Colman Ferry Terminal is a Winter Keeper

 

11/17/24 Colman Dock ferry terminal

Some days, it doesn’t matter which sketchbook I bring. At the ferry terminal, though, I sure was happy I had a landscape-format book along!

Completely rebuilt in 2023, the Colman Dock passenger ferry terminal has been on USk Seattle’s radar as a winter-weather outing location ever since it reopened. Today was plenty wintry enough – bitterly windy and sometimes rainy. Although most of us stayed inside the terminal building, a few hardy souls sketched from the outer passageway where the view was even wider.

Not interested in freezing, I stayed indoors, where the skyline view was fantastic enough.

Choosing the “Ban Roll-on building” (formally known as the Second & Seneca Building) as my right-most starting point, I kept drawing across the top of the landscape-format Uglybook toward the left with a single line, ending with the Great Wheel. Then I spent the rest of the outing filling in the lower part of the spread with small scenes inside and outside the terminal.

To finish up the time before the throwdown, I picked a “victim” from the assortment of passengers waiting for their ferries (man on the right). Looking at the spread I started on my light rail ride, I noticed that everyone I sketched had “interesting” hair.

Light rail riders (left) and a ferry passenger

Officially, according to signage, only ticketed passengers are allowed inside the terminal building. But given the welcome we received from terminal security officers and other staff, some of whom joined us at the throwdown, I’d say we can all safely wink at the official policy. USk Seattle has a new winter mainstay!

Eric's compact sketch kit! ;-)