Beautiful day at Lake Washington

Yesterday was probably the nicest day we'll have in the next week or more.  It was a day that required drawing on location.

I went to a near by spot that I haven't visited in at least 3 years.  

First, I walked along the Cedar River trail which borders the Boeing Renton plant.  There are lots of aircraft on both sides...the plant side to the East and the runway to the west.  A bridge over the river is only for Boeing vehicles, including the aircraft crossing!

These are unfinished Boeing aircraft.  They are covered in a green protective film, causing the Museum of Flight docents to call them "pickles". Actually, now that I think about it, pickles are just the fuselage, without nose and wings...usually seen on trains. 

I walked further on to the end of the trail at Lake Washington and the Renton Rowing Center.  From there I could see across the lake to, from left to right, Seattle, Mercer Island, and Bellevue.  There were gulls and coots on floating logs nearby.  

Colman Beach

 

I've found it's only a 15 minute, not-too-steep bike ride from my home to a few beaches on Lake Washington. I feel super lucky to be so close to an accessible and super beautiful waterfront for swimming and relaxing. Colman Park has a wonderful willow tree on whose branches I enjoy throwing up my hammock over the water. I did this sketch with markers + water from that spot, watching the Canadian Geese come out of the water and act menacing to the other parkgoers.

Sketch/Painting of Trees

Here's a sketch/painting (watercolor) from a recent outing with Beth near Lake Washington. It was a very sunny beautiful day, full of color...

Juanita Bay Park

OK, I wimped out of the serious rain at the Ballard Market... it was really pouring here in the north end, but my husband and I did manage to take a short walk and enjoy the crisp air in a nearby park along Lake Washington. The heavy gray clouds burst open again as I was sketching in a non-permanent ink pen, and I caught some interesting rain drop effects on my quick sketch. I later added some color and a few more pen strokes. Juanita Bay Park is a great park in Kirkland -- Lots of interesting scenery here: water lily pads, old posts from a long gone ferry, plank walkways, surrounded with some wetlands, and buildings off in the distant shorelines.

I did get the flavor of a market as we stopped to shop at our favorite IN-door fruit and veggie market on the way home as the rain continued... I'm so glad you are all sharing your sketches!