Hectic Life but Still an USkT

This past couple of weeks has been very busy. From time to time I wondered if I'd get everything done that I had said I get done. With few exceptions I met my goals. I had to leave early on Saturday so my sketch was missing in the "throw down", but made up on Sunday. Here are my images for both days. I did write the wrong date on Sunday's image, it should have been the 29th.

The table is the Yard Sale items. I bought a lot of stuff. Just couldn't say no to clamps for $1/each.

This image is a bit dark, but took a copy using my phone, rather than scanning. The lady on the left kept talking on the phone while her young daughter went stir crazy; the other girl was making HUGE bubbles with a rope dipped in soapy water. Several sailboats were moored at the dock and had visitors all day come by.

If you've been wanting to join, or have joined but can't find time to participate think outside the box... post when you have time to sketch and invite others to join YOU... rather than you joining others. If you want to draw, don't let a small thing like when the sketch outs are scheduled dissuade you. Make time, let us know, and enjoy yourself. Post your images and perhaps lead a sketch out on a day that is good for you.

Midweek Dinner

Jim and I went to Katie Downs on Wednesday night for dinner. I am blessed with a patient hubby. He sat for almost and extra hour while I sketched the crowd on the deck. Slowly my people are improving, perhaps before I die I'll get better with drawing people... you might be able to recognize who I am drawing.

I am working hard to do faster work, too. I didn't use any pencil... pen only and then quick watercolors when I got home. I plan to go out again later today and finish a drawing I began two years ago downtown Tacoma. 

Keep drawing, don't give up, that's my mantra...

pen and watercolor

Dad and Son Learn to Sail

My sketch at the Thea Foss Waterway Seaport Museum. There were sailing lessons being given and I got there just as about 15 people were getting into their boats. So I sketched the boats and waited for folks to come back and get out of their boats. This father and son seemed to have had a good time. The boy is grasping close to his chest what I presume is a handout about sailing. The dock had large open spaces for water to run off and then textured areas between them to avoid slipping. I liked this sketch, but one can tell that I need more time with perspective... my marina craft are going "up hill". And I didn't give any thought to how I was going to close the drawing... would I draw what was across the waterway? Well, I didn't, as you can see, so I just did water meeting sky... sort of ethereal.

I don't sell my actual drawings, but rather archival prints of them. That is what I enter into shows and give to clients. Because it is important to me that the print last, I do not use card stock that is "regular". Archival means it won't decompose from the chemicals in the fibers of the paper. It is made to a higher standard than usual heavy weight stock. It is also printed with pigment-based ink rather than dye. Dye will fade away quickly if the piece is hung where there is sunlight and who would want to have purchased a piece that disappears? So the ink and paper that are used are important to me. When you purchase a print the artist should know if it is archival, if they don't, it probably isn't.

Our exhibit at the Museum beginning July 28 we will have two categories... original or archival copy. So if you think about it, sometimes an archival copy could last longer than the original, depending upon what was used by the artist. Some artists don't care and think it frivolous to worry about, but I think those types of artists are not interested in giving their clients the best they have. They are only interested in selling or making a name as an avant-garde type artist.

The important thing is to keep on drawing. Observing life. Getting out there and being one with what is happening where you are at that minute. I you aren't an Urban Sketcher you are welcome to join the USkT (Urban Sketchers Tacoma) on any of our outings. You may find them here or on FB under our name.

"My" Time of the Year

Many love this time of year, including me. My birthday was yesterday, boxing day in Britain. (A time in the past when the wealthy gave gifts of items and food to their staff, sharecroppers, etc.) My birthday has held an aura about it surrounded by dim lights, with colorful accent lighting, gifts colorfully decorated under a tree, the scent of cinnamon, ginger, chocolate and rich sugar cookies in the air. People talking more in hushed tones, as in collaboration on a surprise, and couples feeling romantic in the low lit atmosphere. It was like that again this year. We met friends at the Lobster Shop South on Ruston Way to watch the Tacoma Yacht Club's parade of boats decorated with lights and some had snowmen or Santas. Jim and I went 3 hours early so I could sketch. I am a glacial sketcher... if you haven't heard the term it's because I made it up... I am as slow as a glacier.

The first sketch I did was of couples seated in the bar talking softly to one another. They were dressed nicely and it looked like all were having a nice time. The parade began just before our friends came. The boats passed one at a time in front of the huge windows that face north onto Commencement Bay. I am not aware of rules regarding embellishing drawings, so the lady in the black military sweater with lots of glitter made me think of adding glitter to the drawing. So I did. I'm unsure, as I said, if that meets the USk caveats, but it is as realistic as I could do... .

