adventures in the real world

Seattle Plein Air = artists who enjoy painting and sketching in the real world. Here we share the adventure!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

South Lake Union


Several times this year the Seattle Watercolor Meetup Group met aboard the Virginia V, a paddle-wheeler docked at the Wooden Boat Center in South Lake Union. I painted this impression of Capital Hill from its deck, whilst chatting with my fellow watercolorists.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

With the Seattle Urban Sketchers

My first time meeting up with the Seattle Urban Sketchers.  It always seems they meet on the weekend I have to work, or some other big event in my life is happening, and I can't make it to their gathering.

But this time, it was meant to be.  It was my off-week, the husband's out of town, and they are meeting in a park in West Seattle, not far from where I live!  I've been looking forward to it all week.

The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold.

Jack Block Park is an interesting place.  It's sort of industrial, being right on the edge of the working Port of Seattle.  But, it also has on of the best views of the Seattle Skyline/Waterfront.  I was a little overwhelmed by the enormity of the view.  The hardest part for me is always figuring out what to draw.  I sat with a few other people that were going to draw the skyline, so I thought, what the heck, I should give it a whirl, too.

Can't say mine is anywhere near accurate.  I wanted to get in a little of everything, and my paper was not long enough, so I jammed things together a little.


After I did the skyline, I walked around the park and enjoyed the fresh air, then I did a quick semi-blind contour drawing of some sketchers.  These are the type of quick sketches I really enjoy, because there can be some very interesting surprises.


You can see some of the other sketchers work at:  http://seattle.urbansketchers.org/




Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sunset with a Full Moon

I saw a lovely sunset with a full moon rising as we returned from a day trip to Canada for birdwatching... As my husband drove and the light was fading, I managed to paint the feeling of the scene somewhere near Mt Vernon. Obviously, our gray northwest doesn't look this colorful, just call it artistic license!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Sodo Lunch


Lunch at Mac's Smokehouse in Sodo.  This gentleman really enjoyed his BBQ, he was raving about how good it was (as he watched a game on TV).
This is my quick semi-blind contour drawing with watercolor.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Pan Africa Grill in West Seattle

After being snowed in for the last several days, we went out for dinner at a place we've been wanting to try for a while now.  In West Seattle on California is a relatively new restaurant called Pan Africa Grill.  As we pulled up there were the most appetizing smells emanating onto the street, and the place was pretty crowded (a good sign).  The atmosphere was enticing, the walls were painted a deep rich orange, the art on the walls was very interesting.  Best of all, the food was fantastic!  The granddaughter even liked it, although she thought a few of the dishes were too spicy for her. 

Here is a quick sketch I did before our dinner arrived, of my husband and our granddaughter.  She's writing in a journal about a story she wants to tell (that's all we could get out of her).