View from the chocolate factory

I enjoy using a window to frame the subject I'm sketching. This was done at a Seattle Urban Sketcher's gathering of the interior at Fran's Chocolates in Georgetown. Rare for me, this was strictly pencil and watercolor in a Strathmore watercolor sketchbook. 

I'm finding that pen and ink in this book takes a long time to dry, often resulting in some massive smudges and unhappy accidents. Roy Deleon suggested it might have something to do with the sizing used on the paper and I'm sure a lot to do with my lack of patience (and being left handed). With half a book left, I'll designate this a graphite and watercolor only book and move on to the watercolor Moleskines that Santa was kind enough to bring.

Happy Holiday

Happy Holiday....   to all who are celebrating.



Early morning at my favorite cafe/bakery:  The Stonehouse Bakery.   The owner, Patrick, had a crew of 2 in this am to finish all the Christmas orders. While I sketched I had a delicious blueberry scone and some hot coffee.  It was quite the bustling place with people coming in to pick up their orders. 

Thanks for another wonderful year with Urban Sketchers!  

A bright mid-winter's sketch outing

We spent the day of the longest night in the brightly colored, cheerful location that houses Tacoma's newest and only full on Art supply store:  Artist and Craftsman Supply

It is wonderful to have a branch of this store here.  The manager was so welcoming. In addition to being glad to host our outing, he set up a table for us to use upstairs such that it was nearly our own space within the store.  And he gave us pencils!

The morning was clear but still rather chilly.  I really wanted to sketch some of the interior of the store. It is in the longstanding Wagner Motors building (ca. 1928) as part of the historic and artsy Theater District.  Also, the 5,000-square-foot-plus retail space is the latest of the  chain’s 34 stores.  How 'bout that, Tacoma?!

I was there early and started sketching from the upstairs view of the sales floor below and the front door area.  I liked the detail of the columns on the left.  



Next, I chose a smaller view of the door to the room with the large sheets of paper.  I waved at the security camera and then added it to my sketch.  



Usually I only have time for 2 sketches in our two and a half hour outing.  Because I started early, I had enough time left to at least get the line work done on a building across the street.  It was warm enough to sketch outside by Noon.  This is a vintage car dealer that only hosts cars made in the USA.  It was closed today.  The mural on the side is a bit of photo collage.  When I colored this, I tried using only watercolor pencils.  



We gathered for our sketchbook throw down in the restaurant next door to A&C.   





Then we enjoyed some lunch together.  The restaurant was named, "Stink".  In spite of that, the food was good.  Apparently they are know for their cheese.

.
More photos:  https://redharp.smugmug.com/SketchOutings/2016-1221-Artist-and-Craftsman/

Fourth Thursday, January 26, 2017: Trop's Chocolates

Trop's Chocolates
3303 Jahn Ave NW #235, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
 

 
They sell coffee and scones, but no lunch. It is 2 miles to lots of choices in Uptown for lunch. Plenty of parking, restrooms, tables and chairs!

From Tacoma, first exit over the bridge, left over rt 16,right on Jahn stores are in center on right when road bends.

Experimenting with Fountain Pens!

One thing I love about this artistic endeavor is that I get to experiment with different mediums or
combination of mediums in a regular bases. A few weeks ago I received two items that I was waiting for, a LAMY fine point fountain pen and a Platinum Carbon Pen with the ink and the converters as well. LAMY pens creator was C. Josef LAMY, who until 1930 had worked as a manager for an American writing instrument manufacturer, started his own business in Heidelberg, by the name of the Orthos Füllfederhalter-Fabrik. The LAMY I am using is the LAMY Safari who was unveiled at the Frankfurt Fair in 1980 and from that point on it became the best-selling fountain pen in the world.
I was not sure what the best ink would work best for sketching and using watercolors. I was close to buying the Noodlers brand but a colleague sketcher recommended the Platinum Carbon Ink and the Platinum Carbon pen as well since it is extra fine and it is a great complement to the LAMY. She stated that she prefers the Platinum Carbon ink because is dries fast and it is easier to apply watercolor on top very quickly. Thank you Kate! I am a fast sketcher and my time for sketching is quite limited during the week so I need to make sure that my ink dries quickly so I can paint and have a finish product in 30minutes. I followed her recommendations and voila, this is the result.

This is the pulpit of the University of Puget Sound Chapel in Tacoma. Painted with watercolors.

This is another sketch I did from my home looking at the neighborhood recently using the LAMY Fountain pen with the Platinum Carbon Ink. Painted with watercolors.

And finally this is a view of Center for Health Sciences at the Tacoma Community College. I did this quick sketch during lunch using the LAMY pen as well. Painted with watercolor pencils.

So far I am very pleased with the results and plan to continue experimenting with the fountain pens. I will keep you posted!

Happy Sketching,

Daisy

Third Wednesday, January 18, 2017 Le May America's Car Museum

Third Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Le May America's Car Museum

2702 E D St, Tacoma, WA 98421

We will meet in the lobby at 10 and at 12:30 to show our work.

A special student admission rate has been arranged.  It is $6 per person plus $5 parking. Ken Fulton is the host and will need to pay the entire group's admission. Please be early and meet Ken in the lobby to give him your $6 entry fee.   

Parking is $5 on site and will need to be paid individually at the counter upon entrance to the museum separate from the admission payment to Ken. 

Because we are coming in as an art class the museum personal will be looking forward to viewing our work at the end of the sketch outing.

There is an on-site 50's style eatery for those who wish to remain at the museum for lunch. 

First Saturday January 7th at Charlie's Restaurant

 First Saturday Sketch-out January 7th,  2017 

                     Charlie's Restaurant & Lounge

113 E Main, Puyallup, WA 98372

http://www.charliesofpuyallup.com/
 

Parking:  There is a small parking lot beside the restaurant and a quite  large Public
Parking (free from 8:30am-11:00 pm) across the street from the restaurant.

We will meet at Charlie’s Banquet Room at 10 am.  This will be our ‘home base’ for this sketch-out and also where we will have lunch after our sketch-out. We may choose to sketch outdoors, but Charlie’s bathrooms will be available to us.

Inside Charlie’s, we will be somewhat limited in sketching opportunities, as this  is a very popular Saturday breakfast venue. However, some of us might want to sketch in Charlie’s Bar/Lounge with its cozy fire place. It is attached to the Banquet Room.

Indoor and outdoor sketching opportunities are available near Charlie's .  There are many conveniently placed outdoor benches in the downtown area--benches with a view. And many of the sidewalks have a roof over them in case of 'mist'. Dress appropriately for warmth rather than beauty,  if sketching outdoors.

If you are sketching alone or with just one or two others, it should be very easy to get permission to sketch indoors almost everywhere. Ask permission to sketch in an indoor location, unless you are an actual customer. If you are, feel free to sketch away. (Do not ask to sketch at the Pioneer Antique Mall—they will say a not too friendly ‘no’.)

Nearby…within a block or two or three of Charlie’s are a lot of old buildings and  interesting businesses  to sketch: The historic Liberty Theater, Mazatlan (with its big windows in the pub), the 100+ years-old Johnson’s Jewelers (with its old-fashioned outdoor clock), Meeker Mansion is in view of Charlie’s, next door to Charlies is a typical downtown barber shop and near that, a small key-making shop.  3rd. St. Antiques is worth a visit. So is Pioneer Park, Downtown Bike, Newell Hunt Furniture Store across from the train station, a My Cheese Shoppe, Charisse's Consignment has fun window displays,  plus there is lots more. There are even some back alleys that are interesting and safe to wander in. Plus a Railroad Crossing with literally all the 'bells and whistles (if interested in sketching the street scene there:  bring ear plugs as it’s a busy crossing.).  Happy hunting!

Charisse's

Cheese shop

Jewelry Store

Liberty Theater

Newell Hunt

We will share our downtown sketches at 12:30 in the banquet room at Charlie’s, take our group photo, and order our lunches or other refreshments during our ‘after sketching social time.’ Charlie's has a Salad Buffet (by itself, around $5.00) and they will also offer us menu ordering--standard American fare.

An Honor...and a Touching Educational Experience: Our Invitation to Sketch at the Pierce County World Aids Day Event

On the evening of Thursday,  December 1st, 2016 Urban Sketchers from USk-Tacoma were honored to be invited to sketch during the World Aids Day Program which took place at the Washington State History Museum. Kate Buike, earlier this month, submitted an article, her sketches, and her photographs from that evening.

Since I just received an email which is directed to all of our attending sketchers-- I thought I'd pass it along. It is wonderful in these troubled times to be able to offer some small support with our art to members of our wider-community, and I hope our group is invited to other such opportunities in the coming year. If we are, we will post them as Ad Hoc Sketch-Outings, in case you would like to join other sketchers who would like to support folks who are standing up for and working on various issues.

