Incomparable Views from Columbia Center

 

1/24/26 Views from the Columbia Center's 73rd floor Sky View Observatory

During my first few years of sketching, the ticket price to ride up to the Columbia Center’s 73^rd floor Sky View Observatory was only $5. A small group of sketchers had gathered up there a couple of times, and I went up myself on other occasions (here’s a sketch from 2012, and another from 2013). Eventually, the ticket price crept up to the current price of $33, making it cost-prohibitive as a USk venue.

Lady luck and a kind ticket seller were with us this afternoon, however, when USk Seattle showed up. We thought we would have access to the entire interesting lobby area that’s open to the public on weekdays. Unfortunately, under a new policy, only the ticketing area to the observation floor is open on weekends. Taking pity on us on that cold day, the ticket seller offered us a generous group discount, so most of us opted to sketch from the 73^rd floor.

On a cloudless day, the 360-degree view was incomparable! In addition to Mt. Rainier and the Olympic mountains, Mt. Baker is visible from up there – one of few spots in Seattle where that northern peak can be seen. Yes, Columbia Center is even better than the Space Needle (a ticket to the top now costs $49), which is always jam-packed with tourists. Although some tourists were at Columbia Center, most snapped a few photos and moved on quickly, leaving all the cushy seating to sketchers.

And sketch we did! Nearly 40 sketchers enjoyed an inspiring afternoon in the sky.

Mt. Rainier and the Cascades to the south

Mt. Baker to the north

My 5-minute sketch of Columbia Center from 4th and Cherry

Fun and Historic Artifacts at MOHAI

 

1/16/26 Museum of History and Industry

A motorized and drivable stiletto heel, historic motorcycles and the vintage Rainier Brewery neon sign were among the many fun and colorful artifacts USk Seattle got to sketch at the Museum of History and Industry this morning. Although I’ve been to surrounding Lake Union Park many times, it had been ages since I was last inside the museum (2018, according to my blog).

Although it was tempting to sketch some of my old favorites, like the Rainier R, I started with the irresistible high-heeled vehicle near the entrance. After that, I went upstairs to see the featured exhibit, Kickstands Up! 125 Years of Motorcycling in the Pacific Northwest. I picked out a pink Harley with a mannequin wearing a women’s motorcycle outfit. Many other sketchers were attracted to the antique motorcycles and bicycles there. Luckily, we had the exhibit nearly to ourselves.

Down on the main floor again, I sketched a couple of permanent exhibits that I don’t usually get around to (below): a cross-section piece of an 800-year-old Douglas fir and John Gage’s sculpture, Wawona. Although I couldn’t show it in my sketch, if you walk inside the Wawona, you can see a glass-covered hole in the floor that reveals Lake Union directly under that part of the building. It’s an interesting tribute to MOHAI’s home inside the restored landmark Naval Reserve Armory. (On the top floor, the original periscope still exists, offering a cool 360-degree view of Seattle.)

Usually when I visit MOHAI, I enjoy spending some time near the water sketching the historic boats moored there or other parts of Lake Union Park. With temps in the low 40s and a bitter wind off the lake, I didn’t have it in me this time. Plenty of other sketchers were hardier than I was, though!

Cozy and Cushy at Madison Centre

 

1/9/26 Smith Tower from Madison Centre

A new venue for USk Seattle, Madison Centre turned out to be one of our most comfy! Plenty of plush seating, floor-to-ceiling natural light, security people in sight but none concerned about what we were doing – it was an ideal winter location. And what’s to sketch there? Fantastic window views of some of downtown Seattle’s nicer buildings, a plant-covered wall, a double-sided fireplace, and an intriguing spiral staircase – just to name a few.

Library window washers

I started with a sketch of my beloved Smith Tower through a window frame and part of that staircase in the foreground. Mid-sketch, I turned around to get a sip of water from my bag, when I spotted window washers dangling from the very top of the Central Library across the street! Yikes, watching people work up high gives me the jitters, so this one was quick (at left).

When I had first checked out this location months ago for USk potential, the spiraling central staircase had caught my eye immediately. Toward the end of the outing, I finally screwed up my courage to take on a part of that spiral. It was a fun challenge to capture the matte sheen on the black steps in contrast with the shiny, metallic handrails (below).

