Last of 2015 Sketches

I had several opportunities to sketch this week, which was a great way to end the year.  Here's to many more sketches in the new year with all of you in our sketching community!  Btw, we welcome visiting sketchers as well, so if you travel to Portland in 2016 be sure and join us if you can.

Four windows across from a downtown coffee shop, each with its own story to tell.

One of those charming craftsman style doors at Timberline Lodge.

John's sketch of the architecture at Timberline Lodge.

John's sketch of the fascinating 'transformer' cornices on the Hotel Governor, now newly named the Sentinel Hotel after these robotic figures

Another sketching day in a different coffee shop presented a view of this glorious tree...I can't get enough of Portland's mature Elms.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all! With luck, I will see more of you in 2016!

-- SusanLayne!

Yet More Reindeer

I was in Seattle for the weekend, and arranged to get into town early enough to meet up with some Seattle Urban sketchers for an outing to the Reindeer Festival at Swanson's nursery.

Two reindeer, Dasher and Blitzen, who were more restless than the ones that I'd stumbled upon earlier in the week.  But then Blitzen turned her butt my way and put her head down to eat.

One camel, named Curly.  Evidently, he was good friends with the festival's Santa.  He stopped by Curly's cage on his way to his shift, and as soon as Curly heard Santa's bells he craned his head around to look for him.  And gave a great harrumph when he hove into view.  Which was camel for "About time you got here!  How about coming over here and scratching my ear?"

I was pretty chilled by now and headed inside to check out the model railroad, sketching in the intervals between kids.

And then finally found the koi pond in the cafe.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

"Allow Me" in an ugly Christmas sweater


And a bit of another group of carolers


Reindeer!

Not your normal everyday urban sketch outing.

Montgomery Park had rented a couple of reindeer and invited the kids from the Montessori school across the street to come and see them.  When the kids lined up and trooped into the building to carol the lunch crowd, I stuck around and did this:

This sweetheart is Dasher, 7 years old and the mother of a 7-month old.  The daughter was nearly as big as her mom, but with short, spindly antlers.

Andrea's sketch of Debra on my tablet.

Saturday, December 12, Sketch Crawl - learn about sketching on an iPad

People with iPads will bring them and show us the apps they use and how they use them.

Schedule:
10am:  Meet at Jim and Patty's Coffee, 2246 NW Lovejoy St, for introductions and coffee, followed by informal app demos by Anne, Christine, and Ali.
11am:  Venture out on NW 23rd to sketch with new knowledge.
12noon: Return to Jim and Patty's for sketch sharing and lunch.

See you Saturday!

Multnomah Lbrary sketches -redo adding color

With encouragement from Vicky and Janene I went back into my sketches from the Multnomah Library windows in a previous post.
I added color to the sky trying bring a greater contrast between it and the buildings. And it was a clear blue sky that day.

OMSI After Dark

Just like your usual science museum.  But with food and booze and live music.  And no kids, so you can play all the games without guilt.

Library sketching

Thank you to all who came to the Post Thanksgiving sketch crawl.

After getting our much needed coffee fix we walked across the street to sketch in the library.

A few brave souls sketched outside!

It was nice to get to know Laurie Wigham from SF, who fit right in with the Portland sketchers!

I enjoyed the challenge of the beautiful architecture in our library.

Sketching Around the Central Library

Even though it was cold, I set out to find a spot in the sun...hoping for the side benefit of an good view.  I soon found that the canyon-like streets of downtown were mostly in the shade, including the spots with the most interesting vistas.  Finally I noticed this cupola sparkling in the sun behind the shaded buildings, and found an unobtrusive spot to set up my stool on the sidewalk where some rays were coming through.  My fingerless gloves served me well while I sketched...I didn't notice that my feet were almost numb until I tried to get up!

I used a cool grey to shade the cupola in the distance, and warmer shades of grey to bring the buildings closer.

This Elm tree in front of the Central Library was begging to be drawn...and I could do it from the comfort of a coffeeshop!

It's always enjoyable to meet up with my fellow sketchers, so thank you for the opportunity!

Multnomah Library sketches

Trying to keep the palette simple black, grey, and a little ochre for these sketches... and channeling Andrea (especially her recent sketches from Mt Scott).
I used Black and Kiowa Pecan Noodlers in my pens and then added Noodlers Lexington Grey that was loaded into a water brush for the shadows etc.

On this one I channeled Miguel Herranz' technique (via Vicky) by starting the sketch at a point that was most interesting to me and working from that outward. That little cornice detail on the large building on the right is where I started!

