Welcome to Urban Sketchers Seattle! The current month's sketch outings are listed below. This page is updated monthly. To receive emails of our events, please make a request to: usk.seattle[at]gmail.com. You can also learn about events by joining our Facebook group. You may share your sketches there and in our Flickr group. On Instagram, follow @uskseattle.
If you are new to Urban Sketchers, please read and follow our Manifesto.
Sunday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Clouds of Belonging
King Street Station
303 S. Jackson St., Seattle
According to the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, “Clouds
of Belonging” is a temporary installation “composed of large cloud-like
forms that introduce softness, color, and light into the surrounding urban
landscape.” Meet in front of King Street Station, where the art is installed. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Woodland Park Rose
Garden
Woodland Park isn’t just for zoo animals. The Rose Garden is
often an overlooked feature in the park’s south end. In addition to flowers, the
garden also features topiary, a gazebo, a fountain and a “sensory garden.” A
pay lot is nearby. Free, unlimited street parking within a few blocks. Meet at
the garden entrance nearest to the parking lot.
303 S. Jackson St., Seattle
Friday, Aug. 14, 4 – 6 p.m.: Drink & Draw at Phinney Station
Not formal sketch outings, USk Seattle’s drink & draws
are a casual social opportunity to sketch with friends. We’re trying a new
venue this month: Phinney Station in the Greenwood neighborhood. The large,
street-level patio has plenty of tables with umbrellas. A food truck is
available; bringing your own food is also OK. Please patronize the venue by
purchasing a beverage (full bar and non-alcoholic beverages available).
Not formal sketch outings, USk Seattle’s drink & draws are a casual social opportunity to sketch with friends. We’re trying a new venue this month: Phinney Station in the Greenwood neighborhood. The large, street-level patio has plenty of tables with umbrellas. A food truck is available; bringing your own food is also OK. Please patronize the venue by purchasing a beverage (full bar and non-alcoholic beverages available).
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2 – 4:30 p.m.: Fremont neighborhood
Statue of Lenin
3526 Fremont Pl. N.,
Seattle
In addition to the
Troll, the statue of Lenin, the topiary dinosaurs and other popular landmarks in
the Center of the Universe, the Fremont neighborhood offers easy sketching
access to the tree-lined Ship Canal, Burke-Gilman Trail and the iconic Fremont
Bridge. Meet at Lenin’s statue.
3526 Fremont Pl. N., Seattle
In addition to the Troll, the statue of Lenin, the topiary dinosaurs and other popular landmarks in the Center of the Universe, the Fremont neighborhood offers easy sketching access to the tree-lined Ship Canal, Burke-Gilman Trail and the iconic Fremont Bridge. Meet at Lenin’s statue.
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Hanwoori Korean Garden
550 SW
Campus Drive, Federal Way
Opened in 2025, Hanwoori (“We are one”) Korean Garden
includes a traditional octagonal Korean pavilion, a Taegeuk patterned lawn, and
plants with Korean and English signage. Departing from the garden area is the
Panther Lake Trail. Across the road is the West Hylebos Wetlands and historic
cabins. (We’re trying again at this location, as our first try a couple of
months ago was a bit wet.) Meet in the adjacent parking lot.
Opened in 2025, Hanwoori (“We are one”) Korean Garden includes a traditional octagonal Korean pavilion, a Taegeuk patterned lawn, and plants with Korean and English signage. Departing from the garden area is the Panther Lake Trail. Across the road is the West Hylebos Wetlands and historic cabins. (We’re trying again at this location, as our first try a couple of months ago was a bit wet.) Meet in the adjacent parking lot.
Saturday, Aug. 22, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Light Rail 2 Line
Initial meetup: 11 a.m. Judkins Park Station
First throwdown: 1 p.m. Jimi
Hendrix Park
Second throwdown: 3 p.m. Bellevue
Downtown Station
Butterfly Canopy at Jimi Hendrix Park
Sound Transit’s 2 Line across Lake Washington opened to much
fanfare last spring, and it’s time to sketch it! This outing will have two
throwdowns! Meet outside Judkins Park Station (23rd Ave. entrance),
which is across the street from Jimi Hendrix Park
and the Northwest African American Museum.
