Sublime Color at the Quad

10/18/26 University of Washington Quad

Although the University of Washington Quad cherry trees take center stage every spring when they blossom, they are often overlooked in the fall. It’s still a joy to see their sublime beauty – and just as challenging to sketch it! Elsewhere on campus, more trees and even the ivy clinging to buildings were dressed for autumn. As if that weren’t enough, USk Seattle was once again treated to perfect October weather this afternoon: A bit chilly and breezy in the shade, but mostly clear skies with sunshine.

Unlike in the spring when it’s mobbed, sketchers had the Quad nearly to themselves. I started there and filled a couple of pages among the cherries (top and below).

Getting chilled from standing in the shade of the huge trees, I moved out to Red Square’s sunshine. The Broken Obelisk sculpture and even the statue of George Washington looked lovely in the mid-afternoon light.

UW Red Square

Uncertain about the weather, we had waited until only a couple of days before the outing to announce it. Despite that, USk Seattle made a strong turnout. We all know our days of great weather are numbered!

 

Fabulously Orange at Swansons

 

10/6/26 Swansons Nursery, Blue Ridge neighborhood

Every day of glorious weather in October feels like a gift not to be squandered. Today when USk Seattle met at Swansons Nursery, the temp got up to 75! Sunlight on the outdoor displays intensified all the colors, especially the vivid orange pumpkins everywhere.

It took me a while to zero in on a view that didn’t overwhelm me with details. I’ve sketched at Swansons many times (according to my spreadsheet, USk has sketched there more often than any other venue, sometimes more than once a year), and I always feel that way at first. I finally found a pile of pumpkins near the parking lot that seemed manageable (above).

Later I wandered out to an area where huge planters and pots are displayed. I liked the contrast between the large planter shapes and the small details and color in the background (below).

As always in public spaces, I looked around for dogs to sketch, and I found one quietly waiting for his human to finish up her conversation. It was over sooner than I expected, so I didn’t have time to put in the second party!

What a fabulously orange day!

Windy and Powerless at Centennial Park

 

10/11/26 Amgen Helix Bridge

About a month ago, I went on a USk scouting mission to Centennial Park, Seattle’s newish addition to the waterfront amenities. (More of my long-paid tax dollars at work at last!) On that cloudy morning, it was chilly and breezy, but it helped to have hot coffee and warm quiche at Café Hagen (despite their seating being outdoor only). I was looking forward to sketching at the park again with USk Seattle.

Terminal 86 grain terminal from Centennial Park

Although last Sunday was sunny, it was even windier, and the café warm-up we were all looking forward to didn’t materialize: The café was closed due to a power outage! (That lack of power made it interesting to use the public restrooms in the total darkness; I think it was the first time I used my phone’s flashlight in a restroom.)

Urban sketchers, however, are nothing if not hardcore and determined. Many hardy folks sat without shelter in the steely wind along the newly landscaped beach path. I escaped to the nearby Amgen Helix Bridge (which I had sketched for the first time back in 2018), hoping to find a bit more shelter from the wind there (top of post). No such luck, but I guess I was as determined (and chilly) as the others.

I walked across the 400-foot-long bridge, which enables park visitors to cross railroad tracks and industrial buildings over to Elliott Avenue West. After grabbing a bite to eat and warming up, I went back to the waterfront, wondering if the wind had let up. If anything, it was stronger still! The formidable grain terminal was hard to ignore, so I gave it a shot, with the wind occasionally knocking my sketchbook back at me.

We’re a hardy bunch!

A park pooch

I sketched a few other sketchers while we all waited at the bus stop.

Hardy!

Giants of 2026

Urban Sketchers from Seattle and Tacoma chapters met at Carpinito Brothers farm and pumpkin patch in Kent to sketch the giant pumpkins. There were 8 of us but some left before throw down. Mike was still painting as we finished early.

I've sketched these behemoths for several years. This year USk Seattle member, Tina, said there was one entered from nearby her neighborhood. Unfortunately, the grower's name isn't in the top 5 here.

Left to right:
4th Place: Jim Sherwood from Mulino, OR at 1684 pounds
2nd Place: Team Halliday from Maple Ridge, BC at 2037.5 pounds
1st Place: Russ Pugh from Eugene, OR at 2307 pounds
3rd Place: Cindy Tobeck from Olympia, WA at 1773.5 pounds
5th place: Stan Pugh from Puyallup, WA at 1528 pounds

Good to Be Back at West Seattle’s Farmers Market

 

10/4/26 West Seattle Farmers Market

Checking my blog, I think the last time I sketched at the West Seattle Farmers Market was all the way back in 2017 during USk Seattle’s weekend pity party! It was fun to get back there with USk again, especially in Sunday afternoon’s beautiful sunshine.

Buskers are always a favorite subject at farmers markets, and this one had plenty to choose from. Although I only caught a man on ukulele and a teenager on saxophone, I saw and heard at least two more musicians elsewhere in the small-ish market. I managed to catch a few dogs, too!

SAM with WSU

Yesterday morning we met at the Seattle Art Museum and hosted a large group of students from Washington State University in Spokane. The students were from the architecture and design departments.  

It was a wet and windy day so not conducive to sketching outside.  Unfortunately, the lower area of the museum was closed for renovation.  So most of us were crowded into the main lobby.  Museum staff were nice hosts and brought a bunch of stools to use.  

View of the smiling clouds installation with sketchers below.

Throw down of sketches:

The entire group, for scale. And then closer images, dividing the group in two.