Madison Centre's stairway

It was great to see a solid weekday turnout for Madison Centre, which will stay on our winter venue list!

First USk Seattle outing of 2026: Burke Museum

An amazing turnout for the first event of the year - maybe 45 people or so?

Tina has already written about how the Burke Museum is a GREAT place to sketch with all the choices - fossils, reconstructed mastodons & more, scientists at work, indigenous artifacts from the area, maps & graphics, taxidermy of all kinds - and a great cafe to boot. So I'll simply add some photos. 

(Apologies for the orientation.)

The Burke’s Irresistible Skeletons

 

1/4/26 Columbian mammoth, Burke Museum

I’ve sketched at the University of Washington’s Burke Museum many times, both at the old building and the current one, and I never seem to tire of the paleontology area. Who could resist the skeletons of huge creatures that have been extinct for literally eons? Apparently, no one: The prehistoric animal skeletons were by far the most-sketched artifacts at today's USk Seattle outing.

Although I’ve sketched the Columbian mammoth nearly every time I’ve visited the new building, it’s not necessarily because it’s my favorite (although it is one). Many of the smaller skeletons are backlit by the Burke’s floor-to-ceiling windows, which makes them harder to draw. I really wanted to use my black sketchbook, so I walked around to get the lighted side of its skull and amazingly enormous tusks (top of post).

Walking down to the lower-level entrance where the Burke’s mascot mastodon greets visitors (another favorite exhibit that I’ve sketched many times), I looked up at the Baird’s bearded whale skeleton hanging high above us all. I didn’t scale my sketch very well to accurately show how huge it is compared to Andika, who was sketching the mastodon on the floor below.

Baird's beaked whale's tail and Andika

In the time remaining before the throwdown, I needed something I could capture relatively quickly. From the stairway landing below the third floor, I looked up again, this time spotting the Elasmosaur replica hanging from the ceiling.

A record-breaking number of sketchers turned out for this winter weekend outing at Seattle’s gem of natural and cultural history.

Tribute to Peggy Gloth

I just learned that Peggy Gloth, one of Urban Sketchers Seattle early adopters, passed away on Christmas Eve. I met Peggy In the early days of Seattle Urban Sketchers, when we were just getting started. Peggy was a regular — always ready with a warm smile and an encouraging word.  

She was kind and generous and seemed delighted with the opportunity to get together and explore the world through sketching. More than once, she offered me a place to stay in her home, knowing I was an “out-of-towner”.  After retirement Peggy and her husband spent some time living in Europe and shared her travels on the blog. 

 I hadn’t seen Peggy in a few years, but I had brief contact with her in 2024 when we put together the 15 year Anniversary book. She sent in the following images. We were only able to include one.

Peggy helped shape the spirit of our early sketching community, and her presence left an imprint on our community. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing her will remember her well. 

Peggy will always be part of our story. 

 

 

Closing Out the Year at Westlake Center

 

12/27/25 Overlooking Sixth Avenue from the walkway connecting Nordstrom to Pacific Place

Westlake Center tree and former Macy's building

Despite temps in the low 30s Saturday morning, a hardy group of sketchers showed up for the USk outing at Westlake Center – and some even sketched outdoors! BRRR! All I could stand was five minutes to sketch the big Christmas tree in the central plaza and the former Macy’s star (at left). The latter was always a symbol of downtown Seattle’s shiny past. These days, the star still shines, but much of downtown sadly lacks luster.

After that, I decided to spend the rest of the outing indoors. Joining several other sketchers at Nordstrom’s Ebar coffee shop, I discovered a dazzling view of – not much (below). The blahness of the view, however, gave me an opportunity to try out an unusual color palette I have begun experimenting with.

While there, I learned that if I went up to Nordstrom’s top floor, I could walk across a sheltered walkway that connects the store to Pacific Place. As promised, the walkway’s floor-to-ceiling windows offered unique views overlooking Sixth Avenue near Pine Street. Although architects would have had a field day sketching the skyscrapers on both sides of the street, I chose Nordstrom’s corner where the deep awning was decorated by huge ornaments (top of post).

The view from Nordstrom's Ebar

The last outing of 2025 for USk Seattle, it was a fun morning to close out the year and look forward to the next one!

Miles

Anne at Westlake Center

Andika

Jeff and Miles sketch from the Nordstrom/Pacific Place walkway