This type of sketching offers an opportunity to do the type of Urban Sketching called 'reportage.' Urban Sketcher Thomas Thorspecken has an excellent book called "Urban Sketching: the Complete Guide to Techniques." Thomas does an excellent job teaching techniques...AND...in his personal life devotes his sketching time to reportage. There are a lot of his sketches in his book, probably needless to say. In the book's Forward, Thomas says, "The more you get out to sketch events, the more you will become a citizen reporter." I highly recommend his book...and the adventure of reportage.

Here are the sketches I did that evening. The first one is of a lovely display in honor of World Aids Day and in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to AIDS over all the years, and those who are today living with HIV. The second sketch is of one row in the audience: Everyone was listening  raptly to an educational presentation by a group of High School Students. 

Best Regards,

Frances Buckmaster

Second Thursday in Gig Harbor, January 12

Second Thursday  January 12    Kelly’s Café and Espresso
 
7806 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, WA

We will be meeting at 10am inside Kelly’s Café and Espresso.  From there one can sketch the main downtown area of Gig Harbor where Pioneer T’s with Harborview.  There are lots of windows to sketch from the inside if it is too cold for you outside, and lots of interesting scenes and vignettes inside.  

Please remember to be a good customer if you decide to spend the entire morning inside.  Even though mornings at around 10am begin to slow a little, they still may not have enough room for everyone.  It was suggested that we “reserve” tables when we know how many to expect, however, I said that we really never know how many are going to show up. 
There is limited parking on the street.  There is a restroom available for customers.  We will meet again at Kelly’s at 12:30 for sharing and photo.  For those staying for lunch, Kelly’s has pretty good food.

 

Directions:
Cross the Narrows Bridge
Exit to City Center/Wollochet
Turn right at the exit
Go down the hill (Pioneer) toward town
Kelly’s is on the Left just before you come to the T

Japanese Pens

Hi fellow sketchers,

I wanted to share a product with you, but first, need to make a confession. There’s little I like more than new coats, cute, good fitting shoes (that make my big feet look smaller than they actually are) …………..AND……………..new art supplies. Especially drawing/sketching pens. Well, I’ve been successful in the coat department, not so much so in the shoe realm, but I struck gold in the pen section at the store just the other day. Artist & Craftsman Supply store in downtown Tacoma has these wonderful pens I haven’t seen before and after using the testers, I just had to have several. 3 Bimoji Fude pens in x-fine, fine and medium found their way into my bag as did a Hikkei pen . I’ve taken a couple of photos to show you how the lines look and also brushed (rather lightly scrubbed) water on after the ink was completely dry, to see how waterproof the ink is. I am rather pleased with the results. There’s very little bleeding. The Tombow pen I included on the chart, bleeds just a bit more and the lines become slightly defused. The tips of the Japanese pens are somewhat firm and less brush-like than that of the Tombow, (which is perfect for my tendency to use less of a light hand when I draw,) though they do have a bit of flex. In short, I believe I’m going to add these to my list of favorites to carry around. Oh, and the prices were right as well. $3.47 each for the Bimoji Fude pens and $2.08 for the Hikkei pen. If you’re in the neighborhood of the Artist & Craftsman Supply store, stop in and give them a try…..you may just like ‘em!

Happy Sketching –

Pat

From Bothell With Love

Yes. I drive through brutal traffic sometimes up to two hours on weekdays to join you folks. Because I feel da luv when I do what I do with you: Sketching.

In 1972, I migrated from the Philippines where I studied 'commercial art' or graphic design. And until 2015, I worked as a graphic designer for engineering firms. I retired in September 2015 to pursue what's been my first love: drawing and sketching. And to use and abuse and misuse all my still growing stash of art supplies before I die. Like, I didn't know I have 2 Windsor & Newton Series 7 #5 Kosinski brushes. They still have a price tag of $20 each. Amazon lists it at between $84-114!

So I was lucky to join the 4th West Coast Sketchcrawl and got introduced to a few of you. I even won a raffle prize from that tall gentle lady with white hair named Frances. At the event, I met Alison and Beverly. I even got to draw legend Frank Ching during the icebreaker.