The first throwdown will be near the red “Butterfly Canopy” sculpture at Jimi
Hendrix Park. Those who want to continue to the second half of the outing will
ride eastward and sketch at stations along the way. The final throwdown will be
at Bellevue Downtown Station.
First throwdown: 1 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Park
Second throwdown: 3 p.m. Bellevue Downtown Station
Sound Transit’s 2 Line across Lake Washington opened to much fanfare last spring, and it’s time to sketch it! This outing will have two throwdowns! Meet outside Judkins Park Station (23rd Ave. entrance), which is across the street from Jimi Hendrix Park and the Northwest African American Museum. The first throwdown will be near the red “Butterfly Canopy” sculpture at Jimi Hendrix Park. Those who want to continue to the second half of the outing will ride eastward and sketch at stations along the way. The final throwdown will be at Bellevue Downtown Station.
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Seward Park
Seward Park Audubon Center
5902 Lake Washington Blvd.
S., Seattle
Audubon Center at Seward Park
With 300 acres of old-growth forest, Seward Park offers
views of Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier, a Torii gate, an amphitheater, and
did I mention lots of trees? Meet outside the Audubon Center. Want casual
social sketching afterwards? Join us for coffee at nearby Caffe Vita around 2
p.m.
5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle
With 300 acres of old-growth forest, Seward Park offers views of Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier, a Torii gate, an amphitheater, and did I mention lots of trees? Meet outside the Audubon Center. Want casual social sketching afterwards? Join us for coffee at nearby Caffe Vita around 2 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden
Formed when two extraordinary private gardens were scheduled
for demolition for the flight path of SeaTac Airport’s third runway, this
11-acre garden includes more than a thousand plant species. Meet at the
entrance gate next to the parking lot.
___________________________________________________________________
PLEASE NOTE: At most USk outings, at least one admin is present to act as “leader” for that event. Very occasionally, no admins are available to attend. If you have attended previously and know the drill, and you notice that no admins have stepped up to start the outing at the appointed start time, please welcome any first-timers, decide on a throwdown location, and announce the throwdown time. If you can, please also take a group photo after the throwdown and share on social media with the hashtag #uskseattle . Thank you!
-
Your USk admin
team:
Tina (tinakoyama1 [at] gmail)
Kate (mkbuike [at] comcast.net)
Jane (janewingfield [at] gmail.com)
Kim (jkplus2 [at] gmail.com)
Attention Google Group E-mail Subscribers
Some Google email group members are still occasionally finding our emails in their spam folders. Please go into your spam folder options and choose “never block” mail from
urbansketchers-seattle@googlegroups.com . We are also experiencing occasional problems with our emails not going out at all or only to some members. It’s frustrating and annoying, but we don’t know how to resolve it. This page on the blog is always kept up to date with the current outing announcements, so if you haven't received your email, please check here!
love to join, are most outings during the week?
ReplyDeleteSandee
We schedule at least one outing per month on a weekend (usually the third Sunday of the month) and at least one on a Friday. In the warmer weather months, we usually meet several times a month.
Deleteam just beginning to sketch during self isolation. please recommend online courses available. thank you
ReplyDeletemyblueprint.com has excellent online video art courses, including many on urban sketching! Have fun and keep drawing!
DeleteHi Miata
DeleteI tried going on blueprint but did not come up with the art site. Do you have another name for it? Thanks
Unfortunately, Bluprint went out of business a few months ago. :-(
DeleteIt has been rebranded as Craftsy again: https://www.craftsy.com/#
Deleteplease let us know when we can start sketching together, 6 feet away right? With masks?
ReplyDeleteHi Sandee! We're all eager to sketch together again! We are following Gov. Inslee's requirements for organizations to resume meetings. Currently King Co. is in modified phase 1, which limits social gatherings to 5 or fewer people outdoors.
