Next Sketch Outing
Saturday, Sept. 13: Georgetown Steam Plant
You can always rely on Georgetown to provide something you don't see every day. She did not disappoint me today. These colorful cabs were lined up like they were ready for a parade.
This sexy Moto Guzzi bike was parked in front of one of the garden homes. The name on the side car cracked me up - "Jelly Bean the Sidecar Queen"
With vacuum tubes, conveyor belts and whirring churning caldrons, Starbucks has turned their roasting process into a Willy Wonka coffee factory. This hammered copper roaster was lit to be the show piece of the lower lounge.
At Boren looking west down Pike I framed the Plymouth pillars between the entrance to Tango and the trolley strand pole. The perspective down Pike gives some depth to what was otherwise a flat skyline.
This tagged '56 Chevy looked perfectly at home amidst the backdrop of the Georgetown grit - freeway interchanges, industrial lots and historic brick buildings. After changing hands
this classic found its way to the owner of Brass Tacks restaurant who keeps it running and showcases its character outside the restaurant where it sits parked in the lot opposite the spectacular. Nix and Barton mural below.
The secluded bench was tucked within a lush section of the village under a mature maple and next to a bubbling fish fountain. I couldn't help but appreciate that the bench was on axis with the clock tower.
This shop, The Chic Boatique, made my day. It had a way of reminding me to laugh a little and to not take life so seriously.
Though I had been through the station numerous time I always wondered where the station extended and how the entries met the street and other buildings. Before today I had no idea about the west side james street entry mid block between 2nd and 3rd.
Starting from the community college I made my way west down Pike looking for a fun storefront bathed in sunlight and a good Americano. I found the coffee at Stumprown and the storefront at Sun Liquor - Seattles early leader on the small batch hooch scene.
From there wandering up across broadway I stood beneath the enormous street trees in front of Lost Lake on 10th and tried wash first then ink. Shadows and the tree canopy defined the image. The result is punchy and more like a comic book.
Working my way back to meet the group with not quite enough time for a sketch I sat behind Tina and scrawled a quick center perspective across the sculpture court.
Looking back on these, I wouldn't change a thing about the path but would start with the loose sketch and end back at the school with time for a longer sketch, more confident with my drawing and sitting on the grass in dappled sunlight!
Zipping along Airport Way I noticed the parking lot full of trailer campers and immediately knew this would be my sketch spot. The life crept in throughout the morning as the owners setup shop and opened for business. The Beamer was just a shameless excuse to stare at this masterful composition of chrome, glass and red metal!
Time did not permit the trip to join you in Tacoma. I spent a beautiful afternoon studying what makes 45th such a great place to walk. Tree lined streets, cross walks, storefronts and on street parking have a lot to do with it but Chocolati and Molly moons don't hurt a bit!
I have been meaning to visit this revitalized Seattle landmark since the construction scaffolding came down last fall. I was not disappointed. The classical organization so rigid, the space bright and the plaster work immaculate.
This ramp at Seneca seemed to illustrate how negatively this structure has impacted our waterfront and the cool buildings in the neighborhood.
The Market was just packed today and I have never seen so many sketchers out in one day. Looking back on these sketches I realize the edge conditions identify this as a place (I stayed on the edges because the inside was a madhouse). City scale signage and pedestrian scale elements draw visitors in to this active urban destination.
Amidst the ordered and prepared retail environment of U Village the Dante's Dogs cart and the tower crane stood out as temporary and functional structures on opposite ends of the spectrum.
This cathedrall is beautiful on so many levels. I love the detail in the stone and brick work and the pure rigid geometry that organized the layout. It is St Peter's distant (and much smaller) Seattle relative. I was sorry to leave before seeing all your work. Please post a sketch and tell your story!
The sun poured into the reading room all afternoon. It was an amazing afternoon of sketching.
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).
The arm of this bridge was reaching skyward most of the morning, but when it lowered and the doors of the locks opened and shut it was like watching the two perform some form of industrial ballet. I tried my relatively new brush pen for this painting. I like the portability but struggled to get enough water on the page for sky and sea, so resorted to the old fashioned brush and cup.
There was another huge showing today for the sketch crawl at the Seattle Center. It was great be there to see the faces behind the sketchbooks. The project was a Miller-Hull designed temporary "House of the Immediate Future". They are exploring every aspect of design in this home from pre-fab components and zero energy to aging in place. Check out their blog for more at
millerhull.com/blog
The market renovations have gradually been unveiled piece by piece over the past months. Last month I wandered into the light-filled atrium space to find improved circulation a new glass elevator and the familiar public art. Today I went back and sketched while nibbling a slice from Delaurenti. All in all it is a much better space to give sasquatch a high five and gander at the giant squid sculpture.
The weather around here has been absolutely spectacular for sketching. David C and I got out to the Sculpture Park during lunch today. The Eagle was a popular destination. People gathered at its base to picnic, nap, chat and sketch (of course.)
There was a great turn-out today for Gabi's lecture on his book. I have really enjoyed flipping through this book and reading tips from the artists. He really engaged the audience with the anecdotes from his international posse of sketchers. Congratulations Gabi!
