Day Ten

Tuesday, June 3

  

This morning at eight I met with Mrs. Williams and talked about my presentation/new sketches.  Afterwards, similar to yesterday, I decided to go to one location in Seattle and spend more time there- Pike Place Market.  The market has always been one of my favorite spots in Seattle because no matter what day or time it is, it is always bustling with life and different people and activities.  There was so much going on that I took forever to decide what to sketch.  Luckily I had my mom with me again today!

 Our first location was Café Campagne in the Post Alley.  We chose this spot because it faced the Post Alley sign and we could sip our tea while sketching.  Both of us felt like we were on vacation or in a different place because of how relaxed and happy we were.  You know it is going to be a good day when the city you have lived near for most of your life feels like a vacation spot.  

        

(The top is my mom's, the bottom is mine) 

  Next we went to a gluten free bakery for lunch (where I had a croissant for the first time in ten years!!)  Then we went to the lower levels of the market and I stood and sketched the scene around us.  After walking around and exploring some more we found the only bench in the entire market -which happened to be right in front of the fish-tossing area- and sketched for about an hour.  

 

What I have discovered about urban sketching is it makes the craziness and chaos around you become silent.  When I was sitting on that bench and hundreds of tourists and screaming kids walked by, I was so focused on what I was drawing that I hardly noticed the noise.  And another sweet old lady complimented us on our drawings again, she was a bit lost…

 (This was in my horizontal sketchbook so I had to take two separate scans)

(My mom's drawing from the same spot)

 To end our day at the market we bought peonies, a Polish dish, and of course, Beecher’s Cheese.  

 

Day Nine

Monday, June 2

Today I decided to go to one location in Seattle so I would have time to work on the presentation later in the afternoon.  After an intense spin class with my mom (I’m dying) I drove to Fishermen’s Terminal.  I had to cut across to the Mercer exit again but it went really well, I am so much more comfortable driving to Seattle now than I used to be. 

Once I found a legal parking spot I walked around a little bit to get a feel for the place.  I hadn’t spent much time here before but I was excited to come here because I’m a boater.  I found a bench in a central area looking out at the docks and started by sketching a wide view of multiple boats. 

I think I was a little out of it still when I sketched this one because it did not turn out how I wanted it to.  I really don’t like it.  But that’s a huge part of art- not every drawing is going to be a success.  

After completing my first drawing my dad met up with me for lunch.  He ate fish and chips and I ate my gluten free sandwich and then we walked the docks and talked about how excited we were for boating season. 

Since my first drawing did not turn out well I decided to use a medium I am very comfortable with for the second: charcoal.  But instead of using black charcoal like I usually do I used brown and sketched a tugboat in front of me.  This one turned out much better and a little, old, Greek lady even came up to me and asked me if I went to art school and told me I had talent.  It is funny how I was feeling a little down about my first drawing but then I was more motivated to do the second and I even got a compliment. 

 (The one on top is a quick practice with brown charcoal) 

I started sketching the building behind me but decided to finish it at home so I would not be stuck in traffic for hours and hours. 

Today was one of my favorite days yet and anyone who knows me knows that I am happiest by the water. 

Day Eight

Friday, May 30

To make up for not going to Seattle yesterday I decided to spend the whole day sketching in Seattle.  In the morning I met with Mrs. Williams and she gave me a book that connects to art and my project.  I also talked with Mrs. Osborn for half an hour about art/life in general.

After my meeting I met up with Nick Hagan who has been in my art classes with Mrs. Osborn for three years and we went to Seattle.  Our first stop was the Seattle Public Library.  I chose this spot because of the architecturally distinctive building and the variety of people that hang out at libraries. 

Once again I saw how unique different people’s perspectives are.  We had the same view the whole time we were sketching but I focused more on the building and he focused more on the people.  It was interesting to see what we both picked out of the scene in front of us. 

After the library we walked to the Seattle Art Museum.  While the museum itself does not have the most incredible art collection, I have always been drawn to the decorations in the building.  The lobby contains hanging cars that light up and I knew I wanted to sketch these.  For me, it was fun to sketch in an art museum.  Making art at a place that celebrates art is really inspiring.  

 (The last two are really quick sketches...)