A Media Moment on Beacon Hill

 

8/21/25 Beacon Hill neighborhood

In addition to a beautiful morning, USk Seattle had some special guests at our Beacon Hill outing last Thursday. Seattle Times writer Erik Lacitis and photographer Akash Pamarthy were with us to do a story about Gabi Campanario and how he founded Urban Sketchers! Putting on my investigative journalist’s hat, I surreptitiously followed Gabi and Akash from a half-block away so that I could sketch them. (Watch for the article in an upcoming Pacific NW magazine section!)

Akash Pamarthy photographs Gabi for the Seattle Times

For the rest of the outing, I caught other snippets around the area of the light rail station. Gabi had pointed out one of Seattle’s Last 6000 “majestic” trees (a designation of documented trees with a trunk diameter of 30 inches or greater), so I wanted to capture at least part of its trunk. It was completely dark underneath (thank you, majestic tree, for providing much-needed shade), so it wasn’t easy to see, but I squinted to get as much as I could.

The very modern Beacon Hill Branch Library has a distinctive aircraft sculpture on top of it. I sketched it years ago, so I already knew that the plane rotates, but of course, I forgot until I started sketching it. Then I walked across the street to get the whole front of the library. Its asymmetrical architectural design is fun and challenging to sketch.

As always, I like to capture ordinary street and sidewalk scenes, too, in whatever neighborhood I’m sketching. From the last time I sketched on Beacon Hill, I remembered seeing a huge of flock of pigeons hanging out in one area, but I didn’t know why. This time I saw a guy come out and scatter feed all over the sidewalk for them. I missed sketching that action, but I do like the patterns the birds form on the wire (the mess they make on the sidewalk below, not so much).

Our final exciting moment was when Akash took our group photo! How often do we get a professional throwdown photo?!

Another special guest was Dan (tall guy in back wearing yellow hat), a member of USk Detroit, who was visiting Seattle with his family. At his left in tinted glasses is Seattle Times writer Erik Lacitis, who also sketched. (Photo by Akash Pamarthy)

Whenever I snap throwdown photos, they don't turn out great because everyone is facing the sketchbooks, and sometimes it's hard to get around to the other side. This is how a professional does it!

Cool in the Shade at Lincoln Park

Don't you just wish you could have joined us? We do too!! What a perfect #USkSeattle meet-up, even with the heat and tight parking. Almost makes up for missing the #usksymposium in #poznań . . . . 

One sketcher came over on the ferry from Vashon, some came from Renton or Federal Way, and a bunch of us from Seattle proper. So it was quite the gathering!

Many of us focused in on one of @thomasdambo 's trolls Bruin Idun (it was almost chilly in the shade!) but a number of us also sketched some of the MANY fisherpeople hoping to catch some salmon - a great big long line of them! 'Tis the season.

#usk #uskseattle #urbansketchers #urbansketching #thisiswhywelivehere

It’s a Hot Rat Summer at Cal Anderson Park

 

8/17/25 Cal Anderson Park, Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill’s Cal Anderson Park was busier than usual last Sunday. In addition to the weekly farmers market, the park was also host to a flea market that I wasn’t even aware of until then. Both events gave USk Seattle plenty to sketch that morning.

I began with an homage to Hot Rat Summer, a piece of renegade art that appeared at the park last year (above). Not just graffiti or even a painting, it’s a mosaic installed on an historic structure. According to Wikipedia: “Widely interpreted as a symbol of queer and trans resilience, the mosaic gained cult status and sparked broader discussions around public art, graffiti policy, and civic engagement.” The city has been painting over the mosaic regularly, and local residents have been removing the paint just as regularly. I was unaware of it until I read a Seattle Times article about the controversy just a few days ago. People stopped by to pay respects to St. Rat as I sketched, and small offerings had been left on the ledge below the mosaic.

For the rest of the outing, I rambled through the farmers market and flea market, capturing some people and dogs. Not too hot, not overly sunny, the morning had a relaxed summer Sunday vibe, despite the crowds.

