Urban Trees

 With the hot days we've been having, it's wonderful to have so many trees.

A brother and sister were playing cards under the trees in Lithia Park in Ashland last week.

More Lithia Park Trees...

Today, sitting under the trees in Laurelhurst Park, it seemed about ten degrees cooler than the surrounding neighborhood.

I hope you all find some shady trees and maybe a pond to cool your feet.

More Peninsula Park Sketches

I didn't make it to the sketch crawl at Peninsula Park, but I was there about a week earlier. I hadn't been sketching much and decided to play it safe by drawing little tiny sketches. Here are my miniatures.

Peninsula Park sketches

This day was my first exposure to a Parkways Bike event. It was very exciting to see all of the bikers gathering before 11:00 ready to set off on their tour of the other parks.

Some of the other sketchers had their bikes and I was impressed with their verve. I however was on foot and staying in Peninsula Park for the morning.

The Fountain- watercolor and non waterproof ink

I love this sunken rose garden with its wonderful structure of paths and planting beds. After doing this fountain sitting at the lowest level I went up to an outer edge to get a view from a higher angle.

The Gazebo- watercolor and non waterproof ink (using the Hero m86 pen)

Sunday Parkways

Started in the sunken rose garden, surrounded by the scents of hundreds of flowers.

Then onto the course, north and west to Arbor Lodge Park, where I sketched a cyclist. A stationary cyclist, leaning against a tree and listening to a swing band.

Then north to Kenton Park, taking a rest along the way to listen to the Portland Recorder Society.

Penninsula Park, Part of Sunday Parkways

Hi,  once in a blue moon I get out to a sketching event. Had a good time at PenninsulaPark  and Sunday Parkways. Good time meeting and talking to sketchers that get there more often than me.  I'll try to get to Cathedral Park next month.

Peninsula Park - June Urban Sketch Crawl

It was a beautiful day on Sunday.  Peninsula Park is definitely going to be one of my new hangouts.

Thanks to everybody who came.  Deb will be leading the Cathedral Park sketch crawl in July because I'll be in Singapore!  See you when I get back, but hopefully before that.

Some sketches from my travel east

Just a few of the sketches in Portsmouth NH, Eliot ME and Bristol RI...more on my blog.

Portsmouth NH- Market Square

Eliot ME - Farmstead B&B

Bristol RI - British Motorcars

A little catch-up...sketches from a past sketchcrawl

It was great to explore the area around the High and Low Gallery (our host for the potluck and materials exchange). Thanks Julie!
With the street mandala painting going on at SE 33rd and Yamhill and our potluck and materials exchange it was a super charged day.

I started out with a fairly stiff sketch of the street painting but after the potluck I returned to do another looser and more interesting sketch.

Other subjects were taken on too like the church at the corner of SE 35th and Yamhill. I neglected to get the name but I did like the tower and the trees surrounding it.

It is always fun to get new tools so I was pleased to come away from the materials exchange with some great stuff. A Hero M86 pen and some new ink colors got me so excited that I couldn't wait to try them out. Thank you to Andrea, all of the organizers and to the other artists that brought such great things to the exchange.

Hero M86 pen with new Noodlers Air Corp Blue ink

Sunnyside Urban Sketch Crawl

I drew what turned out to be a house where Kalina used to live.

Always great to be with you all!

3rd *Sunday* Urban Sketch Crawl - June 21, + July Sketch Crawl

JUNE 21

Sunday, June 21, let's join up with Sunday Parkways and sketch Peninsula Park and other areas of North Portland.  We can also sketch crowds, bicycles, and crowds of people on bikes. Pretty sure there will be hot dogs, lemonade, and hula hoops to sketch.

It's also Father's Day and the summer solstice so feel free to bring dads along and/or yourself and kids if you are one, and also bring your love of the sun!

So far the weather is looking good, but if rain seems like a possibility I'll look out for some indoor gathering spots and update this post.

Also be aware parking might be challenging with streets closed off for the event.

Schedule:
10:00am: Meet at the gazebo at Peninsula Park for introductions.  The gazebo is directly north of the fountain in the middle of all the roses, and up the stairs.
10:30am: Sketch around Peninsula Park
11:00am Sunday Parkways starts:  get on bikes and take a sketching bike tour - or - hang out on foot.
12:30pm: Sketchbook sharing and (byo) lunch back at the Peninsula Park gazebo.

Bring:

1. Your choice of sketching materials.
2. Bike (optional)
3. Portable chair (optional)
4. Food (optional) - usually at Sunday Parkways there are food vendors at the parks and places along the route.

Sunday Parkways Information and Map:
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/531449


 
JULY 18

Saturday, July 18, let's go back to Cathedral Park in St. John's. It's another opportunity to sketch the beautiful St. John's Bridge, plus the Columbia River.  Lovely lovely lovely. The Jazz Fest is also going on that day so we may have the choice of staying and listening to some good music. And it's free!

Schedule:
10:00am: Meet at Proper Eats for introductions / coffee / snacks.
10:30am: Sketch around Cathedral Park
12:00noon: Meet at the circle shown in this photo at the bottom of the stairs for sketchbook sharing / (byo) lunch.  Once again if Jazz Fest is starting by then there are usually food vendors around.

Upcoming Events

We're entering the busiest time of the year for sketchers!

Here are a few events of interest coming up, outside of our regular sketchcrawls... mark your calendars!

Tonight

OMSI Science Pub - Colorful Materials World: Designing New Color Pigments for Art and Industry
Hollywood Theatre
7pm (doors at 6pm and I advise early arrival to ensure you get a ticket and a seat)


July

Pacific Northwest Sketch Outing
July 11
Tacoma, Washington

This location is reachable by train, and in the past some of us from Portland have made the trip together via Amtrak.

August

3rd Annual West Coast Urban Sketchers Sketchcrawl
August 7 - 9
San Diego, California

Last year's event was in Portland and was fun and well attended.

Aurora Colony Days 
Saturday, August 8

We've been contacted by an organizer who would love to see sketchers at this event.  I'm hoping to find a couple of drivers that will be willing to ferry interested sketchers to the location, which is just a short drive from Portland. I'll post in a few weeks with more information.