TAKING TIME TO LEARN FROM OTHERS

At the beginning of August, several sketchers from Urban Sketchers Tacoma took part in a 2 day workshop held in Mount Vernon, WA, that was lead by UK sketcher, Pat Southern-Pearce. She is a very talented and well followed artist as well as an excellent instructor. We were fortunate to have been among the few who were able to secure spots for her first ever Pacific NW visit.

Following each demonstration, we were encouraged to go out and utilize what we had learned in sketches done in 3 various garden settings. Each garden had so many interesting vantage points and we all spread out to find what caught our attention the most for drawing. Easily, I could've spent a week sketching in the final garden with its wide array of garden 'rooms', fanciful chicken coops, greenhouses and iron sculptures. It was a little slice of heaven.

I was able to utilize my Sailor bent nib fountain pen, Prismacolor colored pencils and white gel pens on toned paper and get pleasing results. I'm interested in seeing how some of the techniques Pat shared with us will influence the way I already sketch. Future drawings will show!

Cheers,
Pat

Point Defiance Marina

We met this morning to sketch around the Pt. Defiance Marina. There were so many scenes that interested me I decided to do a two page montage.  The sketch on the far left I didn't like, so I did another one and made it a patch. 





More Photos: https://redharp.smugmug.com/SketchOutings/2017-0816-Pt-Defiance-Marina/

September Sketch Outings

September will be a month with more opportunities as we have our regularly scheduled outings plus two Ad Hoc outings (so far)!  

First Saturday, September 2nd:   University of Puget Sound

 

We’ll meet at 10:00 AM at the low brick circle just to the right of Thompson Hall
Options for a campus map:  https://www.pugetsound.edu/about/campus-the-northwest/campus-map/

Parking lot (P4) is adjacent to the building off N. Union Ave at 14th Street (nearest GPS address is 1451 N. Union, Tacoma).

At 12:30 PM we’ll regroup at the brick circle for sketch sharing and photos. 

Lunch is at the Rosewood Café, 3323 N. 26th St. (just ½ mile away between N. Union & N. Alder).
 

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Second Thursday, September 14th: Skansie Brothers Park

3211 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
 
http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/skansie-brothers-park/

Meet at 10am at the pavilion in Skansie Brothers Park. Sketching in Gig Harbor choices include waterfront, historical and retail sites.

Take route 16 to Gig Harbor City Center/Wollochet Drive

From South:
At top of ramp turn right onto Pioneer Way, continue to T intersection at water, turn left, park is on right in about 200 feet.  Park your car in marked spots, but avoid ones marked 30 minute limit.

From North:
At top of ramp turn left, cross over 16, Wollochet becomes Pioneer Way, follow above directions 

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Third Wednesday, September 20: Breakwater Marina
 
 5603 N Waterfront Dr, Tacoma, WA 98407

This is a private marina to the right of the Vashon Ferry dock (as you enter toward the dock) at the entrance of Point Defiance Park.  There are many boats to sketch, some construction, views of the sound and the Vashon ferry.  

Meet at 10 am at the Kiosk next to the entry/parking for the Marina.   

Directions:  Do not enter the ferry line.  Take the "through traffic" street to the left of the ferry lane.  At the bottom of the hill, turn right to enter the Marina area.  However, there might be no parking there and it is restricted (see below).  Thus, turn left to park in the ferry parking lot. 

Staff at the Marina said that if there are spaces, we may go to the office (far end of the parking lot) to request a parking pass. If you park in the Marina lot you must get a pass or be towed.  If there isn't enough space for their customers, we'll have to park further away in the ferry lot.

 
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 Parking Day - September 15th  (Ad Hoc outing)

Park(ing) Day is an international event in which artists, citizens, and businesses will temporarily transform a metered parking spot into temporary public space. Park(ing) Day’s mission is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, generate discussion and debate around how public space is utilized, and to improve the quality of urban habitat.

We'll set up between 9 and 10 am.  Our park will be open from 10 am to  2pm.  Location has not yet been assigned so watch this space for an update.  

We'll have tables, as above in the photo.  Bring chairs and your sketching kits.  We'll be talking about Urban Sketching with the people who visit our park.  
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 September 23  Van Lierop Garden Market Ad Hoc Outing

1020 Ryan Ave, Sumner, WA 98390

We've been invited to sketch during an event at the Garden Market in conjunction with the wine walk. It is a delightful space where we've sketched before. The event is 3pm to 7pm. 
 

 

VANCOUVER BC URBAN SKETCHER OUTING

Back when the annual west coast urban sketcher event was going to be held in Vancouver my sketch buddy and long time friend Ken Fulton and I made plans to attend the event along with our wives. We reserved rooms at the University of BC Gage Towers and when the event was canceled we decided to make a weekend out of it anyway. As it turns out, at the last minute the Vancouver Urban Sketchers group put together sketch outings for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Ken and I attended the Saturday outing at the Olympic Park on the Vancouver waterfront while our wives enjoyed a shopping tour of nearby Granville Island.

The ships anchored in English sketched at dusk with a think layer of forest fire smoke. Also enjoyed sketching at the Asian and the Anthropology museum.