Introduction: Andika Murandi

Greetings fellow sketchers! I am super excited to be writing my first post for the Urban Sketchers Seattle blog. It's been great meeting up, learning and sharing with fellow sketchers these past several months and I am looking forward to keep being inspired by this group of wonderful artists.

Sketching with a company

My name is Andika Murandi. I was born and raised in Indonesia, moved to Oregon in 2000 to pursue a graduate degree and spent 14 years in the small town of Eugene. Yes, I am a Duck! :)  My family and I moved to Seattle back in 2014 and have been loving it. There is something about the Pacific Northwest that makes you want to stick around. I am married with 2 daughters who also love to draw. I guess it runs in the family. 

My love of sketching started when I took a permanent marker and drew all over the entire bedroom wall when I was 6 years old. I love to draw stuff and that was the main reason I went to architecture school. As a practicing architect, I always try to find time to keep my passion of hand drawing and sketching alive. I am one of the few in my office who still keep a drafting board on our desk. 

Working in downtown Seattle means there is never a shortage of things to sketch. I like to take a quick stroll during lunch time, and spend 15-30 minutes sketching on the spot to capture the essence of the place. It's a beautiful place we live in and I feel blessed to call it home.

Lunch time at Westlake Park

The legendary corner of Pike Place Market

The Alaskan Way Viaduct just before its temporary closing

I am honored to be invited to contribute to this forum and look forward to many years of sharing. May we always sketch.


My Flickr page: defragments

UK & Ireland Travel Sketches

Back in Seattle after a few weeks traveling through the UK and Ireland. I had a blast sketching. So much to be inspired by - I could do this all day everyday!

 Blarney Castle, Blarney, Cork, Ireland

 

Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey, Connemara County, Ireland

 

Alley in City Center, Cork, Ireland

 

Temple Bar Pub, Dublin, Ireland

 

  

London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben on the River Thames, London, England

House on Lake Stevens

Another commissioned piece for the grandparents of my former students. They built the house and moved to Washington to be closer to the family. This sketch is a gift from their daughter.

Connecticut Junk Shop

Drawn while visiting my book backers on the east coast. Drove by this place and had to stop. The owner didn't mind me sitting on his merchandise and left me there to draw after he closed up and went home.

Asian Art Museum

I missed the camaraderi of the last sketchcrawl at Volunteer Park, sadly, could not get off my hill with all the snow. But, I had a lovely day there last weekend with Beth. Got to see those great exhibits before they are gone, we enjoyed sunshine and lunch outdoors sketching.

Hansville WA

"Jane at Hanesville" Ink and Watercolor - Copyright Delorse Lovelady

Here is a quick sketch of a friend on an August outing to Hansville, WA. A lovely day sitting by the water, enjoying the scenery, snapping photos.

Next crawl

Just wanted to clarify we are meeting on May 22nd, not May 15th. Gail will post more later!

While I'm here thought I'd share this w/c sketch from Green Lake from a couple weeks ago.

loyal and high

Today I had occasion to be parked outside the Loyal Heights Community Center for a bit. Our first sunny day in 3 weeks! Too good to pass up.

Sketches from a BC Trip

Here's a few quick sketches from our anniversary trip to British Columbia in October... we took a wonderful boat ride up the Harrison River, great sunny crispy cool weather...

Fishermen were everywhere, on the shore, in the water with hip waders on, standing up in boats...
We had dinner one night in a Chinese restaurant... always fun to save those good fortunes...
People lined up for Tea Time in the hotel after their pool time, dressed in their white robes and bathing suits...
What could be better than a hot cup of tea with cookies on a cool fall day?

New York New York!

Teresa and I ventured to The Big Apple earlier in the month to see MoMA's Matisse show ( http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/969) and spent time each day walking and sketching. Sketched this sitting on a bench in Bryant Park, a little rain but not much! Have been missing our sketchcrawls, hope to get out to the next one!

sun!!

Last Thursday the clouds parted and we got a few warm rays! This little sketch is looking north from the end of Dock 3 at Fishermen's terminal.

joys of the waterfront

Was a great day to connect with friends and draw in the cold outside or the warm inside! This was a view west from the streetcar station, a block from the bookstore.
And here is Ramesh's 46-second portrait of another sketcher -- we timed him!