Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight is a huge collection of fascinating items. Most of them very challenging to draw. I settled on these two planes. But I was so involved in the  sketching that I forgot to learn what they were called. The stubby yellow one really is that stubby. It's surprisingly a racing plane.

Ada's

It was a semi spring day at Ada's for the Ad Hoc gathering. I mistakenly parked near Broadway instead of 15th. It turned out to be a beautiful Capital Hill walk to get to the cafe.  I sketched these views without moving from a peaceful window seat.

The coffee by the way, was delicious and the staff generously friendly.

Old Carnegie Free Public Library, Seattle

Although there is brick everywhere in Ballard, I think this old library (1904) is probably the true color for local brick.  I love the idea of communities and Carnegie creating these wonderful libraries. We even saw one of the originals in Sterling, Scotland.

Starbucks on Steroids

I have to admit, I was a bit overwhelmed visiting the new Starbucks Roastery with the Ad Hoc group last Friday. It's an immense space, with beautiful gigantic vats and shiny copper tubing. It's quite a busy place with lively music and bustling people. Much more so than your ordinary coffee place. I couldn't settle on a sketch so I warmed up by painting the bright tower of cups in the gift section. This was done on a company advertising postcard sketch of the building.

Then I settled in to draw some of the folks waiting in line. (Pondering the extensive coffee menu, perhaps?)


 It's an experience to try this Starbucks out but I think I'll continue to be a fan of our local coffee stops..

Christmas Camel

Swanson's was beautifully decorated and the staff very friendly when sketchers spread about on Friday. The reindeer and camel were such calm expressive animals. But they had to be sketched between waves of delighted kids. Never get between a child and a camel.  :)

Houseboat Sketching

Thank you to Mary Lou and Sam for inviting us to sketch from your lovely houseboat on Friday and to Peggy H. for arranging it. It's always a treat to see the houseboats from within, a special and kind of secret Seattle view. There were many, many good sketching choices but this charming and peaceful home caught my eye right away.  - Peggy G.

Weather Forecast: Wet and sunny

I smiled as I read the other posts of the Friday sketchers at the Arboretum. To stay in the clearing and risk a shower

or to stay under a tree and get dripped on. Such a dilemma! My sketch was done in the open but I managed to be just finishing when big drops started. That texture in the grass was not purposeful.  Peggy G.

Fremont, Seattle

Susan Miller and I were out for a sunny but chilly day in Fremont, sitting across from The Red Door. The Red Door has a long Fremont history. When it was moved to this spot in 1999, in the middle of gentrification projects, the Seattle Times said, "Out with the rowdy, in with the Audi" Not sure that came to be.

More Fremont rooflines. Seattle

More Fremont rooflines. Seattle
Originally uploaded by PeggyJG
These sunny days bring out the best in the neighborhood. Living in the city gives such great angles. This is the view from the back of our house. Fremont is pretty hilly!

Our Fremont view to the west. Seattle

Our Fremont view to the west. Seattle
Originally uploaded by PeggyJG
I love the shadow of our house against our neighbor's.

Winging It

At the Wing Luke Museum,we had a very informative tour and were shown great views of the Freeman Hotel and the historic shop below. With the time left we shifted into speed sketching. That was kind of fun and left me thinking that we might like to do it again just for the exercise. Lori and I stood at different angles from this Mah Jong table, located in the upstairs of the hotel near the Association Room. Thanks to Gail for spotting this free and different opportunity and to the museum for having us!

Lessons in Proportion

What a fun, new challenge it is to sketch airplanes. The location at Kenmore Air was really pleasant. I arrived about 9:00 and missed the excitement of the planes leaving. So I have no excuse for this squat, little pigeon toed Disneyesque sketch I offer here. There seemed to be a good turnout. These pictures were taken at around 10:00 but more folks came later. Thanks for arranging this creative setting!

Gray water, gray day

Grey water, grey day
Originally uploaded by PeggyJG
I love to find hidden little parks in Seattle. This one is just below the University of Washington on Portage Bay. If you are a true Husky, you may remember this as the location of the Showboat Theater until 1994.

Sketching in Buenos Aires - no dim sum.

Hi! I've been trying to post for days but google has been letting me down. It looks like you had a wonderful Sketchcrawl day and I love seeing the results. I spent the day at a market also and am posting one from there and another view near Plaza de Mayo of Evita fame. My best to all, Peggy

Rendezvous in Paris

One very nice thing about being in Urban Sketchers is receiving comments from around the world. I was on my way to Paris when I received a comment on the picture I painted of sailboats in Greece. I contacted the sender, Marie Christine, and asked her if she would like to meet and sketch together. We met at a metro stop and walked to a nearby pretty square. Marie Christine is a talented, avid sketcher. ( See her work as tulipe75 on flickr.) We spent several hours talking, sharing our sketchbooks and creating a new international friendship. Life is good. Peggy

2010 Three by the Sea

Buon giorno!  My husband and I have finished traveling three weeks in Sicily. I heartily recommend it for its beauty, friendly people, fabulous food. Whenever we travel, I am excited to see a new body of water and I love how the names roll off the tongue. Here are three sea sketches. I can't capture the wonderful blues - maybe my dry paints aren't rich enough - I hope I captured the peace. The first is a surprising Mediterranean view from an inexpensive hotel, the second, a view of E'rice, an ancient fortress hill town on the  Tyrranean Sea, the third, just a random beach on the Gulf of Palermo. All viewed from Sicily.

Next stop, Greece. Hope you are all enjoying good sketching in the northwest! Peggy

Oh, Mexico!

Hi! I have been really enjoying the sketches this month! My husband and I have just returned from a fascinating 4 weeks in Mexico. We spent time in cold wet Central Mexico and warm Puerto Vallarta. It was sketching heaven, although there was never enough time. I wish I had more skill drawing people, as they were the most inspiring but here are a few of my favorites. More on my blog -
http://travelswithpeggyandjeff.blogspot.com/   See you at the next Sketchcrawl, Peggy

El Sagrario, in colonial Patzcuaro. MX 

Plazuela Reforma, in the colorful mountain city of Guanajuato, MX

Narrow walking street, Guanajuato, MX

And always relaxing, Puerto Vallarta, MX

2010 Jan.1 Chrysler Air Raid Siren

2010 Jan.1 Chrysler Air Raid Siren
Originally uploaded by PeggyJG
On rainy New Year's Day, I drove around looking for something I could sketch from my car. I was inspired by Mark's beautiful tractor in a field picture.

If you are old enough, you remember scurrying under your desk to practice "duck and cover" in case of a nuclear attack. This siren is located in Seattle at N. 67th and Phinney Ave. N. where it is maintained in a tiny park by the Phinney Ridge Association. There is actually a Victory Siren Foundation and more interesting information online at http://www.conradchavez.com/World/PacificNW/Seattle-Cold-War-air-raid/1755596_3Etpp