Colorful Clouds of Belonging

 

8/9/26 "Clouds of Belonging" installed outside King Street Station

USk Seattle had one of its most colorful outings ever. “Clouds of Belonging,” a temporary installation in front of King Street Station, “is composed of large cloud-like forms that introduce softness, color, and light into the surrounding urban landscape,” according to the city’s Office of Arts and Culture. Artist Alex Proba invites visitors “to move through, pause within, and simply enjoy a bright, sculptural environment designed for connection.” As nearly everyone in the group focused on the sculpture, it definitely formed a connection for all of us.

After finishing the full-color version (top of post) from the railroad overpass, I was going to move on to other subjects. Then as I walked around, I found more viewpoints I liked, so I drew it twice more.

While I ate lunch in the courtyard outside International District/Chinatown Station, Mariners fans continually streamed out of the station and walked in the direction of T-Mobile Park (below, right).

At the throwdown back at the “Clouds,” USk Seattle came through with an impressive variety of compositions. The whimsical clouds were certainly inspiring as well as colorful.

The Scavenger Hunt is On!

 

7/25/26 Scavenger hunt at South Lake Union

Months ago, I viewed a YouTube video by Teoh Yi Chie showing an urban sketching bingo game that USk Singapore had put on. With sponsored prizes and a huge turnout, the game looked like so much fun that I was inspired to do something similar with USk Seattle. Bingo, however, has an element of chance; it’s not enough to simply sketch the objects – you had to get a certain number in a row. It would also be a lot of work to create multiple variations of bingo cards. I got an easier idea: An urban sketching scavenger hunt!

Shortly afterwards, I took a wander through one of my favorite sketching neighborhoods: South Lake Union. Within an easily walkable area, I jotted 20 things I saw (many of which I sketched myself). Some were specific, like the Space Needle, while others were left open to interpretation, such as “a cylindrical building” (SLU has more than one) or “something yellow.” I had so much fun developing the game!

The hunt was on! Last Saturday, a terrific turnout of USk Seattle met near the Amazon Spheres for the game: Whoever sketched the most items on the scavenger list during the three-hour outing would win. Prizes were donated by USk Seattle admins and Gabi Campanario of Sketcher Press – art supplies, sketchbooks and published art books. Thankfully, we had a lot of prizes, because I had under-estimated how many sketchers would be so successful: Eleven sketched all 20 items!

Since I had made the game myself, I didn’t compete, but I took my leisurely time sketching many of my favorites on the scavenger list. Compared to all the hard-working participants, I felt like a slacker: I even took a lunch break!

It was inspiring to see people helping each other figure out clues or find the subjects – a collaborative spirit instead of competitive. I got so much positive feedback about the game that I’d like to make it an annual summer event in varying locations!

An enthusiastic turnout!

These intrepid participants sketched all 20 scavenger items! (Not pictured: Ching Hung)

This fussball machine qualified as "something blue."

"Orange chair" was one of the scavenger items.

A Green Oasis at Kruckeberg Garden

 

7/24/26 Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

 

A dark-green, shady oasis, Kruckeberg Botanic Garden in Shoreline would be ideal on a hot day – the garden felt like it was at least 10 degrees cooler than on the street. As the temps were only in the high-60s and low-70s last Friday with USk Seattle, I was actually a little chilly, thanks to the shade of all those old-growth trees. Still, it was serene and comforting to be within the lush, forest-like atmosphere.

Serene, that is, until I started looking around for something to sketch: All that green is formidable! While I enjoy the challenge of sketching layers of foliage (I even recently boldly stated that I’m no longer intimidated by it), Kruckeberg Garden is whole next level of layers of foliage! One challenge was looking for pockets of light to contrast all the dark green. While my first sketch (above) was that attempt, I don’t really care for the composition I ended up with to get that light.

It took me quite a while to find a scene for my second sketch. I kept looking for a single tree to anchor the composition, but many grew close together or just didn’t catch my eye. I finally spotted Mark sketching next to an enormous tree with an interesting shape; he gave the tree scale, which I always think is important in a composition.

The newly constructed walkway/ramp makes the garden's lower level much more accessible.

USk International Symposium Pity Party at Toulouse Petit

On July 17, we at USk Seattle had ourselves a little pity party since we weren't in Toulouse, France for the 2026 USk International Symposium ... but actually, in the words of Jenny, "It's not a pity party. It's a celebration!" Temps were in the 70s under clear skies, the NOLA food and USk company were fantastic, the ambience at Toulouse Petit in lower Queen Anne was perfect, and it was breakfast happy hour - with French press coffee and beignets so we had no complaints!  

(Apologies to Leanne and Jenny. I don't know why this app sucks these photos in sideways, and I don't know how to fix it! Still, I'd rather have you in here sideways than not at all. 😅)

The cherry on top was our wait staff Kathy-with-a-K's reaction to appearing in my sketch. 🤣🤣 So I traded it for a contribution to World Central Kitchen!

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden: Cool and Green and Shady

We stayed nice and cool on this hot July day down in the wooded vale of Kruckeberg Botanic Garden in Shoreline (open Thursday- Sumday, in case you want to check it out!).

What a gorgeous place to do some art! I feel so refreshed after time out with The Gang (aka USk Seattle ) at @kruckeberg_botanic garden in Shoreline, about a half hour north of downtown Seattle. Definitely got my forest bathing🌲🌲🌲 in.

Richard Merz Reports on Sketcher Fest

 USk Seattle member Richard Merz offers his impressions of Sketcher Fest on his website. Shown here are some of his sketches made during and before the July 11-12 event in Edmonds. 

Edmonds Summer Market 

Alex Hollmann gives a workshop demo

Elizabeth and Mary Beth Person greet visitors at their Sketchbook Fair table

Elizabeth and Kumi enjoy sketching on the Ice Cream Cruise

Sketcher Fest, Day 2: Waterfront, Artist Talk, Sketchbook Fair

 

7/12/26 Olympic Beach sketch walk

For the fourth year, Mountlake Terrace High School Jazz Band gave sketchers great
music to sketch by outside the Edmonds Waterfront Center.

As artist liaison, my primary responsibility on Day 2 was to support Kumi during the Sketchbook Fair and her artist talk and document both with photos and videos. In between, I snuck in a few sketches during USk Seattle’s waterfront sketch walk and during Kumi’s lunch break when I staffed her table. I also remembered to make a sketch on the reverse side of my badge – a Sketcher Fest tradition!

While staffing Kumi's table, I sketched the crowds surrounding artists at tables across from me. The people drawn in white are the artists.

Making a quick spin around the Sketchbook Fair, I was dazzled by the stellar lineup of urban sketcher artists who generously shared their sketchbooks. I wish I’d had a week in there to look through each sketchbook closely. Alas, it was only quick hellos and glances through a few pages. (Shown at end of post are just a few of the artists I managed to snap before their tables were surrounded by admiring fans.)

Kumi's presentation focused on how her connections with people gave her many opportunities along her art career path.

Finally, I also took a bit of time to view USk Seattle’s very own exhibit of sketchbooks. I was honored and thrilled for my book to be alongside those of all my admired artist friends (below).

My sketchbook was part of an exhibit by USk Seattle members.

I sketched Olympic Beach on the reverse side
of my volunteer badge -- a Sketcher Fest tradition.

Kumi wore a traditional Japanese "festival" jacket
for her presentation and at the Sketchbook Fair.

Eleanor Doughty

Nishant Jain

Paul Madonna and Amy Stewart

Swasky

Andika Murandi

Kumi Matsukawa