Seattle Urban Sketchers are Welcome Guests at Seattle Chinese Garden

"Welcome, Guests of the Garden" - This stone with beautiful Chinese calligraphy greeted visitors today at the Seattle Chinese Garden and was translated for me by three young women visiting from China. I was in West Seattle to sketch with Seattle Urban Sketchers at the monthly outing on April 19. Our balmy spring weather was back (67^° F!), but with a bit of a nip in the breeze.

I didn't get very far down the sidewalk towards the garden, since the view of the south facing wall was dappled with springtime light and shadow. It was a dramatic introduction which stopped me in my tracks.

Friend and fellow sketcher, Kate found the perfect rock to start her first sketch.

"The humble gate" decorates the entrance on the sunny south wall of the garden. Sketch by M. Cooper

Pat, Jane and Kate find the rocks, courtyard, and sculpture completely in harmony with nature.

My DYI Altoids mini-palette makes it easy to sketch while standing.

More than two dozen varieties of tree peonies and several herbaceous peonies donated from Luoyang, China, were planted by volunteers in 2012. It is hoped that these 400 peony rootstock will create the largest public peony garden on the West Coast. Although the early spring weather has caused many to bloom already, Dewey (a volunteer and tour guide) says that there are still some that haven't bloomed yet. They will be ready to view next weekend at the Peony and Bamboo Festival. There will be a lion dance at 11 am on Saturday, April 25.

I stood on the sidewalk on the way out and wrote the "Welcome Friends" Chinese Calligraphy.

On this page, I wanted to explore the Yin Yang aspect of the garden.

I put a few finishing touches to my two sketch spreads. To see them, please visit my Flickr Photostream.