Drizzly Lake Union Park

 

8/25/23 1904 Swiftsure docked at Lake Union

You can’t keep USk Seattle down with a little drizzle! OK, the drizzle eventually turned to rain, which I happily welcomed if it would clear away the smoke. In any case, we had a good time at Lake Union Park this morning.

I found some cover that gave me a good view of the 1904 lightship Swiftsure, which I’ve sketched at least twice before – it’s hard to resist the red hull and yellow masts. My previous sketches were more detailed, but I don’t think I scaled the ship accurately either time. Standing fairly close, my goal was simply to scale it as accurately as possible on my small A6-size page. I still couldn’t get all of the center mast in, but I resisted drawing it shorter just to squeeze the top in.

Space Needle from Lake Union Park

By the time I finished, the drizzle had turned to rain, but that was when my walk around the park brought me to a view of the Space Needle. It’s apparently a mandatory subject for me whenever I see it.

So this is where all the sketchers were hiding out when it started raining!

Natalie fashioned her wearable umbrella from a tote bag!

Rare StarKrimson

 

I haven't had time to sketch for something like two years. I don't have time now either but some things are just worth stopping to sketch. This is a rare StarKrimson pear from MSJ Orchards in Cashmere, WA. It is a rare gene expression - a 50/50 split in Starkrimson coloration called a sport mutation or chimera. Here it is in all its glory sitting on my table in my houseboat on Lake Union.  

Up in the UpGarden

We met at UpGarden near Seattle Center.  It's a unique Seattle p-patch on the top floor of a parking garage.  It was a little too warm and a bit smokey but sketchers weren't deterred.   

The flowers were very much in bloom all over the p-patch. 

  I always want to include the Space Needle if it's in view.  It goes well with the tall sunflowers.

That car was a favorite subject for a few sketchers. There is a fruit tree growing out of the roof.

 

At least 3 people had left by the time we had throw down and took the group photo.  Thanks to Summer for taking it.  

Wide and Varied Music in the U-District

8/12/23 Polynesian dancers perform at University Heights

The University District’s year-round farmers market is one of the city’s best, and it was especially lively on Saturday for our USk Seattle meetup. We had a great turnout with at least a half-dozen first-timers!

Since I rarely seem to sketch people anymore, I set out with the plan to focus on buskers and other performers, who have always been my favorite sketch subjects at markets. First I found two singing buskers, each on guitar, on either end of the market. Then, in the University Heights parking lot, the Malua Seattle Polynesian Group performed traditional Pacific Island dances with recorded music. Finally, on the other side of University Heights, a large group of traditionally dressed bagpipers was rehearsing. I think they were on their way to a performance because they eventually started climbing into vehicles.

Busker

Bagpipers rehearsing

It was a fun morning with a wide variety of music (sometimes heard simultaneously)!

This busker's amplifier wasn't really levitating. . . I just lost the perspective!

Since I couldn't stay till the throwdown, this photo from the initial meetup was supposed to be my group selfie... but I forgot to get in the photo!