Fire Horse

Sketchers from 4 local groups met at Southcenter Mall to sketch the massive Lunar New Year Dragon. It's been there for the past 3 years. However, new this year is a horse statue for this year's Chinese Zodiac animal, the Fire Horse.

Artists from USk Seattle, USk Tacoma, the Eastside subsection of USk Seattle, and the South Sound Sketchers from Olympia all convened.

Since I've sketched that dragon at least 4 times over 3 years, I elected to sketch the horse. I still have motor memory for horse confirmation from having drawn so many when I was young! This was a multicolored horse, covered in quilling designs. Paper quilling is the art of rolling, shaping, and gluing narrow, colorful paper strips to create intricate designs It is also made of foam.

In 2024 I'd spoken with Kate Z, the marketing manager and learned that the the dragon was made for a SF company in Shanghi. It's made of steel and foam, weighing 500 pounds. The Wishing tree is concrete, steel, and foam, weighing 750 pounds! The staff member I spoke with today said the horse only weighs about 70 pounds and is easily tipped over. Hence the four posted frame around it for protection.

Thursday, March 12: Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum

Vintage Aero Museum 

1108 26th Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA  98335

Meet at 10:00 am near the front entrance.  There is an admission fee for this venue.

Sketching at Java & Clay Cafe

We had a great group of sketchers at Java & Clay Cafe.  The cafe was busy with lots of sketchers, customers, coffee, baked goods and wonderful views of the cafe interior and exterior views of the harbor through the windows.

The Throwdown

Urban Sketchers visit Java & Clay Cafe
Welcome Erin, Karen, Lane and Cara

TAM on a chilly day

We met at the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM). It was a very chilly day so most people sketched inside. The Museum has 3rd floor windows looking out over some historic buildings.

Many of us sketched Leroy, the large dog sculpture who is the Museum's Mascot. The sculpture title is actually, "Leroy, the Big Pup," a Coon Hound by Northwest artist Scott Fife, made from archival cardboard and other materials, created for a 2004 exhibition, inspired by Fife's own dog.

I sketched Leroy plus two other animal sculptures. It's all I did as I spent some pleasant time talking with other sketchers. I saved my entrance tag ("TAM") to attach to the sketch. 

The throw down:

The group except at least 3 sketchers left early:

Thursday, Feb 12: Java & Clay Cafe

Java & Clay Cafe 

3210 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA  98335

Meet at 10:00 am in the Cafe.  Street parking is available along Harborview Drive and additional parking is available uphill from the cafe.  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.

Please be respectful of customers.

3210 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor

Parking available uphill from the Cafe

Sketching at the Vintage Aero Museum

We had a great morning to sketch on a brisk January day.  The Vintage Aero Museum in Gig Harbor had plenty of vintage aircrafts, automobiles, bicycles, pedal cars, canoes, boat motors and motorcycles to draw inspiration from.

The throwdown

Hotel Murano

We met this morning at Hotel Murano. Their holiday decor was still on display. It was so sunny and surprisingly warm that I sketched outside.

The hotel is known for glass and their art collection. This glass sculpture is just outside the entrance.