Tea People

Spent a couple of hours at Tea Chai Te in Northwest this afternoon for a little sketching. It was hard to get a spot with a good vantage point, and after a bit the sun was blaring through the window so hard and causing such a glare i had to give up my efforts, but I captured a few little tidbits before then.

A Return to Urban Sketching

The weather in Portland is warming up, the people are in the streets, and I'm there, sketchbook in hand observing the goings on around town. Well, the goings on inside coffee shops, bars, and on nice sunny hot dog eatery patios anyway. It's great to get out and although I haven't had a chance to join up with you, my Urban Sketching brethren, I've gone on solo missions to sketch the people and places of our colorful city. This past week's adventures have taken me to Zach's Shack, which I believe are the tastiest hot dogs in town; for some sweet treats and caffeine atDragonfly Coffee House, one of Portland's coziest coffee shops; and for some libations at Muu Muu's one of the chillest bars in the Northwest area of town. Hopefully as the summer goes on, I can get out and continue my little solo Urban Sketching adventures, and if anyone ever wants to join me for a mid-week romp around town, shoot me a line, perhaps we can romp together.
Once again the links to some of my sketch spots:
Dragonfly Coffee House and Bakery
Muu Muu's
Zach's Shack

Cozy seats and sweet treats at Dragonfly Coffee House

People doing their thing at Dragonfly Coffee House

People of Muu Muu's

The view of Por Que No from Zach's Shack

Sketching Here and There

It's hard to get out and join the group, but it doesn't mean I'm not out and about sketching this and that. From sitting in my car before work, sketching the shoppers coming and going from Nordstrom Rack, to Dr.Sketchy events, and the obligatory coffee shop sketches, I've been getting it done.  Nothing fancy, or colorful. Just your basic pen and pencil sketches.

Dr. Sketchy Crush Bar, Belmont Ave, Portland

Dr. Sketchy Crush Bar, Belmont Ave, Portland

Dr. Sketchy Crush Bar, Belmont Ave, Portland

Dr. Sketchy Crush Bar, Belmont Ave, Portland

Starbucks in Lake O

Watching the comers and goers of Nordstrom Rack  from afar, Beaverton

By Popular Demand....

I just wanted to share with you all a couple of the sketches/ paintings I've done of my new daughter, Abigail Jean Serido. I know it's not urban-ee, but I think we can make an exception just this once. Thanks for all of your kind words, and one of these days I'm sure I'll bring her along on a sketch crawl so you can meet her in person.

Abby's I'm hungry face, casein in Holbein watercolor sketchbook

The Sleeping Baby, watercolor in Holbein watercolor sketchbook

The Last Outing

I finally found a moment to post this sketch from the last outing I went on before my dear Abby was born. (YES! I am a father now.) She was born this past Saturday May 11th at 9:08pm. She's 7lbs 13oz and couldn't be cuter. Free time for now is at a premium and I just wanted to get this post up while she napped. It was a sunny day, and I just lounged about in a park in the Pearl sketching the people before heading into work. I'm sure I'll find time to get out there and sketch soon enough, but for now, it's all about the baby! So exciting!!

Watercolor, Pencil, and Ink

A Sunny Day On Mt. Tabor

With this beautiful weather, I absolutely have to get out of the house. This past Thursday I found myself on Mt. Tabor sketching this view looking West over the city. Great sketching weather lately!

My Own Little Sketch Crawl

As I so often have work on the days everyone is off having fun, sketching up the town, I have to make up my own little sketchy days. This past Monday was one such day. Just a couple of landscape sketches from the day and one little sketch I did today while I was waiting for the oil to be changed in my car. Hope to see you all soon!

NW Portland Sketching

On Saturday we met up at Kiva Tea Bar and Spa before dispersing throughout Northwest Portland to sketch and paint. There was about 15 or so sketchers enjoying some coffee and tea all the while, drawing each other. I managed to get a couple quick sketches in while I ate some delicious chocolate almond butter on toast. After leaving, I took the car up to a side street and parked it with a good view of the ridge that sits above Northwest. Managed to get down a pretty good sketch of this scenic vista before regrouping at Kenny and Zukes to look at everyone's sketches. It was great fun looking through everyone's books and meeting some new sketchers. I hope to see you all again soon.

Last Minute Scavenger Hunt Sketches

drawing on the Max with gloves on

sweet pea bakery

posting from my phone and its not  easy. last couple of sketches for the scavenger hunt challenge

Scavenger Hunt - coffee drinker

For this scavenger hunt item, I expected to be out to breakfast or hanging at one of Portland's many coffee shops. Alas, that was not the case. While awaiting a flu shot at a Kaiser facility I noticed this woman casually sipping her coffee. Busted out a quick sketch while I could. Got the gist of it down just in time and once again I'm reminded, it's always a good idea to travel with a sketchbook by your side.

Thurman Street Bridge

This is my second sketch of this bridge. I like looking at it. It's a good spot to sketch. Macleay Park in NW. Come springtime, might be a good spot for an outdoor meet up. Just sayin'...
Hey, does that tree with no leaves in the background count towards the scavenger hunt tree with no leaves? 

 

 

Thurman Street Bridge

A Portland Afternoon

This past Tuesday, it being a relatively dry and mild fall Portland day, I decided to drag myself out of the apartment and into the world. I ended up heading out to Macleay Park on NW 29th and Upshur to do a a little sketching. It's got a great view of the Thurman St. Bridge and a fun hiking trail. I sat in the warm car with a friend and we tried our best to render the bridge and bright fall foliage. The longer I looked at the bridge, the more complex it seemed. There are so many little rivets, bolts, plates, connectors, notches, slots, and crossbars, that it boggles the mind. Of course, using watercolor, I just simplified all that into what you see below. A nice little outing on a nice Portland afternoon.

