I sketched my first spring cherry tree blossoms today. But it was at a nursery…Watson's in Puyallup. We met there to enjoy the spring flowers. This nursery is one of my favorites and the staff are so very welcoming to us.
I struggled with this sketch as it was drizzling and then started raining. Even when it wasn't raining the watercolor didn't dry. I had to go inside and work on something else to get it to dry.
My second sketch was a large bunny sculpture. It was priced at $800!
We had a great morning to sketch on a blustery March day. The Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum is a wonderful hangar to visit. We had plenty of vintage aircrafts, automobiles, bicycles, pedal cars, canoes and motorcycles to draw inspiration from.
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| The throwdown |
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| Urban Sketchers visit the Vintage Aero Museum |
Urban Sketchers Tacoma met this morning at the WW Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park. We've been there a few times before but not for some years. It dates from 1908.
The walk ways were narrow and there a number of other visitors. So I chose to sketch a sculpture outside. I'd never noticed the creature but staff said it had been made and placed by a former curator in the 1970's! There is another figure to the right of the entrance, almost obscured by plants.
There were a few new sketchers today. At least four left before our throw down and group photo.
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.
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.
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.
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| The Throwdown |
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| Urban Sketchers visit Java & Clay Cafe Welcome Erin, Karen, Lane and Cara |
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:
