Rainy Columbia

 We met in the Columbia City neighborhood on a very chilly, very rainy morning. Only 5 intrepid sketchers joined the outing. We went our separate ways to cafes or to the beautiful Carnegie library.

During the worst of the rain, I sat in my car to sketch the decorated power pole in front of me. It had a monster face sculpture attached as well as some other art pieces.

I decamped to PCC market. From there I sheltered under a building overhang to sketch the empty but historic Arc Lodge Cinema, which was my main goal this morning. It's now for sale.

I next sheltered under the PCC parking structure to capture the glass art hanging from the ceiling.

We met at the library for throw down.

Pushed Indoors Again in Columbia City

 

3/12/25 Empire Roasters & Records, Columbia City

Déjà vu: I recalled a USk Seattle outing in Columbia City way back in 2016 when heavy rain and wind pushed us all indoors. It wasn’t quite that bad this morning, but it was definitely wet enough for our small group to retreat indoors.

Mary Jean and I decided on Empire Roasters and Records, a funky space combining a café and record store on three narrow floors. I admired all the furniture made from wood that still retained the raw edges, cracks and holes of the trees it came from.

I started with my current obsession: A color temperature study of the interior I faced (above) using principles I had learned in a class I just finished. 

That done, I could relax and make a comics diary page to commend myself for unpacking my drawing table and filling my sketchbook bookcase (below).

It’s a shame that we couldn’t sketch outdoors because the Columbia City neighborhood is full of old architecture and fun business street fronts. But I was happy to have a comfy opportunity to work out color temperature concepts in a real-life location, not just a portrait from a photo as we did in the class. 

Dry and happy at the Columbia  branch library

Art and History in Columbia City

9/22/23 Ark Lodge Cinemas, Columbia City

Spirit of Washington at Columbia Park

With days of clouds and rain ahead on the forecast, USk Seattle may have gotten the last of the sunshine for a while on this beautiful Equinox morning. Meandering around the Columbia City neighborhood, I stumbled upon a sculpture I hadn’t noticed before in Columbia Park. Called Spirit of Washington, the 16-foot sculpture by Quinault and Isleta-Pueblo artist Marvin Oliver “takes the form of a dorsal fin of an orca whale depicting Salish symbols of power and rebirth,” according to the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Instead of hitting it face-on, I went around to the side where I could catch the strong shadow it was casting (at left).

On Rainier Avenue South, Columbia City’s main drag, an old Regency Revival style building with Ionic columns (yes, I had to look it up – I don’t know squat about architectural styles) caught my eye. It turned out to be a 1921 Masonic Lodge that has been operating as the Ark Lodge Cinemas since 2012. (One of the films it was showing was Barbie – I couldn’t resist that pink B.) Columbia City has no shortage of historical buildings.

The problem was that the noon sun was nearly directly overhead, so both sides of the building were in the shade. Of course, just as I was finishing the sketch, the sun came around and put some nice bits of light on the building’s front façade. (What happened was a corollary to Murphy’s Laws of Urban Sketching No. 5: The light you were hoping for will appear just as you finish a sketch.)

On a September day when the weather could go either way, however, I had nothing to complain about!

Columbia City

We met yesterday in the historic district of Columbia City. There were many good sketching subjects within the main street and a block either side.

We had a sketcher join us from Taiwan as he was visiting his sister in Seattle. He couldn't stay for the throw down as she had to get back to work.  There were a least two others who also left early.  Maybe we should start taking a photo at the beginning, too?



Sketchers seemed to be arriving later than usual...perhaps it was the semi truck overturned on I-5! I waited at our meeting spot for an extra long time and did a sketch of the brunch crowd waiting to get into the restaurant.  Done in the pocket Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook.



After my second sketch on the corner, I walked a block away to sketch the door facade of Columbia School.



My favorite of the day is this sketch of a corner with an antique clock. I'd still wanted to stay fairly close to our meeting spot and this was just across the street.




No more sketchers appeared but I did meet an older couple with a baby in a stroller. She asked, "are you an Urban Sketcher". I think that's the first time I've gotten so specific a question.  Turned out she lives on Vashon Island and had taken a workshop from one of USk Tacoma members, Darsie Beck!. I told her Tacoma was meeting the next day.

Cooking up a Surprise in Hip and Historical Columbia City

In a show of solidarity with our fellow sketchers in Porto, Portugal, Usk Seattle met in the Columbia City neighborhood today. We knew that the participants at the Porto Symposium were attending workshops and sketching on the street in Portugal at this very same moment.

The hip and historic Columbia City Neighborhood at Rainier Ave and Ferdinand

A sketchers' party on the street. Kate on pastry security duty.

