The Pioneer Pioneer Court House

We were lucky to find a dry place to sketch outside. It was cold. I did not want to pull out my water color set up, so I chose to mostly work in pencil and focus on proportions and value.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

"Allow Me" in an ugly Christmas sweater


And a bit of another group of carolers


More at Portlands Tuba Christmas

It was great to see other Portland sketchers at the Pioneer Courthouse Square to hear (and see) the Tubas.
We had initially a pretty good spot for viewing but it would have been better to be a little further down to have a better view of the whole Tuba ensemble.
Eventually more people arrived and we were 'forced' to sketch those other intrepid Portlanders around us. Most of my views were from behind....!

Tuba Christmas- ink with some watercolor pencils and some not

Other spectators- Lafayette Grey Noodlers ink in waterbrush

Umbrella Man with hand knitted sweater- ink and watercolor pencil

Tuba Christmas

About 7 sketchers turned out for a chilly and grey (but not at all rainy!) Tuba Christmas event. At first I could see where the tuba and euphonium players were assembling...

 ...but as the crowd packed in more densely, all I could see were the folks standing around me. Time to sketch the sketchers, then!

Andrea was all bundled up and sporting a nice knit hat.

Aaron was drawing with a Magic Pencil, fancy! It was fun to draw his puffy coat's texture.

 Young Bucky requested his portrait...

...and then drew my portrait in exchange! (Notice how he included the top of baby Magpie's head, as she snuggled in the carrier on my chest?)

I added the watercolor to this sketch of a bright pink raindeer kid at home, since none of my modest sketch kit supplies that I had packed with me could capture her incredible pinkitude. Quite a fun afternoon people-watching to the tune of 300 tubas, and folks in the crowd around us were very entertained to watch is doodling away.

Tattoo Portland

Yesterday, I walked through Pioneer Courthouse Square and realized it was time for the Festival of Flowers. I couldn't figure out what the design represented or if it was finished, until I saw the banner that identified the theme as 'Tattoo Portland.' Then it all made sense.

There are tables and chairs among the flowers, so I pulled up to one and did this quick sketch,

without being hit by the pigeons swarming above or the intermittent raindrops. 

Here's a photo where the theme seems pretty clear.

You might want to check it out and make a sketch. Those chairs are much more comfortable than the bricks.