Rhododendron Garden

This place is a good idea you guys.

I settled on some markers that I plan to always be carrying around with me.

Then went home and added some watercolor.  I'm going to carry that watercolor around too.

 

Near Lindy Ltd., Vaughn curves into 18th and there is a lovely set of older buildings. I've seen chickens in the street in this odd quiet part of the city.  Quick studies, not that happy with outcome -- trees are overworked -- I need to get more paint on my brush and less watery washes. Continuing on around the curve, Pomarius Nursery with two of the chickens out front pecking around, I-5 and The Castaway in the background. 

Strathmore Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil,
Platinum Carbon pen, Lamy Al-Star with De Atramentis Document black ink;
and Greenleaf & Blueberry, Daniel Smith, and QoR watercolors.

Sketching at the Zipper

I did some old cars and close ups of new cars.  I mostly sketched from inside the 7 Virtues coffee shop.  Maybe I should have done 7 sketches.  Then I could label them all for you.  Well, fine I'm just going to go for it.

Courage

Humility

Charity

Fidelity

Diligence

Pro Photo Supply, 18th and Marshall, NW Portland

Had little time to sketchcrawl last weekend, but found a great corner near us in NW.
Around the corner from the main Pro Photo shop on 19th is the new-old building, where they've taken a dull green-grey corner at 18th and Marshall and brightened it up.
I used deep colors, with layered dark colors on top and tried a deep shadow.
Not to bad, running colors (I like) and fine for the field.

This entry used to be unnoticeable; the colors all around it
have popped it and made the entire entry cheery and inviting.

 Strathmore Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, White Uniball Signo pen, and Greenleaf & Blueberry, Daniel Smith, and Holbein watercolors.

Sketchcrawl at the Zipper

First, a former home of Hollywood Vintage, now empty and looking for a new tenant.

  

Then I turned around and tossed off some quick sketches at their current home - an old Dodge, with tail-fins, and a gargoyle.








And a couple of fellow sketchers who obliged by staying still.




A little bit of Cuba in Portland

Seems I may have been inadvertently channeling Cuba today at our monthly sketchcrawl.
Comfortably sitting on an opposite corner I was able to try my hand at capturing this iconic building on NE Glisan housing a well loved Cuban restaurant. Love those bright colors. I am told by Jason (who sketched there with James Richards) that is typical of Cuban buildings.

watercolor and non waterproof ink.

 I spent the majority of my time on the above sketch and then headed over to the Zipper. There I joined other sketchers looking across to the Vintage Vendors trying to capture two older model classic cars. Something that I have heard is typically seen in Cuba...maybe not these as they are 50's cars but a feeling of a bygone era was definitively there.

watercolor and ink

So happy the rain held back very nicely to allow for our outside sketching. A very good day!

Grain Elevator From the Moda Center

Ellie and I headed out on the MAX train for a day of sketching.  Our original plan was to go downtown but we got off at the Moda Center instead. I remembered seeing the grain elevator across the river on my way to a Blazer game and today seemed like the perfect day to take a stab at drawing it. We stood side by side checking each other's progress and offering encouragement. What a great day! Here are our sketches.

Crystal Springs Vignettes

The weather was perfect, the birds were singing, the ducks and geese were relaxing and all was beautiful at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens yesterday. I tend to get overwhelmed by all the wonderful views there, so I decided to simplify with some small vignettes.

First Post!

I've been drawing like crazy lately. It's my last year at the University of Oregon in Eugene and I've been getting nostalgic.

These drawings are of the UO campus, the University of Washington campus, Eugene, Mt. Angel, Florence, and Pacific City. Lots of traveling!

Native American Student Center PSU

Last week I had an hour to kill some time near PSU.  I am not fond of much of the modern architecture in Portland because it is boring, not adventurous, but this building is complicated and evokes the Native American traditions beautifully.  I knew what it was before I heard the name. 
It is both modest and strong, reflecting the tradition it houses.

Above, a quick sketch (with Diamine Ancient Copper ink in a Lamy Al-star) of
the Native American Student Center at the south end of the PSU campus, off the park. 
Watercolor wash moved the inks: three colors were used: Yavapei, Lapis, and Shungite, with a bit of leftover mixed green for the tree which was overshadowed by the Ancient Copper ink, which runs like crazy.... Below, pushing my comfort zones, using watercolor pencils, no inked lines (absolutely out of my comfort zone), and light watercolor washes on site.  Back in studio added to the washes a bit, and may have overworked it.  All a learning.  Watercolors are SO in the moment, unforgiving!