King Street Station, Inside and Out

November 11, 2017--I drove through the typical Pacific Northwest autumn weather sampler on my way to Seattle to participate in the Urban Sketchers Global 24 Hr. Sketchrawl, arriving in a light rain. It was to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of USK worldwide. Although my time was limited, I was excited to document this experience at King Street Station, inside and out.

I sketched the beautiful restored globe chandelier, stalked a passenger while comparing packing styles, then, once the rain let up I went outside to sketch the clock tower.

A pigeon and a few seagulls decided to move around once the rain let up as USK founder Gabi Campanario  sketched the south face of the clock tower. Autumn trees still carried most of their colorful leaves in the grey city landscape.

King Street Station has been called Seattlle's Grand Central since the complete historical renovation when it reopened in 2013. The photo below gives a glimpse of the glamorous 1906 historical restoration of the interior today.

Inside the station you can see Gabi (in his grey cap) at  far left as sketchers crowd around a huge collection of fresh sketches laid out on the marble tile floor.

I lost count, but I'm pretty sure we had well over 40 sketchers turn out for the 24 Hour Global Sketch Crawl on Nov. 11, 2017. Many made a special effort to participate, some flying in from Vancouver, B.C. and other far flung locations.

Happy Birthday USk! (from King Street Station)

My first outing with USk Seattle was back in January 2013 -- almost half of the now ten years it has been around! While I can't say that I've been the most consistent in attendance in the past five-ish years (summers are hard when there's so much you can do outside!), I can say that I've really enjoyed every outing and getting to see and draw parts of our city; and seeing many different people participate and their work has been equally, if not more, enjoyable.

Happy 10th birthday USk, and here's to many more!

Ten Years of Community

11/11/17 King Street Station's tower sketched over my
Global 24-Hour Sketchwalk badge

Urban sketching – the act of going out to sketch in my neighborhood or wherever I travel – tends to be a solo activity for me. It’s become such an integral part of my day-to-day life that, more often than not, I sketch whenever I’m out on an errand or commuting. It’s like writing in my diary – a reminder of my day with a sketch instead of words. But Urban Sketchers, the worldwide community, is about much more than that. Yesterday afternoon at King Street Station and online during the prior 20+ hours, I was once again reminded of what it means to me to be part of that community.

Ten years ago this month, Gabi Campanario tapped an icon on Flickr to create a new image group and started inviting sketchers around the globe to add their sketches to the group. That was how Urban Sketchers began – an online community. Very soon it evolved into local groups meeting in person to sketch together, and eventually sketchers began gathering annually in one place for an international symposium. But the heart and soul of Urban Sketchers has always been local groups and individuals sharing in person and online. The 24 hours of Nov. 11 were a visual representation of that worldwide heart and soul, and I was thrilled to be part of it.

11/11/17 One of King Street Station's globe lamps and Smith Tower.

Beginning in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii, local groups in each time zone began posting photos of their part of the Urban Sketchers Global 24-Hour Sketchwalk on Instagram. Volunteer social media organizers in each time zone uploaded those images to the global Urban Sketchers Instagram account, and anyone following the account or searching the event’s hashtag saw a continual stream of sketchers and their work throughout the day.

I started viewing Instagram on Friday around the time New Zealand began posting, and then Asia, and it really felt like I was attending a worldwide party! In fact, I was restless to get the party started in Seattle – but I’d have to wait until Saturday afternoon for that!

It was worth the wait. We all agreed that Seattle USk had a record-breaking turnout, including some new members and several members who hadn’t attended in quite a while but wanted to be part of this special event. With sketchers sitting quietly on the benches of King Street Station’s waiting area, looking down on the waiting area from the upper level, or braving the cold drizzle outdoors, it didn’t look like a party, but it felt like one in the best possible way: people with a common passion coming together to enjoy their favorite activity.

11/11/17 Passengers waiting for their train.

When I first joined Urban Sketchers in May 2012, I was a nervous introvert who had feelings of doubt and unease as I left the house for my first outing to Magnuson Park. The group I found there was so friendly and happy that I got over my doubts immediately. I had found my community, my tribe.

Happy 10^th anniversary, Urban Sketchers! I’m honored and proud to be a member.

To see images from around the globe, search the hashtag #USkGlobal24hrSketchwalk. USk Seattle’s images can be found with the hashtag #uskseattle.

Initial meet-up: Blank sketchbook pages ready!

Thank you, Gabi, for clicking that Flickr icon!

I got a sore neck sketching the tower!

Halfway through the sketchwalk, we took a group photo to include as many participants as possible.

Gabi

Suzanne

Sue in a precarious position.

Michele

April, our Instagram manager, finally gets to sit for a sketch!

Swagatika

Michele, Gabi, Tina and Kate

Final end-of-sketchwalk photo

11/11/17 Post-sketchwalk drink & draw at Elysian Fields brew pub

Ujjwal and her husband, Mel and Gabi

Global Sketchwalk at King Street Station

Sketches from Urban Sketchers 10th Anniversary Global Sketchwalk. Seattle USk met at the King Street Station and it looked like about 50 sketchers participated, many new (!). I spotted the taxi lineup as I walked in and decided they would be my first sketch of the day. Thanks to Tina for the loan of a yellow pencil! #USkGlobal24hrSketchwalk