Macleay Park, view of the Thurman Street Bridge

A Soggy Saturday Sketch Crawl

Saturday's sketch crawl with the Portland Urban Sketchers turned out to be more of a sketch sit and sketch other sketchers kind of happening. That's good news for me though, I like sketching people, and with a number of willing and able subjects on hand I managed to get off a few quick ones.

 I took a break from Floyd's for a bit and wandered over to the Saturday Market and did a very very quick and very rare sketch of some kind of scenery, market stalls, and the like. I never feel comfortable drawing out in the open like that, so these quick and little sketches are all I ever end up with. At least I did something different.

It was fun to meet the intrepid urban sketcher Pete Scully and have a chance to hang with a big group of sketchers. Look forward to doing it again soon.

It's Electric...

... or at least it was electric, or rather an electric supply warehouse. Now, it's just a decrepit, burnt out, shell of a building. It might not function as much, but it's kind of cool to look at it. The collapsing walls, bent and rusted metal, old boilers, and graffiti strewn walls have become the subject for many a photographers' lens and this past weekend, many a sketchers' hand. Not being one for too much architectural drawing, the dilapidated building held my interest long enough to get off this one sketch. It was great to see everyone's sketches and see the different styles and techniques. Always inspiring. Until next time...

Taylor Electric, East Side Door Way, watercolor in moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Passing The Time In Portland

On a drizzly Tuesday afternoon I cozied up in a coffee joint, with a friend, in SE Portland for some tea, pastries, and a little light sketching. I caught this girl lazily sipping her coffee (scavenger hunt item... score!) and paying me no mind, so it was easy to get a quick sketch of her. I've been really digging the light blue Pitt pen. I like how soft it looks and how it's a little moody.

Fountain pen, with Blue Pitt Pen in Moleskine Sketchbook

The next Saturday in stark contrast was a wonderfully warm morning and as usual, after my Saturday run (10 miles on this particular day) with Portland fit, my running buddy and I got our post run bagels and coffee on 23rd and Glisan. Just enjoying the sunshine and chilling. Fortunately we were posted up right next to this paint chipped old fire hydrant and I was able to check another scavenger hunt item off the list.

Fountain pen with assorted Pitt Pens in Moleskine Sketchbook

Sun!!!

Pitt pen, fountain pen, and watercolor in Moleskine sketchbook

Relaxing on a sunny Portland day in Laurelhurst park. Got a scavenger hunt item off the list, got a tan, and got all relaxey. Nice way to spend the afternoon and clear the old noggin. I like all the modifications Portlanders are always doing to their bikes. This girl's bike had a milk crate fastened to her back fender. Perfect bike trunk.

Scavenger Hunt - Watercraft

Earlier this month on one of May's sunnier days I flitted about town sketching this, and sketching that. Sketched and painted these boats that afternoon. I don't think I had ever tried to sketch a boat before. A lot going on there. I'm just really looking forward to another nice day where I have time to chill out on the waterfront again... c'mon sunshine!!

Watercolor and ink in Moleskine watercolor sketchbook

A Nice Day For Lounging

This past Monday was a nice day for just lounging about on the waterfront and I wasn't the only one who thought so. Bike riders, runners, walkers, lounge abouts, and just the general Portland populace was out in droves to enjoy one of the warmest days of spring. Sketchbook in hand, I lounged on the grass of the esplanade, soaking it in.

Scavenger hunt, a dog and their person. Thought about adding color to this later, but I figured I'd post this one before I go mucking it up. Dip pen (yes, I brought ink a dip pen with me) over pencil in Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Scavenger Hunt Musician

A serendipitous encounter with a musician friend of mine at an open mic event at the Raccoon Lodge while drinking the most ridiculous bloody mary I've ever had. It pays to carry a sketchbook with you at all times I guess. These are done in a little pocket size jammer I won spinning the prize wheel at Blick. I have to admit to doing some of the coloring off site. Shane is an awesome musician, and it was a pleasure sketching him whilst he played his sweet sounds. I hope to do it again sometime.

Photoshopped 3 sketchbook pages together. One musician done 3 different ways. Shane Brown rocking out at the Raccoon Lodge. Gouache, pen and watercolor in Canson Mixed Media Sketchbook.

Back in Portland and up to the old tricks. Planting my ass in various locales and sketching Commonus Portlandius Urbanatia, or the common Portlander. They are a breed of human often observed abstaining from one or several common food items for unknown reasons. Dairy-free, fat-free, sugar-free, full soy, no meat, gluten absent, lemon zested, breakfasts sound delicious... don't they? Apparently, the new thing everyone can't have is gluten. Five years ago I don't think I had ever heard the word gluten more than once a year, now everyone thinks they can't have gluten. No gluten, but cigarettes, weed, and potato vodka will keep you healthy, or so the Commonus Portlandius Urbanatia believes... as long as you follow up your weekend with a cayenne pepper and citrus filled hydro cleanse. I ask for extra gluten now. I mean, someone's got to do it.

Dragonfly coffee shop awaiting a meeting with some dude. A girl wants her gluten free sweet treat (minus the sweet) and a large man reclines peacefully enjoying the sunshine coming through the window as he reads something on his kindle.

Portlanders like big glasses, scruffy beards, and wind swept hairdos. I like sketching with a bamboo dip pen and trying to come up with new skin toned paint mixtures.