Heat, Haze and Bradner Park Gardens

Five intrepid sketchers braved a heatwave and the smoke wafting through Seattle from the wildfires burning in British Columbia to sketch at Bradner Park in the Mt. Baker neighborhood. The park features borders designed by Seattle Master Gardeners and Seattle Tilth demonstration gardens as well as a lovely community P-Patch. I chose a shady spot under the pavilion to draw this view of the garden's offices.



We had one new sketcher and one newish sketcher as well as three of the usual suspects...

Me, Nilda, Natalie, Sue and Alane. Apologies for any mis-spellings! Alane was fresh from Chicago, and we were all a little envious of the wonderful experiences she had there!

P-Patches and Shakespeare

My church is across the street from the Cascade P-Patch in the South Lake Union area of Seattle.  The other day I noticed a "quaint" scene, and I promised myself I would return to sketch it.  Friday was a gorgeous sunny day, the neighborhood vibrantly alive as I sat on my stool beside the P-Patch.  After I sketched this scene, I walked around the P-Patch, once again promising myself I would return, SOON!

Last week, several outdoor Shakespeare companies started their summer season of performances.  I noted that King Lear would be performed by GreenStage Saturday afternoon in lower Woodland Park, just a mile from my home.  Since the weather was so perfect, I rode my bike, packing snacks, knitting, and oh, yes, my sketchbook.  What an incredible performance!!  For almost 2 1/2 hours I watched, forgetting to knit at times.  The characters, and costumes, and embellishments finally got me to sketching people - and people are NOT my forte!  What can I say?  I will, however go back to another performance and attempt the (almost) impossible!!

Links to Shakespeare plays:  <www.greenstage.org> and <www.lastleaf99.org> and <www.seattleshakespeare.org/woodeno>