DeleteHello fellow sketchers
ReplyDeleteIs anyone sketching in downtown Seattle these days? I go to the Market and stay outdoors and it seems to work fine. Please let me know if you are starting up again. Stay Well
Hi Susan! We're all eager to sketch together again! We follow Gov. Inslee's requirements for meetings. The limit for our type of organization is still 5 or fewer people outdoors. Since we have no way to limit the number of people who might show up at a sketch outing, we are still not organizing any official outings. But you are welcome to invite 4 or fewer friends for an outdoor gathering while maintaining social distance and following other safety protocols. Stay safe and happy sketching!
DeleteIt is now mid-March 2021 any more thoughts about meeting outside now that spring is coming? Thanks, susan
DeleteHi Susan! We are still following the state's requirements for "recreational" gatherings, which are currently restricted to 15 people from no more than 2 households. We are as eager to sketch again as a group as you are! Thanks for your patience, and happy sketching!
DeleteHi there! I am on the communications team for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and we would be interested in starting an conversation with you for hosting an outing in the future after the current COVID-19 restrictions are softened. My email is hudson.k@portseattle.org to connect. Thank you! -Kate
ReplyDeleteI’m having trouble finding out about upcoming outings. A friend recommended urban sketchers seattle but didn’t give my the way to connect
ReplyDeleteHi Gay! Do you see the announcement on this page (above)? This is where we announce the outings. We are also on Facebook. If you'd like to receive email announcements, please make a request at usk.seattle at gmail.com , and we'll put you in our Google group. Thanks for your interest!
DeleteWhen does the March 2022 outing get posted?
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! We don't have it scheduled yet... we are playing it by ear this month so that we can meet outdoors and will likely announce on short notice based on the weather. The best way to be informed is to get on our Google mailing list, which I think you are already on...?
DeleteHello, I applied to join Seattle Urban Sketcher group via Facebook. Is it ok to attend an event as a guest?
ReplyDeleteThere's no actual "membership" involved ;-) ... anyone can attend at any time! :-)
DeleteI'm coming up to Seattle on the morning train. I won't get there in time to sketch with you, but will be able to join you for the throw-down.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Welcome! Please introduce yourself during the throwdown.
DeleteWhat is a throwdown ?
DeleteThe throwdown occurs at the end of a sketch outing when everyone "throws down" their sketchbooks to share with everyone else. :-)
DeleteHey Team, I was curious to know can anyone join the upcoming USk meetup without prior experience or is there something expected from them as new joinees?
ReplyDeleteAnyone is welcome to any meetup, regardless of experience! :-)
DeleteHi, do you still have a google group? I can't find it and this link doesn't work: https://groups.google.com/g/urbansketchers-seattle
ReplyDeleteYes, we do still have the Google group. You can just go to Google Groups and search for Urban Sketchers Seattle, or you can email usk.seattle[at]gmail.com and request to be put in the group.
DeleteExcellent
ReplyDeleteHey! I would like to come to the one on Friday. How do I sign up or do I just show up ?
ReplyDeleteYup, you just show up! :-) That's why we post notices here. Welcome!
DeleteHi there! Are there often weekend sketches for the m-f workweek folk? Or is it pretty variable?
ReplyDeleteWe do try to schedule outings throughout the week, including most weekends, to accommodate as many people as possible!
DeleteThank you! I would love to try this with my partner!
DeleteHi, are there any outings scheduled for the weekend of 2-3 May 2026?
ReplyDeleteYes! This page will be updated in the next day or two! :-)
DeleteRaising my hand for more weekday outings. as it looks like none in June so far... ultimate Sadness!
ReplyDeletemeanwhile i will keep the faith. thank you urban sketchies!
Hi! We usually do have several weekday outings per month, but in June we are dodging all the World Cup matches, which are all on weekdays. We will probably announce some weekday outings on short notice, depending on traffic reports once the World Cup gets going. Stay tuned!
Deletei will watch like an eagle for weekday additions - thank you!
Delete