Kate made badges and signs for our "Porto Pity Party" and Michele and Kate cooked up a surprise for those who met at "Geraldines" corner this morning. There were fresh baked Portuguese style pasteis de nata and our own Starbucks coffee to start the day. Patrick, USkSeattle friend and baker, came through with the tasty egg custard tarts. Thank you, Patrick! In true urban style, we spread a Portuguese print tablecloth over the Seattle Times newspaper box (Hi, Gabi!) and everyone helped themselves.

The Myers Music Street Clock leaned over in curiosity to get a closer look, much as the Clerigos Tower in Porto curiously peered at what was going on around it. (A nod to Isa Silva for a witty symposium logo)

The clock across the street was once located on 1st Ave

As we walked down Rainier Ave toward the Columbia Branch Library, Kate and I talked about the dramatic changes in the neighborhood since it was built. The branch's landmark 1915 building is the smallest of the libraries built for Seattle with gifts from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919).  The branch itself dates to 1909, two years after Columbia City was annexed into Seattle.

Sketching the Carnegie Library front door and patron

Carnegie would be astounded at how the library is used today.

Not only can you pick up a great book for your summer reading, you can play a game of chess, catch up on your email, research anything online or even engage in a popular art activity.

You can download and print a coloring sheet for your branch. Coloring sheets are available for all 27 Library locations. What a great way to start your urban sketching skills!

Download the coloring sheet

We are also celebrating the 9th Anniversary of the founding of Seattle Urban Sketchers. Kate had signs made up for that, too, which we proudly displayed at our sketchbook throwdown. See Kate's blog post with more photos.

Then we had lunch at Pagliacci.

Two Celebrations

The Urban Sketchers 9th International Symposium is happening right now in Porto, Portugal. Several of the sketchers from USk Seattle are there. For those of us who aren't, Michele and I threw a "Porto Pity Party" at our sketch outing today in Columbia City. It was complete with pasteis de nata, the Portuguese pastry specialty that everyone there is raving about. Chef Patrick of Patrick's Cafe and Bakery took the challenge of making them for us. Everyone agreed they were delicious.




 We met again to share sketches. Our second celebration was the 9th Anniversary of the first Urban Sketchers outing in Seattle which was 19 July 2009.





While I had another location in mind, I walked down to the Columbia City branch of the Seattle Public Library. It's a lovely old Carnegie building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It opened in 1915.   I added some ephemera from the day with the detail sketch of the pasteis de nata.  

Columbia City on Oct 14

Although our weather wasn't quite as wild as forecast it was still wet and wooly Friday for our outing to Columbia City. About 6 of us showed up and we hid under awnings or in cafes  and restaurants to do our sketches.   I was pretty bundled up and stayed outside sketching along the sidewalks until the rain got to be too much and I sought refuge in a coffee shop and did my last sketch inside.   A few cups of coffee did nothing for my hand steadiness unfortunately.  It was a fun day though.  The temp was mild and the dark sky and mix of green and colored leaves in the town was a nice contrast with the wet streets and sidewalks.  I really haven't spent much time in Columbia City but it was a nice, compact, low key downtown with a variety of good eateries and shops.  It had a pleasant comfortable feel.  Easy to see why it is becoming more popular over time.

I got curious about the Columbia City Theatre, but just as I was finishing my sketch and was looking up to look at the playbills posted in the windows the rains came down in earnest and I ran for it.  I did look up their schedule after I got home and it looks like they have a pretty wide variety of live music and plays and small musicals.  Plus they have the Bourbon Bar next door and apparently open through the stage seating.   Looks like a fun venue.   I have always loved small venues like this.  They can be great fun and a wonderful source of community pride!

 I had fun prowling around the puddles by the Columbia Family Health Center.   There were some trees nearby beginning to get some yellows and oranges on them as well as dropping leaves onto the sidewalk and brick road margin.   This was an interesting construction.   They had a nice decent sized concrete sidewalk along the sides of the buildings, and then a curb, and then a brick paved road margin that had trees and lampposts in it, and beyond that the actual roadway.  It was a nice setup and gave pedestrians plenty of room with lots of space for the shade trees and cars.  

Looks like a fun little community to go back and explore in more.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Go Sketching

10/14/16 Columbia City PCC salad bar

10/14/16 Frank sketching at PCC

Despite high-wind warnings and other predictions of a storm that could rank among the five worst storms in Western Washington history, seven hardy sketchers met in Columbia City – and several of them even sketched outdoors!

Not me – I retreated to PCC’s café, where I sketched the salad bar. Shortly after I arrived, Frank Ching came in, so I sketched him. When we shared sketches over lunch, I was impressed by those who sheltered under awnings and in doorways – at least until the rain started pouring sideways – to capture the neighborhood.

The worst of the storm is not supposed to hit until tomorrow afternoon, when I intend to be safely bundled up at home, flashlights and candles at the ready. Hope the rest of you locals are all safely indoors by then, too! 

Hardy sketchers!

Sketching in Columbia City

 The first place I remember drawing outside was Columbia City. I attended elementary school at the building between Rainier and MLK. As part of an art class, we went out to the historic section of Columbia City to sketch.