I am also an oblate of St Benedict with St Placid Priory. That means I commit to incorporate the Rule of Benedict in my daily life. One favorite Benedictine motto is "that in all things, glorify Holy One." So this is another reason I retired: to use my sketching gifts to spread da Luv.

Therefore, my sketches are more than lines and colors of urban scenes. They are my prayers in the sense that prayer is being with the Sacred. So when I sketch, I "listen with the ear of my heart" (another Benedictine mantra) for answers to "What is the teaching here for me? How does this relate to my life today? What is the invitation?"

Then when I post my sketches, I accompany it with stories that the heart brings up and the blessings that come with it. I hope my sketch-stories will help heal, awaken and open hearts, and help us see each other as brothers and sisters.

Check out my facebook page if you're interested to see my posts while I'm working on my blog. Also, Paraclete Press published my first book in 2009, Praying With the Body: Bringing the Psalms to Life (Active Prayer Series)  I am working on a second book, tentatively titled, Drawing Everyday Blessings, based on my FB posts.

Had enough? Ok. Here are a few of recent sketches.

At Country Village, Bothell

Brew Cafe, Bothell

He owns and lives in that house surrounded by new condos and retail stores in downtown Bothell.

When he saw my post on the Bothell Community FB page, he offered to buy it. 

Now I have a few house portrait commissions which will go to buying more art supplies.

"Always We Begin Again." - another Benedictine mantra:

Thank you for letting me sketch with you.

"Life is short - Sketch!" - Roy's mantra

Reflections on being an Urban Sketcher

Correspondent: Beverly Choltco-Devlin

My fellow sketchers' work that is polished, together and done quickly and efficiently, as mine never are, still, provides boundless inspiration.  I am learning though and striving to get better.  If it was not for Urban Sketchers - Tacoma, I might have despaired of my art when moving here.  Art has been an abiding passion since childhood, but I have not spent the time needed to excel in the ways of fine artists who have the talent and are able to do art for a living.

Yes, I have completed a handful of works over the past 50 or so years that I can say are finished and which I am proud to say I have created, but I literally have boxes and boxes of work that are, to me, less than successful and, even more often, unfinished.

So... I have learned the following about myself and my art since discovering urban sketching.

• Art is process not product.  Urban sketching has taught me that the process is what counts, the doing, not the finished piece.  
• Urban sketching has cured my paralyzing fear of sharing my work. This beautiful movement glories in letting others see our vision, in learning from viewing others work and celebrating the community of art.
• Documenting my life through urban sketching in a way that is immediate and important, if not immaculate, brings a freshness and a clear sense of what has occurred.  
• I can do art every single day without the imposition and inhibiting wall that comes with believing one must create a work that is complete and formal and finished.  
• Urban sketching has helped me to grind my need for perfection under my heel, to fling my untutored, but undeniably fresh and spontaneous expression to the world.  
• I can learn over time to emulate those whose work I admire, to develop the technical chops I want to acquire, i.e., perspective, shading, cross-hatching, continuity and a sense of style, drawing people with abandon.  
• The support of my fellow urban sketchers, the encouragement and fellowship are truly magical.  No criticism, just creation.
• Most important, and this is, after all, what I believe art to be: I am able to continuously capture the emotions and impressions that accompany the varied events in my life, both simple and profound.  

By example I offer some of what I was able to accomplish in the past two weeks:

Sharing the holiday decorating of my parents' gravestone in NJ this past November with my beloved sisters. We had not all been together for quite a few years since my Dad's tragic and unnecessary death at the hands of one who abused and used him. This was a very emotional visit for us.

An ad hoc outing with some of my fellow urban sketchers to commemorate World AIDs Day in Tacoma where I remembered my beloved friend, Ken Stevenson who died from that horrific disease in 1986.

A spectacular and beautiful Thanksgiving with both our sons courtesy of the generosity of the family of one of our son's partners on San Juan Island. Our beautiful Pacific Northwest is truly remarkable.               

                                                               

And, finally, a fun evening at Daniel Smith studio and Schooner Exact Brewing Company with Gabi Campanario and Stephanie Bower, whose vision for this urban sketching movement has provided me with a salvation that I not thought possible for my love of drawing and art.  

If you love drawing and sketching and would love to join us, please consider attending one of our outings. Your life will change!

  

Santa among the couches

The holiday sketch outing for Urban Sketchers Tacoma was back to The Old Cannery in Sumner.  We'd sketched there last December, too. There is just so many choices of interesting subjects.  I got there early and wandered around for 20 minutes, trying to choose subjects.

