On strike

Today is my blog-versary. It was 12 years ago today that I was invited to become a correspondent on the Urban Sketchers Seattle blog. It seemed appropriate I do a sketch today and fitting to document what's going on in my suburb. I live in Renton which has two Boeing factories and several more Boeing buildings. If you haven't heard, the machinist's union is on strike. I went to The Landing shopping center across from the 727 factory to do some reportage.

It was rather noisy so I put ear plugs in. I think the strikers had a horn plus lots of passing cars sounded their horns. They groups carrying signs were on 3 corners.

Urban Sketchers on the Eastside Rail Line

9/14/24 Redmond Technology and Wilburton stations

Late last spring, Kate, Roy and I rode the new Link light rail line 2 from south Bellevue to Redmond. Getting off at each station, we sketched briefly before hopping back on. In addition to simply having fun, we were also scouting the route for a potential USk outing. Since most stations have enough sheltered areas that the outing could work during transitional seasons, we pushed it to fall.

As it turned out, Saturday’s drizzle didn’t faze any of the enthusiastic sketchers who showed up. In fact, I was impressed and surprised by the number of sketchers who did exactly what Kate, Roy and I did. Blitz-sketching at each station, they got right back on when the next train came and made it to the northern-most Redmond station in time for the throwdown!

Making one stop at Warburton Station to grab lunch at Whole Foods, I made a quick sketch of the light rail supports, which always make an interesting composition. After that, since I already did the whole tour in May, I saved most of my sketching time for Redmond Technology Station. Microsoft’s extensively landscaped pedestrian/bike overpass is challenging fun to sketch. (Both sketches above.)

Sketcher Jyoti works for Microsoft in one of the many buildings on the tech company’s main campus on the far end of the overpass. Walking with me, she noted key points of interest, such as the archway behind the colorful Microsoft “windows” (likely a good selfie spot for new employees and visitors). The triangular structure covered with foliage is a cave-like space where employees can take a break from all the glass and concrete. At lower left is a distant view of the pedestrian overpass. (Sketches below.)

Microsoft's main campus, Redmond

After the throwdown, most of us rode the train back to the southend park-and-ride lot, so I had time to sketch a few of my co-sketchers as well as other commuters. A fun day!

A green escape from glass and concrete

Late to the Edmonds Car Show

 

9/8/24 Edmonds Car Show

After a morning that did not go to plan, I arrived at the Edmonds Classic Car Show much later than intended. Twenty minutes before the USk Seattle throwdown, I hastily sketched part of a ’61 Impala just to have something to throwdown! Afterwards, though, I had plenty of time to sketch more cars, including my favorite ’57 T-Bird convertible (one of my dream cars) – a pink one, at that!

Although not as large as the Greenwood Car Show, Edmonds has a more home-towny vibe. It was good to be back there with USk for the first time since before the pandemic.

Outside and inside Moto Pizza

When I finished sketching outside Moto Pizza, I caught up with Natalie inside as she finished her lunch and sketch. Specializing in Detroit-style pizza (get it? Moto?), the restaurant turned out to be a really fun place to sketch – lots of colorful ‘50s-themed décor, including a bench shaped like a vintage car front.

Other than some residual wildfire smoke, the afternoon was sunny with temps in the mid-70s – a welcome break from the high 80s we had been having the prior few days.

Although the store is called Moto Pizza, all the boxes say "Odd Pizza." I tried to get an explanation for this, but the response didn't make sense . . . I guess you had to be there.

I heart T-Bird convertibles! Especially a pink one!

Aimless on Capitol Hill

 

8/31/24 Capitol Hill neighborhood

Despite choosing the location myself, I had a bit of difficulty settling down to a sketch or three on Capitol Hill with USk Seattle. After much wandering and dithering, I looked down the hill from an intersection and spotted downtown. Then I moved just a few feet, and the Space Needle rose into view!

Wanting one more sketch to fill the vertical space on the page, I looked up at an apartment building and saw intriguing shadows cast by the railing around a small lanai.

I’m not sure the page I made says “Capitol Hill,” but some outings just end up that way – a bit storyless. Regardless, the weather was fabulous, and after our mostly cold August, it was wonderful to get summer back again for Labor Day weekend. While most of the city was frantically trying to cram in the last of the summer fun, it was relaxing to spend the morning with USk doing what I enjoy most.

Pickles from the park

 We met at Coulon park today in Renton. It's a beautiful, huge, park on the shore of the southern end of Lake Washington. Lots of sketchers drew "Interface", the group of three statues that are dressed up by some volunteers! I've drawn them for years so I looked elsewhere.

It always amuses me that the Museum of Flight docents refer to Boeing aircraft under production as "pickles". They are just the fuselages without wings and are covered in a protective green film. I drew them from a distance. They are parked outside one of the Boeing factory areas in Renton.

Then I tackled the perspective nightmare that is the big structure on the plaza covering dozens of tables. Draw in ink with a fude pen for line variation.

Sharing sketches during throw down. Then some of us had lunch together.

On the way home I saw one of my favorite Renton sights: "planes on a train"! More pickles. So I stopped to sketch, them, too.

Sunny and Relaxing on Beacon Hill

 

8/18/24 Street trees, Beacon Hill neighborhood

According to my blog, the last time USk Seattle sketched in the Beacon Hill neighborhood was in 2016 on a cold summer day, where we could find only one coffee shop for a warm-up. We were pleasantly surprised on Sunday by how much the area around the light rail station had changed since then. Many more venues, several with outdoor seating offering good sketching views, and generally more welcoming to sketchers. We also had much better weather this time – sunshine and temps in the mid-70s, especially considering the wild lightning and rainstorm we had the night before.

