June 20th Sketchcrawl - International Rose Test Garden

Let's go back to the rose garden in Washington Park.  It should be in full flower in the middle of June.  And maybe we can catch a glimpse of the new reservoir.  Which is still not open to the public.

• 10am - meet in the plaza between the gift shop and restrooms, at the SW corner of the garden
• noon - meet again nearby, wherever we can find space for an optional throw-down

The free park shuttle loops around the park, with stops at both the Rose Garden and the zoo MAX station.  There's also a Trimet bus, the 63, that comes to the Rose Garden from downtown.  If you're willing to hike up the hill from Burnside, the 20 stops at the bottom of the carriage drive, and the 15 a couple blocks away.

For people driving, parking can get tight.  There's a small lot at the Rose Garden, but it fills up quickly.  Overflow parking is down SW Sherwood, which might lead to a hike back up to the garden.  It might be best to park at the zoo and take the shuttle.

May 16th Sketchcrawl - Kenton

I see, from reading back in our blog, that we've sketched in Kenton before, but not in donkey's years.  So let's go back, for what's likely to be the first time for most of us.

For sketching, there's the giant Paul Bunyan statue, the Denver Ave main street, neighborhood homes, a bamboo nursery, a neighborhood rose garden and a Victorian mansion.

The only coffee shop I found was Posies at Denver and Kilpatrick.  It seems to be popular, and hence very busy.  There are restrooms at Posies, at the Kenton Library next door, and at Kenton Park, a block to the west.

Kenton is served by the #4 bus, and the Yellow MAX.

sketch by Kalina Wilson

• 10am - meet in the plaza at the base of the Paul Bunyan statue, at N Denver and N Interstate, for introductions.  If you need GPS directions, you could use Kenton/N Denver Ave, which both Google and Apple maps recognize as the MAX station.  (If it's raining, we'll meet at Fenwick Plaza, a block to the east at the other end of the MAX station.)
• noon - meet at the same place for an optional throwdown

Sketchcrawl in Beaverton

 Hey folks! Elizabeth and Tim, a couple of sketchers in Beaverton, have set up a local sketchcrawl at the downtown Beaverton Farmers Market on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 10am to noon.

Meet them at 10am by the park benches located at the south end of the Farmers Market (look for the playground Pirate Ship; closest cross streets are SW 4th and SW Washington) for quick intros and an orientation, and then regroup at noon for the sketchbook throw down.

You can get to downtown Beaverton on public transportation. The closest major MAX/bus stop is the Beaverton Transit Center. There’s plenty of options for food/coffee at the Farmers Market as well as on the way from the Beaverton Transit Center.

Rain location will be inside the Beaverton City Library one block over on SW 5th (off of SW Hall).

So glad this is happening! Anybody who wants to set up extra events in their neighborhood, just let us know and we're happy to help.

Sketching at Cloud Country Blueberry Farm June 11 & July 23

Lindy Rutherford of Cloud Country Blueberry Farm has very graciously invited us to come sketch at her farm! She has five acres, a couple horses, a classic red barn, and other things to sketch.

We've organized two dates this summer. The June date is before blueberry season starts, so there won't be a lot of other people there, and the July date is during blueberry season, so you could also do the u-pick berry thing while you're there!

Details:

• Bring a chair and/or sun protection if you need it
• Bring your own drinks and food
• Lindy has a bathroom available and places we can sketch if there's rain
• There's plenty of parking at the farm

Thursday June 11 11:00 AM

Thursday July 23 11:00 AM

For both events, we'll plan on doing a throwdown around 1 (maybe followed by a picnic?) but Lindy says you can stay and sketch longer if you want to.

Cloud Country Blueberry Farm
21095 S Lower Highland Rd. Beavercreek, OR  

503-504-5083

March 21st SketchCrawl - Japanese American Historical Plaza

Let's try for cherry blossoms on the waterfront again.  Perhaps we'll catch them in full bloom this year.  Weather permitting, we'll meet at the Japanese American Historical Plaza at the foot of NW Couch at Naito Parkway.   (If it's raining, under the awnings at the Oregon State University Building, directly across Naito)

sketch by George Schweser

For coffee and food, there's Floyd's Old Town Coffee, The Society Hotel at NW Davis & 3rd, and the Saturday Market.

• 9am - *OPTIONAL* headstart for people who want to start and leave early, in order to snatch  up tickets to sketcherfest
• 10:00 am - Gather and do intros in the central square of the Japanese American  Historical Plaza 
• 12:00 pm - Gather again at same location for optional sketchbook throwdown

Weekday sketchcrawl - Friday, February 27

It appears that there's a great desire for sketching opportunities on weekdays.  So let's try one this Friday and see how it goes.

I was going to do one at a park, but I'm having trouble believing that it's actually going to stop raining this week.  So, how bout we meet at the new NW branch of the county library from 10am to noon-ish on Friday, February 27.  (Edited to fix the date.)

The address is 2030 NW Pettygrove Street.  

If it actually is dry, there's a plaza across the street with views of old and new architecture.  There's street parking, and the NS streetcar and the 24, 77 and 15 buses all pass within a few blocks.  There are restrooms inside the library, and coffee shops at 21st and Lovejoy, 21st and Quimby, and 23rd and Pettygrove.

Februrary 21 Sketchcrawl - Architectural Heritage Center

The Architectural Heritage Center has generously offered to let us meet and sketch inside their beautiful space, or outside on the street, weather permitting.

The non-profit Literary Arts, with a bookstore and cafe, is across the street.  Mother Foucault's Bookstore is next door, and SCRAP has moved nearby, to SE 6th and Washington.  The whole area, known as the East Portland-Grand Avenue National Historic District, offers plenty of cool old buildings to draw. 

The 15 bus, 6 bus, and A line of the streetcar all stop nearby.

• 10 AM: Meet inside the Architectural Heritage Center (701 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214) for introductions
• 12 noon: Meet back at AHC for a sketchbook throwdown (optional!)

January 17 Sketchcrawl - Union Station

sketch by Anastasia Vasileva

Let's go back to Union Station (800 NW Sixth Ave).  There'll be people and architecture to sketch inside, and generous awnings for those who prefer to sketch outside.  

For coffee, there's a cafe inside the station, and also Lovejoy Bakers, at 10th and Lovejoy, and Ovation Coffee, at 10th and Overton.

• 10am - Meet under the awnings outside the main entrance to Union Station
• 12 noon - Meet again at the same place for an optional throw-down

Dec 20 Sketchcrawl and Art Supply Swap at Lloyd Center

For the last few years, we've been meeting in December at the Lloyd Center, where we can enjoy shelter from the rain and cold, and also sketch some ice skaters and Christmas decorations. But there seem to be solid plans to tear the place down in 2026, so this might be our last year. If you haven't been lately, the Lloyd Center is filled with cool indie shops and pop-up art markets right now. See them before they're gone!

We're also going to hold a holiday art supply swap! If you want to participate, bring an art supply or art book that you're not using, and pick up something new to take home with you. Doesn't have to be elaborate--it could be a pencil, a paintbrush, whatever you have that you're not using.

• 10am - Meet at the food court on the third floor for introductions
• Noon - Meet again at the same spot for an optional sketchbook throwdown and art supply swap.

November 15 Sketchcrawl - PSU Farmers' Market

sketch by Amy Stewart

Let's go back to PSU in November.  The farmers' market will be there, and there's likely to be fall color.  And a variety of architecture.  If the weather is nasty, we can stay inside Fariborz Maseeh Hall, which is kept open for non-students, or you can get a day-pass at the library.

There are restrooms and coffee inside FMH (Neuberger Hall for old farts) and coffee and food available in the farmers market.

As a special note, PSU is proposing to tear down two dorms, Blackstone

and Montgomery Court. 

This might be our last chance to sketch those.

