We had a wonderful morning to sketch and explore the Point Ruston Public Market. There were plenty of indoor decorations and vendor displays to sketch on a flooded December day.
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| The throwdown |
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| Tacoma Urban Sketchers visit Point Ruston Public Market Welcome Susan! |
We met at the Foss Waterway Seaport Maritime Museum today with one of the largest number of sketchers in many months.
I found the display of historic diving equipment interesting. Halley Diving Bell c 1690. Dr. Edmond Halley devised this system of weighted barrels that carried air from the surface. He is best known for the comet that bares his name. Both helmets are US Navy. The Mark V was introduced in 1915 but this one is labelled as 1941. The other helmet is obviously more modern but I did not find an exact date.
I walked out to the dock and saw a freighter in the distance.
We're standing under the skeleton of a yearling female humpback whale that died near Gig Harbor in December 2015. After a year of decomposing the skeleton was articulated by students at Stadium High School, Tacoma.
Many more photos are here.
5101 Yacht Club Road, Ruston, WA 98407
Meet at 10:00 am near the front entrance. This venue offers free parking, indoor vendors and outdoor views of Commencement Bay and Mount Rainier.
Please be respectful of customers.
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| 5101 Yacht Club Road, Ruston |
Yesterday we met at the Le May Collection at Marymount.
This isn't the shiny, flashy museum near the Tacoma Dome. This is the funky family collection sprawling across several buildings. We've been a few times before and each time the displays change a little.
After a wander, I settled in to sketch a 2006 Custom Dragster "Drakko". It's info card said it was made for show, not go. It was designed to shoot flame, blow smoke, and it's eyes lit up red! I sketched from both the front and rear views.
We were rather a small group.
We had a pleasant morning to sketch and enjoy coffee, pumpkin croissants and pizza at the Gig Harbor Metropolitan Market. There were plenty of indoor subjects to sketch on a damp November day.
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| The throwdown |
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| Urban Sketchers visit the Met Market |
Nov 1 is All Saints Day in many Christian traditions. It's also Day of the Dead or “Día de Muertos” in Spanish. We sketched at the Waterfront Market in Ruston.
The Taco Street restaurant in the market had an elaborate Ofrenda with small photos of the owner's parents (or maybe grandparents). It also included multiple Catrina's. I sketched only part of the display.
Many shops are gone. In a vacant space there is now a Free Library. I sketched one of the corners with a table, lamp made of books, and an artificial tree in a pot.
There were several new sketchers and some who haven't been in a while.
5010 Point Fosdick Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Meet at 10:00 am inside the market at the mezzanine level seating area. Food and beverage are available for purchase. Artists can sketch from this vantage, at the store level, outdoors, or nearby shops.
Please be respectful of customers.
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| 5010 Point Fosdick Drive, Gig Harbor |
