outside hoping someone would drive home this late on a Monday so I could walk into the garage behind their car? I dreaded waking anybody and getting barked at. The wet sidewalk was cold on my bare feet. Lightning cracked. Tired of waiting, I hit more random buzzers. "Who is it?" "Hi, sorry to bother you. I'm in 302 and I locked myself out when I shut my sunroof." He laughed and said he'd buzz me in. Thanks, nice young man with the pleasant voice in whatever unit that was.

Volunteer Park Ad Hoc outing

The Friday Sketchers met again at Volunteer Park for an ad hoc sketch outing. 

I found a view of the Water tower to sketch.  While sketching a little seed pod landed with a "thump" on my page and startled me.  So I set it down to sketch it into the drawing!  What isn't able to run off gets sketched.


As usual, we met up to share out sketches.  Great work!

Sketch group: Tina, Natalie, Carleen, Frances, Peggy, Gordon, Kate

There are few more photos in this set.

Volunteer Park on a Chilly June day

A small group of Urban Sketchers gathered in Volunteer Park on Friday.  Even at 10 AM, it was a bit chilly
 for some of us to sit or stand outside, so we sketched from our cars.

Sometimes, I "prep" a page beforehand with some diluted acrylic airbrush paints.  In this sketch, I had splashed some blues, and it seemed perfect for the scene, especially since the blues were in the area where the glass structure was.  I think we are always glad for those serendipitous watercolor moments.

Renton Series

I've nearly completed my series of Renton public art. Stiltwalker was the one I couldn't find a couple months ago!  Its head is literally in the tree.  This was completed in 1984 by Ray Jensen and is in the park behind Renton Library.




On the same day, I went  to the Piazza (in the middle of downtown Renton) to sketch "Summer Breeze"  It is by J. Demetro and was dedicated in 2003.

Strathmore Large watercolor Visual Journal (9x12); Daniel Smith watercolors, Lamy pen with Carbon Black ink.

Bonsoir

View from Pont Marie. SB

Bonsoir, my Seattle sketching friends~~

I have now been in France almost one month and have finally settled into my live/work studio at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris for about 9 days now.  The location is utterly amazing, the space is great, and if I stand in the center of the studio, I can see Soufflot's Pantheon out one window and Notre Dame Cathedral only a few blocks away out another.  I do indeed need to be pinched.

But don't get too jealous...Paris is having a very Seattle summer--cool and wet.  Yep, rain and gray skies nearly every day since I've been here.  The weather has definitely made it difficult to go out and sketch, which is unfortunately also impacting my Gabriel Prize work.  C'est la vie.

One of the oldest homes in Paris,
in the Marais.

I'm posting a few recent sketches. Have also finally bought a cheap scanner/printer, so I have started to scan and post sketches daily on my blog, in case you are curious to see more and read notes.  You can also click on these views here to see them better.
A bientot!

Quick lunchtime sketch of Soufflot's Pantheon.

Detail of larger sketch of Notre Dame.