• 10 AM: Meet in front of Fariborz Maseeh Hall on the farmers market side, 1855 SW Broadway, (or indoors if it's raining) for introductions
• Sketch indoors or out, depending on weather
• 12 noon:  Meet back at same place to share our sketches in a (totally optional!) throw-down.

Oct 18 Sketchcrawl - Director Park

sketch by Vicky Porter

For our Oct 18 sketchcrawl, let's meet at Director Park, located at SW Yamhill and 9th. There's a bit of cover in case of rain, and Case Study Coffee is only a block away at 802 SW 10th.

sketch by Kalina Wilson

We know that some folks are planning to attend the protest and march taking place along the southwest waterfront on October 18. This location makes it possible to do both, but it's far enough away from the crowds that our gathering shouldn't be impacted. 

• 10 AM:  Meet in Director Park for introductions
• Noon: Meet in the same location for (optional) sketchbook throwdown

September 20 Sketchcrawl - Eastbank Esplanade at OMSI

sketch by Douglas Shimizu

In September, let's go back to the river, to the Eastbank Esplanade around OMSI.  There'll be views of bridges, soaring freeway ramps, the USS Blueback, and downtown and Pill Hill across the river.

There are a couple of paid parking lots at OMSI, and buses, streetcars and MAXes stop at the transit center at the east end of the Tilikum Crossing, a short walk away.  There are restrooms and a snack shop (with coffee) in OMSI's lobby.

• 10am: Meet up behind OMSI, at the river overlook between the submarine and the Marquam Bridge.
  
  
  
• Noon: Meet at the same place for an optional throw-down.

OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR 97214

August 16 Sketchcrawl-Midtown Beer Garden

For our August sketchcrawl, let's check out the spacious and welcoming Midtown Beer Garden in downtown. It opens at 9 AM with a few food trucks serving breakfast, and offers ample picnic tables shaded by umbrellas to sit and draw.  There are plenty of gorgeous historic buildings nearby, and we're only four blocks from the SW waterfront.

Coffee alert: There was only one easily-overwhelmed coffee cart open when we visited on a recent Saturday morning. Other nearby coffee options include Spella on Alder & 6th, Java Man on Broadway & 6th, or Kilo D’Cofi at Pine & 6th.

• 10:00 AM:  Meet up inside the Midtown Beer Garden for introductions
• Noon: Meet back at Midtown Beer Garden for (optional) sketchbook throwdown.

Midtown Beer Garden, SW 5th between Oak and Harvey Milk

431 SW Harvey Milk St, Portland, OR 97204

July 26 Sketchcrawl - SE Hawthorne Plaza again

NOTE:  This is slightly off-schedule, on the fourth Saturday of July, rather than our usual third Saturday.

We collectively decided to return to SE 37th and Hawthorne, trying for a day without rain, so we don't have to hide in coffee shops or huddle under shop awnings and will have a chance to sketch more of the surroundings.

sketches by unknown,
from the previous sketchcrawl

Tov Coffee at 3639 SE Hawthorne opens early on Saturday for your caffeine fix, and Harder Day Coffee at 3757 SE Hawthorne has even more baked goods and breakfast burritos.

• 10:00 AM: Meet in the pedestrian plaza for introductions
• Noon: Meet back at the same location for an optional sketchbook throwdown

June 21 Sketchcrawl - SE Hawthorne Plaza

For our June sketchcrawl, let's check out the new pedestrian plaza on SE 37th and Hawthorne. There are picnic tables and a great view of the Bagdad Theater across the street.  

sketch by Deb Rossi

Tov Coffee at 3639 SE Hawthorne opens early on Saturday for your caffeine fix, and Harder Day Coffee at 3757 SE Hawthorne has even more baked goods and breakfast burritos.

• 10:00 AM: Meet in the pedestrian plaza for introductions
• Noon: Meet back at the same location for an optional sketchbook throwdown

Also, just a reminder that our July sketchcrawl will be a week later than usual because many of us are going to SketcherFest in Edmonds on the third Saturday of the month. So we'll meet up here in Portland on Saturday, July 26.

