Portland Sketch Guide

If you're new to sketching around Portland or even a seasoned Urban Sketcher in Portland, you may be at a loss for where to sketch in Portland. Visit our google site to see more places to sketch, organized by region/neighborhood.

Well known Portland attractions and landmarks:
International Rose Test Garden, best time are May-September
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
Oregon Zoo
Pittock Mansion
Portland Art Museum
Portland Farmers Market (seasonal)
Portland Japanese Garden
Portland Saturday Market (also open sunday!)
Powell's City of Books
View of Mt. Hood
Made in Oregon sign
Chinatown gate on Burnside and NW 4th Ave
The many bridges (Sellwood, Ross Island, Morrison, Hawthorne, Steel, Broadway, Fremont, St. Johns)
skyline as viewed from the Eastbank Esplanade
Oregon Convention Center
Universities and Colleges (PSU, OHS, Reed, University of Portland, Lewis & Clark...)
Mt. Tabor park and reservoirs
Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge and Oaks Park amusement park
Breweries and distilleries
The Grotto
Pioneer Courthouse Square
Portland's streetcars and Max lines
Coffe, Coffee, Coffee! enjoy a cafe or visit a coffee roaster
Portland's aerial tram
Mississippi Marketplace
Voo Doo Doughnuts
McMennamins (Kennedy School, Edgefield, Grand Lodge...etc)

Historic Sites & Features
Benson Bubblers
chapman and Lownsdale Squares
The Park Blocks
The Old church
Old Town/Chinatown
Simon Benson House
Skidmore Fountain
Central Library

In 2012, Urban Sketchers in Portland took up a scavenger hunt challenge. Hunt out these items during your next sketch outing in Portland:

  1.  streetcar
  2. elk statue
  3. umbrella man
  4. inside elephant's deli
  5. food cart
  6. lamp post
  7. fountain (any)
  8. fire hydrant
  9. musician
  10. dog with its owner
  11. someone wearing stripes
  12. the Bike Pile
  13. a watercraft of some sort
  14. a bicycle
  15. Portlandia
  16. '3 Groins in a Fountain' (The Quest)
  17. a bridge
  18. Benson bubbler
  19. a rose
  20. Mt. Hood
  21. coffee
  22. beer
  23. something with a bird on it
  24. The Pigs in NW
  25. someone with unusual hair
  26. the Gondola
  27. Portland sign
  28. Hung Far Low sign
  29. Farmer's Market
  30. a McMenamin's place


Winter Scavenger Hunt (December 1, 2012-February 1, 2013)
  1. A taco stand
  2. A bakery
  3. Someone drinking coffee
  4. Blind Contour of Portlandia (the statue)
  5. a drawing on non-white paper
  6. Powell's Books
  7. a donut
  8. A Brewery
  9. A drawing done with makeup (or some other unusual material)
  10. something after dark
  11. One of your your winter time traditions
  12. a drawing with your gloves on
  13. something through a window
  14. a tree with no leaves
  15. a neighborhood theater



View Sketching in Portland in a larger map

1 comment:

  1. I truly miss Portland. Spent 6 years of my young life there as a student and as a struggling artist. Someday I shall come back.

    ReplyDelete