USK Seattle Ad Hoc outing: Occidental Park

This is my last time attending the USK Seattle sketch outing - at least for a while. Although it was still cold but the rain stopped and there was a patch of blue sky. We even got a bit of sunshine every now and then. What else could a Seattle sketcher ask for?!

When I was here by myself a few weeks ago, I did an indoor sketch at the Grand Central Bakery (and enjoyed a delicious sandwich recommended by Dave, a fellow sketcher). Today I decided to sketch the exterior of the old building. Instead of aiming for the whole building, I picked a small arched doorway surrounded by vines and leaves for the page that I coloured with DS Quinacridone Gold and Burnt Sienna the night before.

One of the best things about sketching is you have the liberty to change what you see. Unlike photographs, I get to decided what I want to put on the paper even though the sketching process is still done though direct observation. If I were to take a photo of this arched doorway, I would have had to include the three big rubbish bins standing next to it!

Then the sun came out and created nice shadows with the trees and lampposts. I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to practice perspective and applying shadows. I did the second sketch of the day on a page that I coloured with DS Ultramarine Blue and Van Gogh Quinacridone Rose.

Although I did feel sad, it was great to see many familiar faces at the sketch outing. What a wonderful year sketching with USK Seattle and meeting all the lovely fellow sketchers! Bring it on, 2017! I look forward to more sketching!!

Belltown Ballet Studio

I fell in love again with ballet after starting going to BBS. The studio isn't as pristine as other classrooms in town but it has its charm. Elaine makes the studio a pleasant place and makes dancing fun. The atmosphere is always relaxing, fun and you just want to dance.
This picture is how I will remember BBS.

Down the memory lane: West Seattle

I attended a couple of sketch outings held in West Seattle. I think all my sketches done in West Seattle turned out great. Not because I am good. This suburb just has a lot to offer. It has the beach, the woods, the view of Seattle and busy streets. You can find everything for urban sketching.

Down the memory lane: August 20, 2016- West Coast Sketch Crawl

This was my very first time attending a sketch crawl. To be honest, I was a bit overwhelmed. The sketch outings I go to are usually 2.5 hours long. Some times I might do one more sketch on my way home if I see something interesting. But this sketch crawl was all day long. I got all day to sketch! It should be a wonderful thing but that day I somehow couldn't keep going after I finished the second sketch.


It's still a good experience. Now I know what to look for when sketching in a strange town/city. I look forward to next sketch crawl.

Down the memory lane: July 2, 2016- Climbing trip in Lavernworth

It was our first July the 4th. We met up with Steve and Lucy in Lavernworth and had a great long weekend away.

It's good to have 3 people climbing together, in my humble opinion, because I get to sketch while the other two climbers are working on the route. This route, however, turned out to be very tricky and took us more than 8 hours to get back to the camp.

Down the memory lane: June 24, 2016- Craftsman houses

For some reason I thought I sketched these houses in Queen Anne but it looks like I actually sketched them in Beacon Hill.

I like Craftsman houses. They are usually colourful and full of character. A local guy came chatting with me and told me that he actually painted the lime green house (he is a professional painter). One of the neighbours hated the colour and came out yelling at him. He was really happy to see me sketch the lime green house. I told him no colour could be wrong on a Craftsman house and that he couldn't agree more.

Down the memory lane: May 30, 2016- Sketching on the Hurricane Ridge

Although I draw quite often on public transport, I don't usually set up my watercolour kit on location. Today I decided to paint at the view point of  Hurricane Ridge because the view was breathtaking and I already carried my watercolour kit all the way up there!

I wasn't that comfortable sketching at the view point at first as there were many other hikers. Pretty soon, however, I blocked out all the talking and movement around me. It was quite an experience. A family came by and had a chat with me. They shared their binoculars with me in case I wanted to paint the mountain goats. The mother took a photo of me with my sketchbook because she thought I was very special!  I did feel special. After all, I overcame my fear of sketching on location (without other Urban Sketchers) while enjoying the mountain view.

Down the memory lane: It all started from here...

My very first outing with USK Seattle (Fremont)

Well, actually, it started 2 years before this photo was taken. 

James and I were travelling in Spain. One afternoon we arrived on a hill in Granada, where you can see the magnificent Alhambra. The view point gathered more than 100 tourists, snapping away with their phones or fancy cameras. It was hard to find a spot where you could take a photo without dozens of heads in the frame.

Then James saw this father with 2 boys. They were quietly drawing with crayons, capturing their impression of the Alhambra. I was inspired there and then, and started sketching. Soon I found Urban Sketchers. I followed the blog for 18 months but never participated in the local sketch outings (Melbourne, Australia). Until I moved to Seattle with James.

Second sketch done that day

I met Tina that day and later on Kate and many others. Attending the USK Seattle sketch outings became something I looked forward to. It was always fun to sketch with USK Seattle sketchers and it was even more fun listening to their stories while we had lunch together after a sketch outing.I felt connected in this new city and was introduced to various spots in the Emerald City. I love being an Urban Sketcher and I'm blessed to start my journey of sketching with USK Seattle!

First sketch done that day:
Statue of Lenin