Musicians in the neighbourhood

I felt so bummed last night when I found out that I can't visit Seattle next week. Therefore when my neighbour told me that she and her friends were having a music practice session today, I asked if I could visit and sketch them. I thought doing a sketch would make me feel better, and I was right.

It was a flute, oboe, bassoon trio. Except for the flute, I don't think I've heard oboe and bassoon played so close to me. The music was beautiful, even though Karen, my neighbour, said they are just amateur musician.

I started with my Kuretake brush pen (with water-soluble ink) to warm up. That helped me get familiar with the gestures. Then another sketch was done with ink and watercolour.

This might be the first time that I sketched people who knew that I was using them as models. Luckily we were all preoccupied by our task at hand so none of us felt too awkward. Well, at least I know I wasn't!

After I came home, I realised that urban sketching has changed me in some way. I have always been a shy person ever since I was a child. I remember as a child I could not answer questions from the owner of an eatery where I was buying dinner. I ended up taking something I didn't order home that evening. My sister always roamed around the street on her bike with the neighbours' children. I, on the other hand, would be watching them. Partly because I preferred to read, but also because I didn't know how to connect with strangers.

After moving to Seattle, I joined the USK Seattle. The first outing was great and so were all the following outings. The network helped me connect with the people and city. It helped me settle and enjoy my life in Seattle. I guess I also learnt how to connect with strangers through sketching from there. When I go to a social event, and I don't feel comfortable making small talks with strangers, I sketch. Then I talk with strangers about my sketch, about the reason I sketch, about how I found Urban Sketchers and about USK Seattle. Like today. The childhood me would never believe that I talked with a not-so-familiar neighbour and two total strangers.

A day around the bridge

Last August I visited San Francisco for the first time. To be honest, I didn't like it. I was overwhelmed by it. Now living in a town that's only 1 hour drive from it, I've visited San Francisco a few times, including playing local tour guide for my family and friends. I have to say this city really has amazing views in various corners.

James and I visited Sausalito yesterday. A small town on the other end of Golden Gate Bridge. Yes, it's touristy but charming. If you look carefully, you will find the small public beach hiding behind a popular restaurant.

On our way back, we stopped at a view point where you can see the Golden Gate Bridge up close. Well, the view point was totally full so we had to keep driving, and driving and driving till we finally found a view point with a parking space!
It was worth it though as the sunset and the view were just breathtaking.

Sketching at an indoor climbing gym

I am not a serious climber. I enjoy going outdoor climbing with James but I don't go to the climbing gym regularly to strengthen my climbing skills as other climbers do. Last night I asked James to take me with him when he was about to leave for the climbing gym. I wanted to go sketching, not climbing, at the gym. I thought there would be tons of free models on motion for me so why not?

Before I started, I did some warm-up exercise by doing gestural drawing with my brush pen.

 

I was glad that I spent some time warming up before committing to a sketch as I could feel my eyes and hands were more alert when I started working on my sketchbook.

 In the past I might have tried to put down those colourful holds on the climbing wall because they are there. This time I decided to draw only a few holds to indicate that it is a climbing wall. Then I tried using watercolour to suggest the texture of the wall. Not sure if it's the right thing to do but I do like the way it turned out.

Another sketch done for the night. The drawing was done during the last 10 minutes before the gym closed.

I still don't think I will go to the gym for climbing but now I've found a good reason to go with James next time.