Flea market at Cal Anderson Park

Capitol Hill farmers market

After the outing, I had lunch with a few other sketchers at nearby Lost Lake Café, where I’d intended to sketch my French toast, but there wasn’t much left of it by the time I got around to it.

Waiting for the meetup to begin and lunch at Lost Lake Cafe

Unseasonably Wet at Third Place Commons

 

8/15/25 Third Place Commons parking lot through upper-floor window

Unusual for this time of year, an atmospheric river was headed our way. With heavy rain and wind in the forecast this morning when USk Seattle was scheduled to meet at a garden, we made a quick change to Third Place Commons, which is typically a wintertime mainstay for us. We were grateful to have this rare gem in Lake Forest Park, where a huge space of public seating is available for small meetings and other gatherings.

Grateful, yes, but I’ve also sketched there many times, so I walked around for quite a while trying to find a new angle. I spotted a small table tucked away next to large windows overlooking the parking lot (above). I recalled sketching from that same table many years ago, so I thought it would be fun to do it again. It was pretty comfy sketching with a hot cup of coffee through rain spattered glass as the atmospheric river got under way. (Here’s the blog post with that sketch from 2012 – my first time visiting Third Place Commons.)

After that, I wandered around again until I ran into Natalie. Sharing a table with her, I sketched a few people and lamps, happy to have my Urban Sketchers pals to hang out with on this unseasonably wet morning.

As is often the case, I can't spell and sketch at the same time. ;-)

Pier 58 Waterfront Park Finally Opens!

 

8/10/25 Pier 58 Waterfront Park

After many years of planning, designing and rebuilding, the much-anticipated Pier 58 Waterfront Park is finally open! The first part to be completed was the Overlook Walk, but that didn’t open until fall last year. The new Pier 58 renovation opened while we still have plenty of summer to enjoy it.

Statue of Ivar Haglund and a live human 
borrowing Ivar's chair

The USk Seattle meetup location was the eye-catching jellyfish climbing apparatus, which is the focal point of the new playground. It became a popular subject for many sketchers. Other highlights I had fun capturing were a bride being photographed on the Overlook, the giant swings (with the most comfortable seats of any swing I’ve used as an adult), a caricaturist (though her client got away before I could sketch him), and a man wearing a huge sombrero while singing in Spanish.

While I typically wouldn’t sketch a public restroom, this one seemed important enough to capture: My whole life, I’d heard (and have myself uttered) complaints about the lack of facilities anywhere near the long stretch of the waterfront between the Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. At last, a clean, safe public restroom!

When I ran out of space in my orange Uglybook spread, I opened my smaller blue one to catch a couple more scenes: A weary human resting in the seat attached to the statue of Ivar Haglund feeding his gulls, and a magician dazzling his audience.

With temps rising toward the upper 80s on the mostly shadeless waterfront, I thought I would run out of steam quickly, but it’s funny how sketching can keep me going. I just walked from one bit of shade to another, covering several blocks and back again. As a native and lifelong resident, I’m happy to say that Seattle finally has a waterfront worthy of my tax dollars!

This organically designed throwdown occurred under the only tiny bit of shade we could find!

A Tree-mendous Sketch Outing in Fall City

 

8/8/25 Pete's Treefort at Aroma Coffee, Fall City

Having a treehouse in their backyard is a fantasy for many kids. Pete Nelson of Nelson Treehouse has been making that fantasy a reality for people lucky enough to stay in one, at least for a night or two: His magical houses built in trees can be rented. And now there’s a new one next to Aroma Coffee in Fall City that’s open to the public whenever the café is open! Kate, who discovered it when KING 5 TV featured the café and treehouse a few months ago, knew it would be a fun USk outing location.

Last Friday morning, a good turnout of sketchers tackled the substantial challenge of the treefort’s architectural details. Inspired by Nordic stave churches, the three-story treefort can be climbed all the way up (I forgot to take photos as I climbed, but it’s fun to look out the windows and doors on each floor). There’s even a table and stools on the balcony and a swing accessible from the ground.