Thanks to Linda in organizing this fun outing!

Library Sketch Crawl

Eight people showed up for the sketch crawl with guest Laurie Wigwam from San Francisco. After coffee and chatting at Case Study, most of us headed inside the library. Here are my sketches...

and here's a photo of our sketchbooks...

 It was a pleasure meeting Laurie and it was a fun and inspirational to sketch with everyone.

Thanks for organizing it, Linda!

sketches made while waiting

I've missed the last few Sketchcrawls, but I've been carrying a little notebook with me to sketch whenever I find myself waiting (it really helps me be more patient). I miss sketching with all of you, and hopefully will be able to make it to the next gathering!

Sketchcrawl at Mt Scott Park

It was cold.  I found places in the sun to sit, but still gave up before noon.

I keep a blog just for my sketches, for the ones that didn't come out too badly, anyway, at: 

http://ali-corbin-sketches.blogspot.com/

Post Thanksgiving Sketch Crawl

I would like to invite you to join in a sketch crawl after Thankgiving on Saturday, Nov.28.

Avid sketcher, Laurie Wigham from SF will be visiting and asked to join some Portland sketchers over the weekend.

It is supposed to be cold so here is the plan.

We will meet at Case Study Coffee at 802 SW 10th Ave. around 10:00. I will arrive earlier and attempt to snag a table.

We will move on to the main library to sketch great architecture, people or shelves of books.

We will meet at 12:30 to share sketches at a spot in the library yet to be determined.

I have left lunch open.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope to see some of you on Saturday.

Linda Daily

Mt Scott Park Sketching big firs

Thanks to all you intrepid sketchers braving this cold but at least it was dry day.   I did both my sketches with gloves on.  Brush pen, water brush with grey ink, and grey Cocoiro pen (the fine tip pen on here.)

Brrrr! Adventures at Mount Scott Park

I was a little less social at the sketchcrawl today than normal; my friend Katy and I had established a rambunctious toddler kingdom in the corner with all the books and toys and had our hands full with steamed milk, cookies, and Fox in Socks. So my apologies for not chiming in on the formal introductions! The sketching I did manage to do in the cafe included the assistance of a very dedicated 2-year-old colorist.

When we moved outside to the park, it was crazy cold but also there were a lot of things for the littles to do in the playground, so some unassisted sketches managed to sneak onto the page. Nothing very fancy, but a nice reminder of how beautiful fall is, how decadent it can be to erase lines drawn in pencil, and how warm gloves are totally crucial part of the sketching kit this time of year.

A very happy Thanksgiving to you all! I am so thankful to be a part of this group, even when life gets nutty and I don't always attend.

Sunday, Nov. 22 Sketchcrawl at Mt. Scott Park

Let's gather at Mt. Scott Park to sketch those giant fir trees.  It's actually supposed to be sunny.  I'm changing the date to Sunday because I have a work event scheduled for Saturday.

You can use sketches for a holiday cards.  I've looked into Moo.  They do greeting cards for $1.60 each and you can use a variety of images.

Schedule:

10:00am - Meet at Arleta Bakery Cafe, 5513 SE 72nd Ave, for snacks, coffee, and introductions.
10:30am - Sketch the park.
12:00noon - OPTIONAL sketchbook sharing and lunch at Portland Mercado, 7238 SE Foster Road.



Tentative plans for next Sketch Event on Saturday, Dec. 12 - we will learn about sketching on an iPad.

In January we'll get back to our regular 3rd Saturday sketch crawls.

Autumn Color

I finished this view from our living room window over the weekend. We look east and if it wasn't for one pesky evergreen tree we could see Mt.Hood! 

The famous clock at Musee d'Orsay

I had to pinch myself that I was actually in this museum! I had two cafe cremes in order to finish this little sketch.

Luxembourg gardens

This was on our last day in Paris, a beautiful October day. I remember thinking I could have stayed forever.

Paris memories

Our hearts are heavy with the news of the horrific events that happened in Paris on Friday.

Feeling sad, I looked through my travel journal from my one and only visit to the City of Light.

I did not sketch as much then when traveling, more writing and collage. But these three sketches brought back pleasant memories of a happier time.

My new bathroom faucet

Which I installed myself.  Only took me five trips to the hardware store.  And a visit from a plumber to remove the old drain.

Fall Color in NW Portland

This is looking past St Patrick's Church to the construction in the north end of the Pearl.