Before I got started with the neighborhood itself, I pursued my ongoing mission. Since I don’t get to Beacon Hill very often, I had looked in Taha Ebrahimi’s book, Street Trees of Seattle, to see if any trees could be found there. Sure enough, two were documented within easy walking distance of our meetup location, so I head off for them (above). Interestingly, one was a holly, which I don’t typically think of as a street tree. The second was one of several beech trees on Beacon Avenue South, the main arterial and business district.

By the time I finished the trees, I was getting hungry, so I considered the many food venues I had heard about from sketchers who lived in the ‘hood. It was a tough choice, but the ice cream at Milk Drunk won out. I had intended to eat my entrée first, then go back for ice cream, but the line was so long and slow that I decided to order everything at once. That explains why all I had time to sketch was the soft-serve swirl, which I had to eat quickly before it melted and also at the same time as my curly fries before they got cold! Ah, the tough life of a food sketcher.

Lunch at Milk Drunk

Despite the mixed meal, it was so pleasant dining under a huge shade tree that I stayed long after I had finished eating, eavesdropping as I sketched.

Almost reluctant to leave that comfy spot, I head out to look for more neighborhood scenes. The light rail station itself, central to the neighborhood (and a likely reason why food venues have proliferated lately), was an easy pick, as was the top of St. Peter Catholic Church. As for the pigeons, usually when I see a flock, they are overhead on wires. These were all pecking or dozing on the ground – a rare opportunity to sketch some.

To round out an excellent, leisurely day of sketching, my 25-minute light rail ride each way gave me plenty of time to catch fellow commuters. Most impressive was the intrepid shopper who was on the train with his bike – and a package of Costco TP! A belt was wrapped around the middle of the package . . . perhaps he straps it to his back while riding, along with his huge backpack?

Beacon Hill

 It's been a few years since we were last here as a group. The area has changed a lot...many more apartment buildings and more interesting restaurants and cafes. 

It was a delightfully relaxed time sketching in the neighborhood of Beacon Hill station. I was happy chatting with newly met sketchers! The overnight storm had completely vanished and we had a beautiful sunny day.

First I did a sketch on Plaza Roberto Maestas. He was the co-founder and Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza, a center for Seattle’s Latino Community, and involved in the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the city. El Centro de la Raza building is right behind me.

Then with lunch at Perihelion Brewery. I sketched the fading sunflowers on the sidewalk next to my outdoor table while I ate some deliciously spiced fries (parm & garlic). Then had a good talk with a sketcher newly moved to this area. I later learned the meaning of Perihelion: when there is the shortest distance between Earth and the sun.

That's some soda...I can't "DUI" (draw under the influence)!

Being flexible

All's well that ends well. We were scheduled to meet at the base of the South Park Bridge.  Unfortunately the construction was still present around the bridge.  I thought I had seen a sign indicating it would be done by now. Hopefully everyone who was looking for us found us as I left a sign at the food truck to indicate where to meet up with Urban Sketchers Seattle.

The other option for this outing was the Duwamish River People's Park and we exercised our flexibility to make this area the focus of today's outing. 

We moved away from the noise and confusion to the quiet of the park. It's a wetlands undergoing restoration.  Though I didn't think so at the time, when we met for throw down, one of the sketchers had seen an osprey in the nest.  

I did a montage sketch of three views along the park area.

 

 

Upper left is the South Park Bridge as seen from the new viewing platform at the far end of the park.  Lower left is an amusing sculpture on 14th Ave., near the bridge.  Is it a lantern fish?  At right are some flowers, a log and a view of the tails of aircraft across the river at the Boeing plant.  

 

 We'll go back another time, perhaps next spring, once the construction is done.  A few intrepid sketchers did sketch on the South Park Bridge. 

Community Sketchwalk at Sketcher Fest, 21 July 2024

A great turnout for the Community Sketchwalk at #sketcherfest today!!

We were a bit chilly and got spit on a bit by passing rain clouds, but that didn't seem to bother anyone. Lots of great sketches by veteran and new sketchers alike. 

Thanks, everyone, for joining us! Looking forward to the next time we sketch together!!

Discovery Park, 9 August 2024

Friday was a great day to sketch at Discovery Park. With more first-timers than veterans, it was really a lot of fun! Lots of chapel sketches as well as those of the radar tower. 

We were even joined by a plein air oil paint artist in the parking lot. Making friends and influencing people: that'show we roll. 😊 Some of us trundled on to Little Chinooks for a little bite at Fishermen's Terminal afterwards. 

South Lake Union Saturday Market

 

7/27/24 South Lake Union Saturday Market

In the heart of South Lake Union, the SLU Saturday Market is in the shadow of Seattle’s newest skyscrapers while also enjoying Denny Park’s oasis of trees. USk Seattle had the benefit of both – shiny, glassy architecture (for those who like to sketch that) and plenty of shade.

I sketched a page of the market activity itself (the colorful entrance flags were a popular subject for many sketchers that day) and another page of thumbnails of the new skyline.

Architecture visible from the market

For lunch, I had garlic pancit bihon from 88 Cues, a Filipino food truck. I scarfed it down too fast to sketch, but I slowed down enough to sketch my turon, which is a banana-based dessert lumpia sprinkled with sesame seeds and tiny orange flower petals.

Lunch and dessert from 88 Cues

New to USk Seattle, the SLU Saturday Market offers a fun mix of urban glass and steel, local produce and flea market fashions. We’ll be back!

Denny Park offered comfy shade to sketchers.