March Gathering

When you walk into Emerald City Trapeze Arts you are ask to remove your shoes, it was the variety of foot wear that initially caught my eye. That and they weren't swinging back and fourth and doing back flips.....

Pen and ink with a watercolor wash in a Moleskine.

More Trapeze

This was an interesting sketch location in that the views were tighter than normal, the transparent nets added a layer that was difficult to capture the true nature of the space, and then the person subjects were in continual motion!!!

I felt everyone tackled these problems in real creative ways.   I chose to avoid these issues by sketching at the back of the balconey and drawing the Sketchers who were on the balconey madly trying to sketch the aerialist in flight.  The Sketchers all stayed still for many minutes!

After everyone left, I decided that I needed to capture one more view of the setting from the exterior that shows the high bay of the warehouse where all the high wire training occurs.

More Trapeze Arts

I found a long view on the stage of the main floor and attempted to take in the view step by step. After we gathered and shared our sketches I went back to the ariel arts room and managed a couple of gesture drawings then headed across the street to get the exterior. 

It was a very interesting and challenging sketch location. It actually looks like a lot of fun to swing through the air... and a gift certificate is on the Top Ten List for Mother's Day. 

Emerald City Trapeze Arts

Emerald City Trapeze Arts with Seattle Urban Sketchers on the balcony

tenacious trapeze artists by tenacious sketching artists

This was the most challenging experience for me. I was awed by the building but could not capture its essence. I struggled with a new Aquabee tablet as well as new PITT artist pens. And I could not find a comfortable place to spread out my supplies.

I ultimately gave up on the architecture and painted in some washes later. But the artist pens worked wonderfully for portraying acrobat motion. Each time an acrobat climbed the ladder, I knew I only had one chance to capture the swing and flip before the drop into the net. So the simple pen strokes were fun.

The sandwich board sign was actually out on the sidewalk.

Thanks, Gail, for arranging this great opportunity!

Emerald City Trapeze Arts

Drawing people sitting or standing still is difficult enough. But trying to capture them as they twirl through the air thirty or forty feet above the ground is really challenging. So I stuck to drawing the space of the old factory building and then merely suggesting the students in motion. In this view drawn from the balcony, Frank B. was nice enough to serve as a foreground element to indicate where we were standing, overlooking the tall space.

Another quick view, this time looking up from the ground floor level.

Taking Flight at Emerald City Trapeze Arts.

 We had a great turn out today at Emerald City Trapeze Arts.   I would consider this one of the most challenging venues we have attempted to sketch. It was also thrilling to watch the flying trapeze class.  Both adults and children attempted working on the flying trapeze.  It was impressive and fun to watch.  The structure itself felt like a cathedral to trapeze arts from below.  I would love to go out there again to sketch.

Watching Flying Trapeze class.

View from below.

Trapeze sketch outing

We met for our March sketch outing at Trapeze Arts.  It was in interesting and challenging venue.   I picked out the support for the net as my first sketch of the day.





It was a rather funky setting.  There were all sorts of  furniture, sculpture and things on the walls.  My second sketch was a set of skulls.

Sharing our sketchbooks. A couple people left early.

The rest of my photos are in a set on my flickr.

Emerald City Trapeze Arts

3/24/13 fountain pen, Stillman & Birn sketchbook

My heart was racing and my palms were sweating so much that I could hardly hold a pen. Safety net and harnesses notwithstanding, it was a thrill to see the students of Emerald City Trapeze Arts practicing their moves on the flying trapeze. Maybe some of them will perform under the big top someday, and it was fun to think I might have seen their first flights today.

 

As for my own aspirations, I had hoped that my life drawing sessions at Gage would have been somewhat helpful, but. . . not so much. I was happy to get a few gestural sketches from the balcony, where the students seemed to fly right past my face.

 

Many thanks to Gail and Jane for organizing a unique Seattle Urban Sketchers sketching opportunity!

3/24/13 fountain pen

3/24/13 Zig brush markers

March 24th 2013 Sketch Outing

Join us for the March Sketch Outing Sunday March 24th 10:00 am to 12:30 at 

Emerald City Trapeze Arts:  2702 6th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134  

Sketch and watch Flying Trapeze Class and mixed Aerial classes.  

It should be fun!  Contact gail@glwarc.com to let her know if you will be coming. 

We need a head count to let ECTA know how many are coming.   Note the following restrictions for use of the facility.

"The general rules for our facility are no shoes to be worn (socks ok!), and the large net in the trapeze area cannot be walked under for safety reasons.  If any persons need to keep their shoes on for medical reasons, we ask that they do not walk on any mats that are on the floor.

Other than that, we ask that you do not disturb the classes that are going to be in session (trapeze and aerial) by being quiet, respectful, and out of the way of their usage areas.  I'm sure your group has no problem with this, but we just wanted to reiterate that our students will be in session!  :)  There are multiple of areas in our large facility with great vantage points that would not disturb classes in the least. 

Thank you so much, and we are looking forward to hosting you!"

Emerald City Trapeze Arts  |  2702 6th Avenue S.  |  Seattle, WA 98134 |  206.906.9442
www.emeraldcitytrapeze.com