In the garden

Victoria moved to another state while we were unable to meet due to the pandemic. Since she briefly returned to Seattle this week, we organized an ad hoc outing to be able to say our goodbyes in person.

There were so many plants blooming I wanted to work at least one into my sketch. I chose this weathered bench. There was an "oops" with my fountain pen and a few drops of ink ended up on the right side of the page. This pen has never done that so perhaps I twisted the filler mechanism and spit out some ink.

Since I've sketched at least twice at this garden, I followed some paths on which I'd never been before. I discovered the large shed where volunteers worked to start new plants. I tried a different technique by drawing with watercolor first, laying in areas of light color.  Then I drew in pen and followed up with more layers of watercolor. 

As always, our group photo.

Victoria is in the center, with the striped sun hat.  We wish her well and will miss her. 

 

Bellevue Botanical Garden

6/17/21 volunteer gardeners

After last Sunday’s drizzly start to the return of USk Seattle, today’s outing at Bellevue Botanical Garden felt like a well-deserved treat. With temps in the low 70s and sunshine all day, it was ideal sketching weather! It was also great to see Victoria again, who was visiting Seattle after moving away from the area months ago.

Dazzled and overwhelmed by the layers and layers of green everywhere, I decided to warm up with a few gesture sketches of some volunteer gardeners who work hard maintaining the beautiful plants and grounds. The sketches are not too flattering, but their poses made me appreciate their back-breaking work all the more.

I took my time strolling up and down the many gently sloping paths through the shady gardens. Newly liberated in my post-vaccine life, I still marvel at the joy of wandering around maskless and not having to think about being too close to others. Finally one of several moss-covered stumps caught my eye long enough for a sketch.

Yao Garden

With less than an hour left before the throwdown, I wandered into the Yao Japanese Garden. Enough of leisurely lazing; it was time to tackle the jungle of greens. A few Japanese maples in the distance reflected the noon sun, and I heard Kathleen Moore’s mantra in my head: “If you can’t see it when you squint, don’t draw it!” Yes, ma’am – nothing but values of greens here!

Summer doesn’t officially begin for a few more days, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s here – and it’s as good as outdoor-sketching weather gets. Bring it on!

Sketching in the Shade

We met at the Bellevue Botanical Garden on Sunday. It was a fortuitous choice as the thermometer got to at least 90 degrees. It was a good thing to be able to sketch in the cool shade of large trees.

This being on the East side, further from Seattle than usual, we attacted a few sketchers who hadn't joined us in a while. Many of our regulars are already in Portugal for the USk International Symposium to start this week in Porto.





The Sharp Cabin is over 100 years old. It was build by James Sharp and originally situated on NE 8th Street. It sat on a 180 acre homestead. From 1926-1951, the Davajian family, Armenian refugees who fled genocide, lived and farmed there. They sold produce at Pike Place Market.



With a half hour left, I managed the sketch of this shaded scene. The stone lantern sits behind the Tateuchi Viewing Pavilion.

Refuge from the Heat Wave at Bellevue Botanical Garden

As our heat wave continued, USk Seattle found refuge at Bellevue Botanical Garden for their monthly outing today. It was cool and comfortable in the shade of the forested garden. The outside temperature climbed from 78°F to 91°F from the time we met at 10 am. until many left the parking lot after lunch at around 2:00 pm.

I was amazed at the transformation from the old familiar gardens that I last visited at least a decade ago. New buildings, teaching centers, pathways and further development of emerging sections of the garden were everywhere in evidence. I went looking for something familiar. First, I found the "Hobbit Door" as I walked along the path beyond the Tea House. Although I was on my way to the Yao Garden, I just had to capture this enchanting little feature.

I was entranced as always by the serenity of the Yao Japanese Garden. I found a cool shady spot at the south end of the pond and spent the rest of my sketching time there. I sketched the summer sky reflected in the pond and the rocks and plantings bordering it all around. Somehow I was subliminally influenced to go to the gift shop and buy two rocks with images on one side and sayings on the other. They make good paper weights!

I dumped out my sketch bag on the studio table and used the garden map for a bit of ephemera on my journal page.

With the air conditioning on full blast, I made the 1 hour commute back home where the gauge on the deck said it was 92°F in Marysville! Isn't this supposed to be the weather in Porto during the symposium? I think we've switched climates!

Suspension Bridge

We've had nothing but beautiful weather for about a week.  I had a couple errands in Bellevue which I tackled after the morning commute had cleared.  I decided this would be the perfect time to look in on the renovation of the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

The garden itself was much as I remembered it.  There is a massive new Visitors Center with lots of meeting spaces.

My goal today was to see the suspension bridge over the ravine, which I've never seen before.

Strathmore Series 500 Mixed Media Visual Journal; Platinum Carbon Black in a Platinum Cool Pen; Daniel Smith Watercolors

A two month sketching summary

I have not had the opportunity to post my sketches in a while. I have been undergoing an exploration of my life and career and I have not had a lot of time for posting my sketches as I have generated them. So here are the high lights from two months of sketching.

 I recently started taking a class on technical writing at the University of Washington. This has given me plenty of great sketching opportunities around campus.

I also enjoyed walking the historic Queen Anne boulevard, which winds around the top of Queen Anne and offers spectacular views over the city. The view from Bhy Kracke Park was particularly spectacular.

I visited the recently remodeled Bellevue Botanical Gardens. The gardens now sport a recently completed garden gate, gift shop, visitor center and office space. I was attracted to the Japanese Garden that doubles as a stormwater detention facility.

Finally, there was this month's sketch outing to Capitol Hill where I captured some great sketches along Broadway.

I plan to begin posting on a more regular schedule and look forward to seeing everyone at future sketch outings.