Chinese Garden

Like Andrea, I also went to the Chinese Garden this week, but unlike her, I hung out in the tea house and drew pottery for quite awhile. (I found the poem on our table very comforting after the tragedies in Paris this week.)



After warming up with tea and treats,  I went outside and drew some of the vegetation.

Finally, to make this post look a little more urban, I'll add this sketch from Directors Square.

Sketching at the Chinese Garden

There's still free entry today to the Chinese Garden if you bring a can of food.

I went there on Thursday and Friday during my lunch break.  Had some sun both days. Three other urban sketchers that I know of went too.  

Lan Su (wtih bonus Samurai!)

Lan Su was very chilly when we visited last week. I picked a spot to sit that was sunny and then started looking for something to draw--the fabulous rockwork that made up the floor of the plaza was an excellent warm-up for my brain.

Grey and black brush pens can give a sense of depth quickly and efficiently.

Drawing other sketchers can make a scene more fancy!

Coincidentally, my friend Violeta happened to bring her kids to the garden that same morning. She took some snapshots of sketchers in action--and gave me permission to share them here.

The black brush pen has been super useful when out sketching with the baby, because I can get interesting lines down fast while standing, rocking, or bouncing with the darling little wiggler. Here are a few quick sketches from the Samurai exhibit at the Portland Art Museum as a little bonus!

This Weekend's Sketches

Saturday, at OMSI, I sketched one of the lines for the Sherlock Holmes exhibit.  Andrea has inspired me to look at ceilings, and this one was pretty interesting. Sometime, I'm going to go back and sketch those steps completely from that upside-down perspective.

This room, full of interactive displays, was frenetic, but I was in my own private sketching zone.

Sunday, several of us found a spot in the sunshine at the Chinese Gardens.

Can you identify which hat belongs to which sketcher?

I'm so proud of our sketching group for starting the new year with 2 sketch crawls!

A sktechy weekend

Saturday was spent at OMSI with the Drink and Draw group. Our intention was to sketch in the Sherlock Holmes exhibit but when we met at 1:00 OMSI had posted a sign that they were not taking tickets at that time due to high demand. So, we decided to just hangout there and do some sketching in and around the open areas of the museum.
Initially I was attracted to the 'Sherlock Holmes' vehicle behind the ticket counter but decided to hold off and take advantage of the sunny outside (although there was a slight breeze too).

Ink and Large Pitt pen

I had been wanting to draw this bridge construction and there was a perfect view of it from the walkway outside of OMSI.
Later I went back inside to tackle the auto driven by Robert Downey Jr. in the movie Sherlock Holmes; A Game of Shadows (2011). Loved the soft curves and accoutrements on the vehicle....old cars are the best!

Ink...two colors because my brown ink ran out

It was fun and there was a variety to draw but eventually we gave up on getting into the exhibit and retired to a local pub to share and eat.

On Sunday despite the cold temps there was a good crowd of sketchers gathered at the Lan Su Garden....it was again sunny and that made it bearable to sketch sitting in the sun.

Ink and large Pitt pen

Ink and large Pitt pen

I wasn't motivated to get out any color though (and I regret that based on the other sketchers stuff) so these don't really reflect the beautiful scenes so abundant in the garden. Several of the Camillas were in bloom and there was some fragrance from the Wintersweet to enjoy too.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

I finished a sketch that I started at the Chinese Gardens

during the free admission week. It was too cold to finish

it outside. I loved that place so much I would like to become

a member!

Sketching in Old Town: Back Space and Lan Su garden

These are in reverse order...but that's fine. I ended my sketchcrawl day at the teahouse at Lan Su chinese garden. It was my first time there. I had eight treasures tea which was really very good.

a very quick sketch at Lan Su

Bill Sharp...messed up his eyes, though. Oops

People at Backspace and Marco, sketching

 Backspace cafe barista...I think i made his hat too pointy. He didn't look quite so gnomeish in person.

 It was great meeting up with folks. For the first time since I started the group, we had more guys than gals!

I've really been enjoying myself at sketchcrawls....see y'all next saturday too!

2 states, 2 cities, 2 parks/gardens

First city: Vancouver in Washington at Esther Short Park

We met in Esther Short Park in Vancouver, WA, to show some love to our northern neighbor. It turned in to a gorgeous day! Colin (above), Tony, Jennifer, Abby, Anne, Deb, Janene and I turned out to sketch.

Our sketching results

my sketch of the clock tower.

another sketch in Vancouver

Urban Sketcher, Tony, illustrated

 

Colin, Urban Sketcher, in action

Second city: Portland in Oregon at Lan Su chinese gardens

I headed over to Lan Su Chinese Garden (free admission day!) to continue sketching on the beautiful day.

the bridge, Hall of the Brocade Clouds and buildings behind.

Lan Su can be translated as Awakening Orchids. It is a wonderful place to sit and sketch on a gorgeous day.

this was actually my first sketch in the garden.