Big windows at the newly remodeled downtown ferry terminal

. . . allowed great views while we were snug and warm inside. It was cold, wet, and grey outside, but I never get tired of being near the water. And we had all the time we wanted inside.

Plus, I met really kind people. Despite the weather, all the sketchers were really upbeat (as usual). The WSF staff gave us a warm reception, and even joined us at the throwdown. 

Colman Ferry Terminal is a Winter Keeper

 

11/17/24 Colman Dock ferry terminal

Some days, it doesn’t matter which sketchbook I bring. At the ferry terminal, though, I sure was happy I had a landscape-format book along!

Completely rebuilt in 2023, the Colman Dock passenger ferry terminal has been on USk Seattle’s radar as a winter-weather outing location ever since it reopened. Today was plenty wintry enough – bitterly windy and sometimes rainy. Although most of us stayed inside the terminal building, a few hardy souls sketched from the outer passageway where the view was even wider.

Not interested in freezing, I stayed indoors, where the skyline view was fantastic enough.

Choosing the “Ban Roll-on building” (formally known as the Second & Seneca Building) as my right-most starting point, I kept drawing across the top of the landscape-format Uglybook toward the left with a single line, ending with the Great Wheel. Then I spent the rest of the outing filling in the lower part of the spread with small scenes inside and outside the terminal.

To finish up the time before the throwdown, I picked a “victim” from the assortment of passengers waiting for their ferries (man on the right). Looking at the spread I started on my light rail ride, I noticed that everyone I sketched had “interesting” hair.

Light rail riders (left) and a ferry passenger

Officially, according to signage, only ticketed passengers are allowed inside the terminal building. But given the welcome we received from terminal security officers and other staff, some of whom joined us at the throwdown, I’d say we can all safely wink at the official policy. USk Seattle has a new winter mainstay!

Eric's compact sketch kit! ;-)

Drink & Draw at Overlook Walk

 

11/3/24 Waterfront Park Overlook Walk and Old Stove Brewing Co.

The new Waterfront Park’s Overlook Walk has been getting such an enthusiastic response that we knew it would be a popular outing for USk Seattle. We decided to try something we rarely do – an all-day outing with two throwdowns!

A quick sketch before the afternoon throwdown. At 3 p.m. the sun was already low over
Elliott Bay, but it was certainly welcome after a cool, cloudy morning.

My previous visits had been on relatively mellow weekdays, but Sunday was a whole different story. Throngs of people everywhere, yet the spacious Overlook never felt crowded. I spotted a vertical composition with lots of different shapes and textures of buildings, walkways and trees (far left, top page). What really caught my attention, though, was a smartly dressed man “casually” leaning up against a building like he belonged in a men’s fashion magazine. He certainly didn’t belong at the Overlook (or anywhere else in Seattle, frankly)! Indeed, he turned out to be a fashion model (his photographer was outside my frame). So the Overlook is already commercial photography-worthy!

After the morning throwdown, I invited other sketchers to join me for a drink & draw lunch at Old Stove Brewing Company. My intention was not to linger too long so that I could sketch more of the Overlook before the afternoon throwdown. But I was enjoying the company of Kim, Justin, Leslie and Devin so much that I ended up spending most of the remaining outing time there. Devin’s question to the group, “Why did you start urban sketching?” prompted great discussions that helped me learn more about fellow sketchers and reminded me why I love this tribe so much. Long live my sketching community!

Morning throwdown... 

...and sunny afternoon throwdown!

Halloween with Holidays on its Heels

10/23/24 Swansons Nursery

Swansons Nursery is a fall favorite for USk Seattle. More than a week before Halloween, the store was certainly decked out with autumn-themed decorations and plenty of pumpkins, but it was clear that other holidays were fast on their heels. Staff were already setting up the Christmas train display. Humphrey, the dinosaur topiary (whom I’ve sketched when he was fully “clothed” with greenery), was still wearing boots, hat and scarf in Seahawks/Sounders colors, but I was told his holiday gear was going up soon (as well as greenery, which he was sorely lacking). Workers were also replacing the sports-themed colored lights on parking lot trees with holiday colors. Whew – the retail rush is on!

In any case, we had fun chasing the orange before the colors turned red and green.

As is my usual pattern at Swansons (which we only seem to visit in the cold months), I sketched outdoors as long as I could stand the cold, then went into the café for coffee and chatted with friends.

Blustery Evergreen Washelli

10/20/24 Evergreen Washelli cemetery

I've sketched the Doughboy monument nearly
every time I've visited the cemetery. I decided on
an abbreviated composition this time.

Totally unsheltered Evergreen Washelli cemetery is an iffy proposition in late October when the weather can be all over the place, but it seemed like a fun idea right before Halloween. USk Seattle decided to chance it. With high winds blowing all day and a forecast of rain by 3 p.m., I was afraid I might be the only one waiting at the American Doughboy monument, but seven other hardcore sketchers showed up!

The weather was definitely all over the place: Despite the harsh wind and eventual rain, the temperature was in the balmy mid-60s – unusually warm for October. My sketchbooks were hard to hang onto. When I got tired of being shoved around by the wind, I drove to my favorite tree at this cemetery and sketched from inside my mobile studio: A gnarly yet elegant old sakura that I’ve sketched at least a couple of times before, including in April when the last of its petals were still clinging. 

Cherry tree

We decided to meet for our throwdown a little earlier than scheduled to avoid the oncoming rain. As I pulled out of the cemetery for home, the first drops of rain started falling. Whew!

The windblown look!

Seattle’s New Overlook Walk

 

10/14/24 Seattle waterfront and new Overlook Walk (note the Space Needle barely visible but peeking between buildings)

Seattle has a new public attraction: the Waterfront Park’s Overlook Walk. Under construction since shortly after the Alaskan Way Viaduct came down in 2019, the full Waterfront Park is not yet complete, but the newly opened Overlook Walk is a key feature and attraction in its own right. Now that the viaduct is gone, it’s possible to walk safely and easily down the otherwise steep slope from Pike Place Market to the waterfront without ever crossing traffic. The Overlook views are Seattle at its best – the kind you want to bring your out-of-town guests to see. And a big attraction to sketchers will be all the sheltered public seating that would keep us dry.

Scouting mission accomplished!

To plan a USk outing there, Kate, Mary Jean and I decided to have a mini outing first to scout it out. All three of us sketched from the waterfront looking up toward the new Overlook walkway and new aquarium addition, which also opened recently. After lunch, I sketched from the top of the Overlook looking down on the Big Wheel. In addition, I spotted some brightly colored maples on Alaskan Way where new landscaping has been planted near the old railroad tracks.

When I go again with USk, I might take a different approach and single out one view to make a larger sketch. For my first visit, though, I wanted to cram as much as I could onto one page with my comics style – an expression of being dazzled by so many fresh views.

My tax dollars were well spent on this new gem, and I plan to get my money’s worth with plenty of future visits.

Lots of public seating available under this shelter.

Magnificent addition to our city

This morning I explored the new Overlook Walk and Waterfront Park with Tina and MJ. It's a magnificent addition to our beautiful city. So many spots to sit and enjoy the multiple views. It ends with stairs or elevator down to street level in front of the new Seattle Aquarium building.

This was in preparation for scheduling a group sketch outing there soon!  So watch the blog here and your email. 

Quick sketch in a pocket Stillman & Birn.

The Space Needle is peaking out just right of center. If there is a view of the Needle, that's always what I want to sketch! New Aquarium building on the left and the overlook to the right.

 
Group selfie by Tina.