Workshop with Veronica Lawlor and Margaret Hurst

I thought some of the Portland sketchers might be interested in this workshop that is taking place in Seattle July 8-11. Might be somewhat of a consolation for those of us who are not making it to Lisbon this summer.

Veronica made a very powerful presentation of her 9-11 sketches during the past Urban Sketchers Symposium.

There is another workshop that she is teaching in San Francisco, let me know if you are interested and I will send you more information. 

Mt Tabor Sketchscrawl

Here is one of my sketches from our sketchcrawl at Mt Tabor on April 15, 2011

William Woods

Mt Tabor reservoir and Stumpton Comic Fest

Mt Tabor reservoir offered some architecturally interesting buildings and great views of Portland skyline on this cloudy and cool morning. But it became increasingly cooler and it was good to get to lunch at Caldera.

After lunch Alanna, Kalina and I moved to the Convention Center and the Stumptown Comic Fest.

It was great to see all of the artwork and talk to some of the 'tablers'.

At 3:00 we joined a good sized group in room 105 to participate in 'Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School' What fun! There was a 'goon' and two 'dolls' (or 'molls'?). I couldn't stay for the full session so missed the longer poses but it was great fun to draw these real life action figures!

An old lady and a smart phone...

While on the MAX between Sunset Transit Center and Goose Hollow I observed an elderly woman and her smart phone. She seemed very intent on getting something worked out on the contraption. It must be crazy for someone in their 70′s to hold in their hands something like a smart phone. I mean, I have trouble keeping up with technology and I pretty much grew up alongside the advent of computers, cell phones, video games, and other assorted electronica. I’m blown away by smart phone technology. That woman probably started out using the early rotary dial telephones… and now she holds in her hands, a source for a good percentage of the information one is able to attain.

Sketching on the way home after the Max Yellow Line

On the way home after sketching on the Max Yellow Line, I saw a couple of signs that I had to sketch.  So, I went back and made a few more sketches (I didn't limit myself to the 15 minutes between trains).

-sketched by Anne Henderson

wake up and smell the cherry blossoms

On Tuesday of this week I was waiting for the bus downtown and the sun was out, the sky was blue and I was enjoying the cherry blossoms at the Unitus Plaza. I started this little sketch and was struck by the fact that people were passing by, so engrossed in their cell phones that they weren't even noticing the beautiful (and rare) beautiful Spring day!

Travel on the Yellow Line

It so happened last week prior to the yellow Line sketch crawl, I had an appointment on N. Mississippi St. and decided it would be a nice change to go by light rail.  I got off on the Prescott stop, one beyond Overlook Park.  Skidmore goes over I-5 and another couple blocks or so you are at Prost and the Mississippi Food Carts.  I had given myself a little extra time to have a brew and sketch on a sunny afternoon.

Yellow Line Sketching

On Saturday morning I wasn't feeling great and had a lot to get done, but couldn't resist joining the sketchcrawl anyway.

I drew feet as we rode on the train, and then we arrived at Union Station where obviously I was having trouble focusing on any one thing...

We got a good view of the grain elevator structures from Rose Quarter station. Along with the Kuretake Brush Writer in light gray, I used Noodler's Whaleman's Sepia ink which is more of a warm gray than an actual sepia. This ink came to me by way of Goulet Pen's "Ink Drop" monthly ink sample club, which I have to recommend - it's a great service.

Albina/Mississippi Station is surrounded with great views. I tried to catch the Fremont Bridge. This is with Noodler's Whaleman's Sepia and the Brush Writer again.

Overlook Park Station actually didn't offer an "overlook" from the station itself, so I sketched Tony sketching. This is lovely Diamine Red Dragon ink (another Goulet Pens Ink Drop sample) in a Lamy Safari... but I topped up the cartridge with some J. Herbin Ambre de Birmanie which is probably starting to affect the color by adding a slight orange tone.

Then I skipped ahead to Kenton. This was sketched through a window from Kenton Station, where I had a sandwich for lunch and our server was charismatic.

Riding and Sketching the Yellow Line

  Portland Urban Sketchers went on a sketchcrawl inspired by the Seattle Sketchers who sketched public art at Light Rail stations around Seatlle. We took TriMet's MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Light Rail

yellow line from downtown up to North Portland.


We met on PSU's campus and boarded the first train at 9:45am

We got off at select stops to sketch at, giving ourselves only the approximately 15 minutes to sketch before boarding the next train.

 This would have been even more enjoyable if it hadn't bee so cold, although it did warm up after our lunch.

All in all, a great way to explore the city and practice fast sketching. We'll definitely do this again!

more of my sketches from the day:

Thanks Bob!

Thanks goes out to Bob for letting us peruse his library of art books and browse his vast collection of sketchbooks and artwork on Saturday. I was impressed by the quality and volume of Bob's work. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon, discussing techniques, supplies, and art in general. Very cool.