Urban Sketching at Drawing Jam

12/5/15 Skinner Auditorium filled with models and artists.

If you like to sketch people in action as much as I do, Gage’s Drawing Jam is a sketcher’s paradise! Even if you never enter any of the multiple studios filled with clothed, unclothed and wildly costumed models, lots and lots of people are available to draw – whether they know it or not. For the second year, Urban Sketchers Seattle used the Jam as an opportunity for a meetup, and what an opportunity it was!

12/5/15 John Rizzotto giving a still-life demo

After having a ball all morning in my favorite costumed model studio, my intention was to go back in there after the sketchbook sharing and lunch in the auditorium. Somehow, though, I never made it back, because the auditorium was filled with so many other people to draw. Of course, I did fill several pages of my sketchbook with one-minute sketches of models posing on the scaffolding set up for that purpose. But when I tired of that, I sketched the other artists, the musicians that changed out every hour (you might recognize some of them from last year’s sketches), and even a Gage instructor who was giving a still life demo. I didn’t even have to move my chair – I could just swivel around 90 or 180 degrees and sketch whatever I spotted in another direction. 

12/5/15 Tangletown String Band

12/5/15 Parnassus Project cellist

12/5/15 percussionist for Ask Sophie

12/5/15

12/5/15

Michele (fourth from back) shivers in the rain as we wait to bust the doors down at Gage!

I spotted at least two other urban sketchers at the Jam who didn't make it into
our group selfie!

A Toast to Gage Academy's Drawing Jam!

I had a blast today at Gage Academy's Annual Drawing Jam. Thank you, Gage and sponsors for the free art supplies, models and music! Here's a photo Tina took of our ad hoc group of Seattle Urban Sketchers.

Although I was aware of the event before, this was the first time I actually attended. Each year, the Academy opens up its doors to the community to provide models, live music, open studios and art activities for the whole family – plus, there were two gourmet food-trucks today, courtesy of Off the Rez and Wicked Pies!

I brought my Aquash water brush and Lamy fountain pen, with water soluble Lamy ink. I had a new Fabriano soft cover notebook that I was anxious to try while working on figures or character studies.  I ended up drawing my fellow artists, all unaware, as they focused on the live models. There were Disney characters, pirates, medieval tableaux, Hawaiian dancers, and more! (I am not posting any sketches of posed models here, since that is not part of the Urban Sketchers' manifesto.)

My sketches. I also sketched "Princess Leia" and "Thor" (not shown)

According to Gage's website: 
Drawing Jam features a cast of over 50 models throughout the building – including dancers, musicians and costumed performers serving as gesture models, as well as nude figure models available for traditional sessions.
Costumed models include The SeaFair Pirates, Fox Chalker, Comic Book Characters for Causes, Nikita Breznikov, Noah Duffy, The Goddess Kring and more!

 

On the first floor of the main building, you walk straight ahead down the hall and turn in at the last room on the right. It's a room packed FULL of kids, with instructors and volunteers making sure they had sticks, clay and whatever else was needed to sculpt their small masterpieces!

So much to see! So much from which to choose! The dilemma is not what to draw, but what to sacrifice because of the time allotted. The Academy was open from 9am to 6pm. I lasted until a bit after 3pm. Tina posted a picture of me waiting in line at 8:30am.

What to do? Draw from the plaster casts, sketch medieval characters while listening to music, watch John Rizzotto demo a still life?

After rising at 6:30 am, driving for an hour, traipsing up and down three double flights of stairs and sloshing back and forth in the rain between the main building and Skinner Auditorium, I had to say "Enough!". (Anyone who knows me can tell you that I seldom sit while sketching, so I only got a total of about 20 minutes chair time during lunch. It really felt good to have a seat while driving the hour back home!)

I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Pizza, Ceasar Salad, Tacos, Burgers and Indian Fry Bread--Yummy and Hot!

They were out there, playing a rousing rendition of hava nagila in the rain.

Gage Drawing Jam

This was the first year I was able to attend the Gage Drawing Jam. It reminded me of art school days roaming the halls with room after room of interesting things to draw and loads of folks into the same thing - drawing. Here's a couple that could be considered "in context" and meet the USk people in context standard.

 

      

    

Gage Drawing Jam 2014

The Gage Academy was full of people of all ages and abilities Saturday at the annual Drawing Jam.
After spending time in a number of different studios, I ended my day in the grand Skinner Auditorium.  The space has high clerestory windows and so I wanted to capture a sense of the height while including the group of artists drawing the models in the center of the room.

Drawing Jam Jams Again!

Bravo to Gage Academy for putting on another fantastic Drawing Jam! For the 15^th year, Gage brought together models (clothed, unclothed and fantastically costumed), demos, still lifes, plaster casts, a table of mirrors for self-portraits, kids’ activities, food trucks, live music and free art materials from local sponsors – all adding up to a 12-hour day of art fun for only $10! I’m sure it’s a ton of work for Gage and all the volunteers who make it happen, but every time I attend I think about how wonderful it would be if Drawing Jam could happen more than just once a year. 

As usual, I spent most of my time in the various life drawing studios (sketches on my personal blog). But when I couldn’t get a good view of the models or if I was just tired of drawing them, I stayed in back and sketched other artists or even the musicians who entertained us as we sketched. 

Sketching at the Gage Academy Drawing Jam

The studio was jammed with art, supplies and nick-knacks. By attention was ultimately drawn by two busts of the Roman Emperors Caesar and Augustus. I was particularly fascinated by the contrast between Caesar's sharp features and Augustus's soft cheek and jaw lines.

I was also drawn to an art's space, which explored mystical imagery. The space was fascinating due to the unusual perspective generated by the window sitting into the angle of the building's roof. In addition, I enjoyed the striking picture of a lion with a human head next to the space.

It has been a long time since I drew live models, and I enjoyed the challenge of drawing the human form. Besides the models, the artist and visitors provided great opportunities to draw the human form as well.

Drawing Jam At the Gage Art Academy

Went to my first Drawing Jam at the Gage Art  Academy.  It was a great event!  Sketching, live musical performances, food,  free gift bags from art stores.  What more could you ask.
Here are my sketches.  Would love to see sketches done by other sketchers that went.

Drawing Opportunities this Weekend

Cultural events happening this weekend that should be great drawing opportunities.

There is the Drawing Jam this Saturday at Gage Academy of Art: 12 hours of drawing and creating art!  If you're not familiar with Gage it's a non-profit art school that has adult, teen, and kids programs and they are located on Cap Hill right next to St. Marks. It's $10 for adults, free for kids and teens, and they still need volunteers to help out if you want to get in for free and a t-shirt to boot! www.gageacademy.org

Also Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m.  is a Musical Revue at Garfield High School's Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center.   It is a fun night with singing and dancing.  Suggested donations $10.00 adults $5.00 kids.  www.garfieldsingers.org