May 17 Sketchcrawl - South Waterfront

sketch by Jessica Canales

According to our blog, it's been over a decade since we sketched at the South Waterfront.  And I suspect that a few things have changed since then.

sketch by Deb Rossi

There are nice bright shiny new buildings, and not so shiny old ones.  A river walk (with possible dragonboat sightings), the Ross Island Bridge, the aerial tram, and the Gibbs Street pedestrian bridge.  There'll even be a street party that afternoon, with food trucks.

The NS streetcar stops at the corner of Elizabeth Caruthers Park (3508 S Moody Ave), as do the southbound 35 and 40 buses. (The northbound buses stop a block away, on Macadam.)  The transit hub at the west end of the Tilikum Bridge is about a third of a mile to the north.  There's on-street parking, and at least one of the parking garages in the OHSU buildings is open on Saturdays.

• 10am: Meet at the north end of Elizabeth Caruthers Park (if dry) or under the awnings of the OSHU building to the immediate north of the park (if wet).
• Go forth and sketch
• Noon: Meet again at the starting point for an optional throw-down

April 19 Sketchcrawl - Architectural Heritage Center

photo by Ben Ariff

The Architectural Heritage Center has generously offered to open early so that we can meet and sketch inside their beautiful space, or outside on the street, weather permitting. 

The non-profit Literary Arts has recently moved into another historic building across the street and opened a bookstore, and the whole area, known as the East Portland-Grand Avenue National Historic District, offers plenty of cool old buildings to draw. The 15 bus, 6 bus, and A line of the streetcar all stop nearby. Portland Coffee Roasters is a few blocks away at 7th & Oak.

• 10 AM: Meet inside the Architectural Heritage Center (701 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214) for introductions
• 12 noon: Meet back at AHC for a sketchbook throwdown (optional!)

March 15th SketchCrawl - Japanese American Historical Plaza

sketch by Kalina Wilson

Let's try for cherry blossoms on the waterfront again.  Perhaps we'll catch them in full bloom this year.  Weather permitting, we'll meet at the Japanese American Historical Plaza at the foot of NW Couch at Naito Parkway.   (If it's raining, under the awnings at the Oregon State University Building, directly across Naito)

sketch by Rita Sabler

For coffee and food, there's Floyd's Old Town Coffee, The Society Hotel at NW Davis & 3rd, and the Saturday Market.

• 10:00 am - Gather and do intros in the central square of the Japanese American  Historical Plaza 
• 12:00 pm - Gather again at same location for optional sketchbook throwdown

February 15 Sketchcrawl - Central Library

UPDATE: 
The snow and ice are supposed to be gone on Saturday.  But just in case, check the library website (https://multcolib.org) in the morning.  If it's closed, then we'll cancel (obviously), but if it's open then we'll hold it (for whoever can make it in).

sketch by Linda Daily

The library's been remodeled since we were last there, so let's see what it looks like now.  (The architecture hasn't changed, but the furnishings are all new.)

Case Study is across the street, for coffee and snacks.  (We're allowed to bring food and drink into the library.)

The bus mall is a couple blocks away, and there are streetcar and MAX stops within a block or two.  There are 4-hour parking meters some blocks to the south, on the far side of Salmon, and several garages nearby, one of which is kitty-corner from the library.

sketch by Deb Rossi

• 10am-ish - meet in Conference Room 1B (to the left as you enter) or nearby for introductions
• noon - meet in the same place for an optional throw-down

January 18 Sketchcrawl - Union Station

sketch by Elo Wobig

Let's go back to Union Station.  There'll be people and architecture to sketch inside, and generous awnings for those who prefer to sketch outside.  

For coffee, there's a cafe inside the station, and also Lovejoy Bakers, at 10th and Lovejoy, and Ovation Coffee, at 10th and Overton.

• 10am - Meet under the awnings outside the main entrance to Union Station
• 12 noon - Meet again at the same place for an optional throw-down