 |
| 3/26/26 University of Washington Quad |
On a jam-packed day, I barely had an hour to squeeze in at the University of Washington Quad, but how could I miss sketching peak cherry blossoms with USk Seattle? Arriving an hour-and-a-half late, I quickly singled out one tree so that I’d have a sketch to throw down (above). Of course, it was magnificently much wider than I allowed room for on the page.
After the throwdown, I went back into the throng for one more quick one: A gnarled, moss-covered branch as thick as an entire tree trunk itself and happy hanami participants enjoying the sunny (but cold) day.
 |
| Obligatory sakura selfie |
Several sketchers from all over met to sketch the blooming cherry trees at Renton City Hall. One from Gig Harbor, one from Redmond, and others in between. The small grove of Yoshino cherry trees seems to be at peak. The weather was perfect.
There were 6 of us but one had to leave early so not in our group photo.
 |
| 3/20/26 Wet Clay Cafe, Fremont neighborhood |
Kim discovered a unique venue in the Fremont neighborhood. In addition to a full pottery studio with classes, Wet Clay offers pottery-painting opportunities to those who prefer not to get their hands yucky. Potters spun their pots while others socialized as they glazed pre-fired pottery. In addition, there’s a café with coffee, pastries and sandwiches. And Urban Sketchers got to sketch it all as we sipped lattes and snacked. An interesting combo of fun stuff, right?
We’ll definitely be back there on another rainy day!
We met at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). My objective was to see and sketch the new-ish installation, "Friends With You: Little Cloud Sky".
It is a "commission from FriendsWithYou, the internationally celebrated duo of Samuel (Sam) Borkson and Arturo (Tury) Sandoval III." It hangs from the tall ceiling in the main entrance lobby. "Little Cloud Sky (2025) is composed of 40 of the artists’ signature Little Cloud character, each custom made of plastic, four feet wide, and suspended from the ceiling of the Brotman Forum. The work is designed to spread positivity and inspire a sense of connection, encouraging museum visitors to reflect on the beauty of togetherness and the power of joy and nature."
I sat on the floor at the far end of the lobby to get the entire view of the little clouds.
I went into one of the upstairs galleries to see a new exhibit. I didn't stay there long but noticed that the sculpture "Mann und Maus" had been moved. I liked the positioning near a window through which I could see the "SAM" sign.
Probably because it is the weekend - Sunday - there were a lot of sketchers. At least a couple left early.
 |
| 3/15/26 Mountains, Alexander Calder, Seattle Art Museum |
On a chilly morning following our freaky snowfall, I was more than happy to spend a few hours with USk inside the cozy Seattle Art Museum. Since my white pencil with black paper have been serving me well at art museums, both SAM and the Asian Museum, I gave them a shot on Calder’s work, Mountains, which I hadn’t seen before. All black, the sheet-metal sculpture stands with the dark elevators behind it on one side, so I walked around it to find an angle with a lighter-colored background (above). That’s when I discovered the round hole in the center – such a beautiful counterpoint to all the sharp angles.
That took longer than I wanted; by the time I was done, I was ready for lunch. As Kate and I chatted over our lunches at the SAM café, I caught a sideview of the whimsical Little Cloud Sky, an installation hanging over the lobby (the front view I sketched several months ago shows the clouds’ smiling faces).
 |
| SAM cafe and lobby |
I had time for one more sketch before the throwdown. I went back upstairs where a horse had caught my eye earlier. By contemporary artist Deborah Butterfield, life-size Pascal is made of steel and iron (below).
 |
| Pascal, Deborah Butterfield |
 |
| 3/13/26 Bellevue Square |
We all woke on Friday the 13th, the final day of the annual One Week 100 People drawing challenge, to the season’s unseasonable first snowfall! (This is the challenge's 10th year, and I've participated for 10 consecutive years!) As
I’m skittish about driving if I see even one flake falling, I gratefully accepted
Kim’s offer of a ride to Bellevue Square retail mall. It’s become an annual tradition
for USk Seattle to work on 100 People there. Despite the joint outing with Eastside
Sketchers, the snow must have kept many away, as we had a small turnout.
 |
| I apparently can't count while I draw! |
 |
| 3/6/26 Project 9 Brewery, Maple Leaf neighborhood |
USk Seattle was hoping the weather would cooperate for an outing at the big Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown/International District on Saturday, but rain was in the forecast. We decided to change the plan to a drink & draw on Friday afternoon instead.
With such short notice, I was afraid I’d be alone at Project 9 Brewery, but five sketchers came out to join me for brews, snacks and casual sketching. Our group size was just right for the cushy seats in the sheltered, heated patio area. Most sketchers had fun drawing each other, but no one was sitting directly across from me, so my victims were the usual random kind. (I did manage to catch the brewery’s house cat, whom I first sketched on Super Bowl Sunday. It’s probably the chillest cat I’ve ever met, wandering around to get petted by human patrons, unfazed by canine patrons, and napping and grooming on tabletops.)
 |
| 2/27/26 Fire Horse at Southcenter Mall, Tukwila |
I knew I’d get around to the dragon eventually, but I started with a new piece for the Year of the Fire Horse (above). Although I could have chosen from several different angles, the horse’s butt end gave me an interesting view. Ultimately, I regretted not using a larger sketchbook, as this symbol of speed and high energy seemed a little cramped in my square composition.
Since I’d sketched the dragon from the floor level previously, this time I went up to the second level for an overhead view. I spotted Mark sketching from the floor below, so I put him in, looking like he’d been scooped up by the dragon (at right). Unbeknownst to me until the throwdown, Mark had spotted me too, so I made a similar cameo appearance in his sketch (below)! (This is one of many things that make Urban Sketchers outings so much fun!)
 |
| Sketch by Mark Ryan (detail) |