I finally decided to sketch this amusing moose head.  It moves and talks!  It is triggered by someone walking under the arch, so I was treated to the full range of its conversations while I sketched it.



I thought the Santa statue situated in the middle of the recliners and couches portrayed the "gestalt" of this place!   I included the "Mattress Gallery" sign for full effect.



We shared our sketches around one of the dining tables and had a group photo.





A few more photos here:   https://redharp.smugmug.com/SketchOutings/2016-1203-Old-Cannery/

by Kate Buike

A unique experience

This was both the first evening sketch outing for Urban Sketchers Tacoma as well as the first time we've been involved in sketching for a cause.  We were invited to sketch last night at an event commemorating World AIDS Day hosted by the Pierce County AIDS Foundation (PCAF).  We didn't really know what to expect or what there might be to sketch.

This table for "Butterfly Knots" caught my eye.  "The butterfly has stood....as a symbol of transformation.  For those grieving a loss, the chrysalis phase of a butterfly represents the...turning inward.  The healing is reflected in the metamorphosis phase.  Butterfly Knots are written and tied with intention.  It is an act that honors a vow and sets a firm promise.....Write the name of a loved one lost to HIV/AIS.  Write of the loss experienced from this pandemic.  Write a message of hope for our community.  Write an action you intend to take".  


Next is the "Altar of Remembrance".   


We shared our sketches with each other and with the event attendees after the program finished.  There was much positive response to adding this experience to the event.  





Once the event was over, we had an opportunity to sketch in the Washington State History Museum.  I chose this display about "Hooverville" which was a homeless camp in the early 1930's.  I was still thinking about how sketching can bring attention or focus to the problems of the day.  The stock market crash on Wall Street resulted in massive unemployment in the Pacific Northwest. A squatters settlement of scrap materials was one of the results.  I thought about the parallels with the current issues of homelessness. 


 

Photos from AIDS Day event & the Museum:  https://redharp.smugmug.com/SketchOutings/2016-1201-World-AIDS-Day/

Train Trip

Some months ago I realized the AmTrak station in Centralia was just a block from a McMenamins.  I made a plan to take the train for a sketch outing there. I've not been on an AmTrak train since I was a teenager so I thought it would be a new experience. Yesterday I finally got around to it.  A couple sketching friends came with me.

The first half hour of the trip I was alone, Tukwila to Tacoma.  I sketched the woman sitting across from me.  Then I met up with my traveling companions at the Tacoma station.



Me, Frances, Pat at the Centralia Train station



First, we sketched in the old fashioned train depot.  It was small but had the Victorian era details.     It was built in 1912, a bit out of the Victorian period but it still has the details.



Then on to the McMenamins Olympic Club hotel. 

If you don't know about McMenamins, they are a hotel and restaurant company that buys historic old buildings and renovates them into amazing venues.       They serve the communities in which they reside by opening their facilities to the public.  The locations often have a movie theater or a pool, or both, and these are available for the public to use.  All of the locations are unique with art, painting and decor related to the area in which they reside.  Each of them is eminently sketch-able!  We've sketched 2 or 3 times at the Six Arms on Capitol Hill, Seattle. 

From the website: "Our goal is to keep the past in the present, to celebrate and connect us all with the people and events that have helped define each McMenamins property. To that end, we research, interview and compile materials to identify and commemorate our properties and their surroundings. Our best historical finds often come from you!" 

It was predicted we would have rain in the afternoon so I made my first sketch of McMenamins outside.  This is the view from the street.  The greenery is hung for holiday decor.



After sketching outside for about an hour, I was happy to sit by the wood stove to warm up.  This heats the dining and pool rooms!  There was a large stack of wood next to it.



We had our lunch there and shared the sketches we'd done so far.

My final sketch was of the large sign in the "New Tourist Bar".  I didn't know it at the time, but Greenalls is a brand of gin.



All of the staff of the Olympic Club were delightful.  I was allowed to go into the hotel section in order to complete the scavenger hunt and get another stamp for my McMenamins Passport book!  And they stamped our sketches too!



Now I'm planning a trip to the Spar Cafe in Olympia to get that last stamp in the section!  This will be a drive, though.  I checked into going by train:  in addition to the travel time by train, it is an hour bus ride from the station, which is actually in Lacey!  I only takes me an hour to just drive there.