I was rather stymied by the large plate glass windows. How does one make a window at night look like glass and not rain? I'm always open to help, as I need all I can get.

You will notice I'm embracing my minutiae style. It has taken me two years to address the fact that I'm not going to sketch like others in our group. If you are struggling with this, I am very empathetic. When the style on the paper isn't the one in my head that I love seeing, it was hard for me to accept. So I'd try to speedily draw something, then the darkside would merge... it would want me to add detail... more description to the picture... and I would. Before long my drawing speed was in compound low and I was hung up on details... now I draw knowing that I am that type of sketcher... perhaps sketcher is a wrong word, as I think of sketching as rapidly capturing the scene. Whereas I am more labored.

The second sketch was of the bar back and the ladies working. Sitting on my left was a single middle aged man who seemed enveloped in his thoughts. He nursed his third drink, played games on his phone, ate an appetizer and left. I hoped he was traveling to a loving family and had stopped for the night. He left me feeling a bit melancholy. BUT it is my BIRTHDAY MONTH,

 so it was a short-lived feeling, as we left the lounge to our table in the dining room, where 7 of us laughed our way through dinner. It was a wonderful evening.

Since I added glitter to the sweater of the first drawing, I decided to add large glitter to the garland on top of the bar back to simulate the lights... in person it does the job, not sure it is so effective via scan.  If you notice very white areas in the garland, those are the large glitter pieces meant to represent the lights. The two bartenders are Stacey on the left loading the dishwasher and Holly on the right putting away condiments.

I hope you had a great Christmas and that 2018 brings you joy, peace and prosperity.

KaCe

Meet the Correspondent: KaCe Whitacre

Kathryn Cecelia "KaCe" Whitacre

I was born in Eastern Washington the day after Christmas during a horrible cold snap that froze the gas line in my parent’s car. My family was of pioneer stock, my grandfather was born in Washington Territory in 1886. I grew up as an Air Force dependent, living on Fairchild AFB, WA, Naha, Okinawa, Charleston, SC, Travis AFB, CA, & Elmondorf AFB, AK. I have one younger sister, Pam; a loving husband, Jim and a lovely daughter, Karyn. I am an artist. I like sumi painting, calligraphy, book arts and working with glass; I do wire work and bead work in jewelry and some sewn projects. I also enjoy sketching... because of Urban Sketchers/Tacoma.

My First Time with USkT 

My best friend, Peg, invited me to my first USk/Tacoma event in 2015. I have tried to make as many as possible. Then my cousin, Leith, challenged me to do 30 days of art. So I did. and I began to draw with purpose and to carve out time for doing it. Everyone in Urban Sketchers has their own unique style and I’m no different. I tried to be a minimalist, but you can see from my first sketch I was more detail oriented. So I took October of 2017 to come to accept that my style is detail and I’ll not be a more spontaneous sketcher. This realization came from discussions with other USk/T members and my friends. I needed to listen to who I am. It is a good thing to have people who will help you with these “Ah-Ha” Moments in your life. 

Education

I attended two high schools both out of Washington. Then I came back here for college at Western in Bellingham. I studied Education and my major was languages until I walked through the Industrial Arts building. There I found my true calling. I love working with my hands and designing practical things. My father gave me this love of working with my hands by teaching me to use his table saw at 9 and how to tie flies at 10. When I was about 11 he helped me get into an architectural drawing class— making me my T-square and drawing board. I was taught by him that I can do or be anyting and so I do many things that are not typical for women. I’ve driven 18 wheelers, flame throwing tank, and taught juniot high general shop in Seattle’s John Marshall (no longer a school). Today I do wiring, plumbing, tile laying, wood floors and all manner of construction for our rentals. (I’m also an associate member of the NW Land Surveyors Association in Bellingham.

Art
I have always drawn, but don’t know why. I’ve never really pondered that question but since I could hold a pencil, I’ve drawn. I have books that I’ve drawn in over the years. Below are two sketches from 1997 and 2007. Until I found USk/T I didn’t really think about others who drew. Now I know there is a whole cadre of like minded artists who capture what they see honestly and share their work. That is what I indend to do here. As an artist I have worked in warm glass (fusing), and sandblasting glass, calligraphy, Japanese sumi-e, bookbinding, bead work and wire worked jewelry, watercolor and printmaking. I may mention some of these from time to time, but Urban Sketching will be my focus here. I write about my art on FB at A2Z Studio. You are welcome to follow me there. I’m working on a wordpress website, but it is aways off. I love learning, and hope to learn much by posting here. You are always welcome to contact me. BTW, I go by KaCe short for my first and middle name. Pronounced KC.

On our way to St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland 1997

Riding the express bus to Seattle to see a cousin. 2007.