My breakfast and a warm-up of the fort

I warmed up with a small thumbnail from the front as I devoured a cinnamon roll (which was one of the best I’ve had in a long time). Then I tackled the color version, focusing on trying to get at least the proportions right. Whew! That took more than an hour, which is longer than I usually spend on any sketch!

That done, I went around to the back to capture the spacious outdoor seating area, where families were enjoying coffee, treats and shade after climbing the fort. Next door to the café is Nelson Treehouse’s office and warehouse. A funny wooden mascot sits atop that building.

Aroma Coffee's spacious seating in the backyard

About 45 minutes east of Seattle, Fall City is a little far for me to make regular coffee/sketching stops, but it’s tempting. Even without the treefort, Aroma Coffee offers unique beverages and treats in a spacious, comfortable place, inside and out. (The coffee shop building, itself, has its own story: It’s the Prescott-Harshman House, on the historic register, built in 1904.) But the treehouse certainly makes it special.

Next door to Aroma Coffee is the Nelson Treehouse warehouse and office.

For ideal sketching, I recommend going early in the morning. By 10 a.m., this bit of light was already disappearing, and then the treehouse is in shade the rest of the day.

Two Fountains

It's been so very dry that it didn't occur to me we'd have rain. But it was absolutely pouring down when I left for this morning's sketch outing at Zenith Holland Nursery in Des Moines. Despite alerting sketchers yesterday that there is plenty of covered space, only 4 other intrepid sketchers came. And one was so intrepid she came from Bremerton!

It was still raining when I sat down for my first sketch. So I chose a dry fountain display in a back corner of the shop.

My long planned subject was the fountain in the outdoor courtyard. It was sprinkling but I managed to draw it without the ink running. However, when I added watercolor it quickly became spotted with drops. So I moved just inside the door to continue painting from observation, just a little to the other side.

On the farm

 

Kelsey Creek Farm in Bellevue features two historic barns on the crest of a hill, overlooking shallow valleys on each side. These barns, listed in the State Heritage Barn Register, were once home to the Twin Valley Dairy. The historic Fraser Cabin sits on the hill next to the dairy barns. There are often animals in the fields.

Urban Sketchers Seattle met there yesterday morning under a cloudy sky. At least it was cooler. The East Side contingent joined us. There was even a visitor from USk Boston.

I decided to do a montage. A duck in it's tiny "pond", some flowers, a small barn, and the cute cow mail box.

Kelsey Creek Farm in Bellevue features two historic barns on the crest of a hill, overlooking shallow valleys on each side. These barns, listed in the State Heritage Barn Register, were once home to the Twin Valley Dairy. The historic Fraser Cabin sits on the hill next to the dairy barns. There are often animals in the fields.

Urban Sketchers Seattle met there yesterday morning under a cloudy sky. At least it was cooler. The East Side contingent joined us. There was even a visitor from USk Boston.

I decided to do a montage. A duck in it's tiny "pond", some flowers, a small barn, and the cute cow mail box.

Sketcher Fest 2025

Coming down from the high of Sketcher Fest, I am filled with gratitude for the many months of hard work and volunteer time that made this stellar event possible. Thank you, Gabi Campanario, and the rest of the Sketcher Fest team! I’m already looking forward to next year!

(My apologies to the guest artists I missed in the photos below. Some were either missing from their tables when I came by or they were so surrounded by adoring fans that I couldn't see them!)

Edmonds Summer Market sketchwalk

Olympic Beach sketchwalk

Bill Russell

Christina Wald

Cyrille Briand

Daniel Winterbottom

Dominika Wroblewska

Gail Wong

Jenny Jing Zhang

James Richards

Joey Mason (and his sketch of Gas Works Park)

Lapin

Marielle Durand

Mario Linhares

Nina Khashchina

Rita Sabler