As we do every October, we gathered at Watson's Greenhouse and Nursery to sketch all their pumpkin and Halloween goodness. The display designs were especially well done this year.
My first sketch was a pile of pumpkins with a crow or raven sculpture.
Next I went out to the back patio to warm up in the sun and sketch the skeleton on a bench, also surrounded by pumpkins. Fortunately I'd already sketched it when an employee walked by and sat him up straight, commenting, "This is Watson's oldest employee".
We had a fun morning to sketch and enjoy a warm beverage and pastry at Java & Clay. There were plenty of subjects to sketch, indoors and through the windows on this chilly fall day.
We gathered at Tacoma's Titlow Park on a chilly, cloud covered morning. Most of us walked across the railroad tracks to the beach side of the park and sketched from a platform there.
The chill, damp, air was not conducive to watercolor drying so I had two sketches going at once. First is a view of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Next was one of a group of cormorants on the pier.
I wandered back to the park but first stopped to sketch the display of very large skeletons in a traffic circle.
Meet at 10:00 am in the Cafe. Street parking is available along Harborview Drive. This venue offers seating in the cafe lounge; food and beverage are available for purchase. For anyone interested in sketching on unfinished pottery, the Pottery Studio is available for a fee.
We met in Old Town, at the replica of the Job Carr Cabin museum. Museum staff, Holly, was so helpful and came to open the cabin for us.
We branched out from there.
My first sketch was of the fish sculpture at Gateway Park. After I got home I went looking for information and discovered a mystery about the disappearance of this sculpture and others like it. They are called Soul Salmon and a number of them have been stolen. "In 2016, a Soul Salmon from Old Town returned — in the middle of the night — to its rightful perch in Gateway Park, where it had disappeared from a decade prior."
I have custody of an Urban Sketchers traveling sketchbook. Prior to arriving in my mailbox, it had been to several other USk branches around the country. Ikuyo did the first sketch, the Soul Salmon, and I added the Carr cabin on our USk Tacoma page in the sketchbook. It goes to Seattle next and then onward.
The original Job Carr cabin dates from 1865.
Just before it was time to meet again, I did a quick ink sketch of the cooking fireplace in the cabin.
We had a nice turnout at Rosedale Gardens. The foggy morning soon lifted. There were buildings, gates, sculptures, terraced gardens, plants, and planters to choose from.
We partnered with the Peninsula Art League Plein Aire painters. Welcome to Dana and Sharon.
The Throwdown
Urban Sketchers and Plein Air painters visit Rosedale Gardens
The Seattle Times had a feature a few weeks ago about the recreation of a Viking long ship. It had moored at the marina in Poulsbo. I was immediately thinking of going out to sketch it. Early last week I picked today as a likely day: predicted good weather and possibly less tourists as kids are back in school.
I made contact to verify it was a good day. I heard back from the ship's master, Erik. I then alerted other USk chapters in the area. In the end, we were 10 sketchers, plus ship's crew member, Daniel, who also drew with us!
It's about an hour and a half drive out to Poulsbo but it was well worth it. The day was perfect…blue sky, sunny, not too hot. Eric spent quite a bit of time with us explaining about the ship. I really geeked out with him about details of the shields and the rowing benches. We have a similar bench!
Once I settled down to sketch I first did a montage of views and details. I sketched the aft with shield and drinking horn attached. While doing so, I listened to Erik and Daniel instruct new crew member, Lyle.
Then I turned to the rowing bench. There are a lot of them as 16 crew row the ship. The benches can be moved from the center of the ship to the rowing spots. That's what they sit on to row and the benches also store belongings and necessary ship items, similar to a military foot locker. Himself referred to it not as a foot locker but as a seat locker.
The final image of the montage was a front view from above, sketched from the upper level of the docks. Erik had explained that the shields are not attached in the period manner. It was an aesthetic choice. They can be removed for use and there are more than are attached to the ship today.
I had some time for a second sketch which I did from the dock across from the ship. While there, I saw seals swimming by.
Crew member Daniel joined us in sketching and he is seen with the group photo, third from right.