I wish I could find the drawing I did back then. The sketch above is of the same building though from a different perspective. I took shelter in the Starbucks on the corner of Rainier and Edmunds. The coffee shop offers great views up Columbia City's historic business district and over to the former Orca building.

It is amazing how much Columbia City has changed. When I was in elementary school, Columbia City was mostly filled with nail salons and little else. Since then, the business district has really come to life with a variety of restaurants, bars, cafes and boutique shops. I was also amazed to see the huge apartment building they are building next to the Columbia City Library.

Despite the big changes some things have remained the same. The funky 1960s bank building is still standing and the beautiful library retains its stately presence in Columbia Park. In addition, it is great to see the care taken to maintain the brick buildings on Rainier Avenue.

Sketching in Columbia City

The first place I remember drawing outside was Columbia City. I attended elementary school at the building between Rainier Avenue and MLK. As part of an art class, we went out to the historic section of Columbia City to sketch. 

I wish I could find the drawing I did back then. The sketch above is of the same building though from a different perspective. I took shelter in the Starbucks on the corner of Rainier and Edmunds. The coffee shop offers great views up Columbia City's historic business district and over to the former Orca building.

It is amazing how much Columbia City has changed. When I was in elementary school, Columbia City was mostly filled with nail salons and little else. Since then, the business district has really come to life with a variety of restaurants, bars, cafes and boutique shops. I was also amazed to see the huge apartment building they are building next to the Columbia City Library.

Despite the big changes some things have remained the same. The funky 1960s bank building is still standing and the beautiful library retains its stately presence in Columbia Park. In addition, it is great to see the care taken to maintain the brick buildings on Rainier Avenue.  

 

Revisiting Columbia City

Last Monday, the day after my wet sketching at Folklife, I meandered over to Columbia City,  plunked myself on a stool and made another attempt at the center of Columbia City. I really had to stick with it to come to any point of satisfaction. And here's a record of the day-- two sketches from the same vantage point.

I worked this one with color, since that's what attracted me to the scene.

This black and white is another attempt at twig drawing. Mastery is a ways away.

One Last sketch from Columbia City

There was one last sketch I did of Columbia City trying out a new large format sketchbook. It was 9x12 size and I was able to get the line work done on site but not able to start the watercolor. I did that in the comfort of my home from a photo I shot after I had finished drawing the sketch. A nice way to watch the Seahawks game and do a little watercolor.

Looking south on Rainier

Looking south on Rainier kiddycorner from the Royal Palm. I was shivering by the time I was done, nonetheless it was a gorgeous autumn day.

Columbia City Theatre and Bourbon Bar

I used to live just off Rainier St on South Garden and I would drive down Rainier Ave every day on the way home from work. Somehow I didn't notice the Columbia City Theatre back then. Columbia City has come a long way in the 15+ years since I lived near there. It is beautiful with lots of colors, activity, buildings, and shops, old and new. It was a somewhat chilly day in comparison with some of the almost summertime weather we've been having which made for some quick sketch and watercolor maneuvers on my part, including spills, splotches, huge droplets coming from the sky and landing on my page that I wasnt sure if came from the clouds or the birds. All in all, a nice day and I'm glad this crazy long summer weather is finally giving way to Fall. I am game for a few more outdoor sketchcrawls!

Beautiful, crisp Sunday morning

I really enjoyed seeing so many sketches and fellow sketchers. We all had numb fingers after sitting out side for a few hours, but it was worth it! 

Columbia City Sketchcrawl

I managed to stay warm because the van in front of me was idling its engine and the exhaust kept me warm.

But now I have a headache.

Fall in Columbia City

Though it was cold and damp we still had a great turnout in this sketch outing.  About 19 people showed up.  We kind of took over Starbucks but people didn't seem to mind.  I found a side street that actually got some interesting light and shadow play as the sun darted in and out of the clouds.  Here is my first sketch.   I will post the second later.  I did the line work on site but will be painting it from photos. This will be the last out door sketch outing until late spring.

Columbia City - Rainier Ave

The light and color this morning were spectacular. Despite Rainier being a busy thoroughfare, the street is very pedestrian friendly. The tree canopy and connected deep overhangs contribute to this in a major way.

My conversation with Dave before sketching lead to this diagram. I decided to take more time to analyze what makes the street work. I love how the brick paving creates a buffer zone between peds and cars for all that urban jewelry (bikes, newspaper boxes, trash cans and tree wells).

Cold Columbia City

We were freezing! I sat next to Steve and Jackie, but turned to look down Rainier toward
these backlit trees.

Columbia City Sketchcrawl

Chilly but clear morning sketching with the Seattle Urban Sketchers in Columbia City. 
Nice turn out, and nice to sketch with Jackie again. But even with my fingerless gloves I was too cold. Jackie is somehow immune to the chill, but interiors for me from now on until May.