Too Hot to Play Outside

 

8/12/25 Collaborative artworks by MJ, Roy and Tina

With temps projected to hit the low 90s, Roy, Mary Jean and I decided to take our art play date indoors. Meeting in Caffe Ladro’s comfy AC, we spread out our mixed media tools for some collaborative art-making. With an approach similar to our exquisite corpse experiments, we each started a sketch by any means we wanted (from life, from imagination or from photo). At the end of the time limit, we rotated the sketches, and the next person continued working on the piece. Unlike traditional exquisite corpse, where the work done previously is concealed, we could see the entire work, which made the exercise both easier and more challenging. After the third round, the piece was deemed completed.

For the first series, we rotated the materials initially used along with the piece so that each piece would retain a cohesive look. For the second series, the materials were a free-for-all, so we could use whatever we wanted.

Completed collaborative pieces. Roy gave the bottom piece to our Caffe Ladro barista.

Completed collaborative pieces

All of the finished pieces were way more vibrant and colorful than any of us would typically achieve on our own. We all photographed each stage so we could see how the pieces progressed. In the photos below, I show the first stage of the two pieces I started; scanned above are those finished pieces. One challenge was simply stopping so that the next person would have some space to fill!

The throwdown photos show all six pieces we completed. What a kick in the creativity pants!

Look at how much this one transformed!

Shown here are the first stage of the two finished pieces
at top of post.

Crow on a Wire

 

8/11/25

As I always do on clear mornings, I went upstairs to pay homage to Her Majesty. A crow on a utility wire was nearly at eye level. I had a few sketch tools in the next room, but I knew that by the time I got them, the crow would likely be gone. I grabbed a pencil and the back side of my workout notes (the former bedroom is now my yoga studio and gym). The crow stayed almost as long as I took to make the sketch. The haiku came a moment later, just as quickly.

I wish everything were that easy.

Pier 58 Waterfront Park Finally Opens!

 

8/10/25 Pier 58 Waterfront Park

After many years of planning, designing and rebuilding, the much-anticipated Pier 58 Waterfront Park is finally open! The first part to be completed was the Overlook Walk, but that didn’t open until fall last year. The new Pier 58 renovation opened while we still have plenty of summer to enjoy it.

Although Roy, Mary Jean and I had gotten a sneak peek of the waterfront in June before it was officially open, I knew that USk Seattle would eventually meet there, so I resisted sketching the new park. Last Sunday when USk finally had its outing, I tried to capture as many new elements as possible.

Statue of Ivar Haglund and a live human 
borrowing Ivar's chair

The meetup location was the eye-catching jellyfish climbing apparatus, which is the focal point of the new playground. It became a popular subject for many sketchers. Other highlights I had fun capturing were a bride being photographed on the Overlook, the giant swings (with the most comfortable seats of any swing I’ve used as an adult), a caricaturist (though her client got away before I could sketch him), and a man wearing a huge sombrero while singing in Spanish.

While I typically wouldn’t sketch a public restroom, this one seemed important enough to capture: My whole life, I’d heard (and have myself uttered) complaints about the lack of facilities anywhere near the long stretch of the waterfront between the Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. At last, a clean, safe public restroom!

When I ran out of space in my orange Uglybook spread, I opened my smaller blue one to catch a couple more scenes: A weary human resting in the seat attached to the statue of Ivar Haglund feeding his gulls, and a magician dazzling his audience.

With temps rising toward the upper 80s on the mostly shadeless waterfront, I thought I would run out of steam quickly, but it’s funny how sketching can keep me going. I just walked from one bit of shade to another, covering several blocks and back again. As a native and lifelong resident, I’m happy to say that Seattle finally has a waterfront worthy of my tax dollars!

William Chen at PhinneyWood Show

 

8/9/25 William Chen at PhinneyWood
Comic Book Show

William Chen is both a comic book author/artist and urban sketcher. Last Saturday he participated in the first-ever PhinneyWood Comic Book Show at the Phinney Neighborhood Association. I popped over to say hi. As you can see from the photo, he’s a lot taller and more animated than I drew him!

A Tree-mendous Sketch Outing in Fall City

 

8/8/25 Pete's Treefort at Aroma Coffee, Fall City

Having a treehouse in their backyard is a fantasy for many kids. Pete Nelson of Nelson Treehouse has been making that fantasy a reality for people lucky enough to stay in one, at least for a night or two: His magical houses built in trees can be rented. And now there’s a new one next to Aroma Coffee in Fall City that’s open to the public whenever the café is open! Kate, who discovered it when KING 5 TV featured the café and treehouse a few months ago, knew it would be a fun USk outing location.

Last Friday morning, a good turnout of sketchers tackled the substantial challenge of the treefort’s architectural details. Inspired by Nordic stave churches, the three-story treefort can be climbed all the way up (I forgot to take photos as I climbed, but it’s fun to look out the windows and doors on each floor). There’s even a table and stools on the balcony and a swing accessible from the ground.

My breakfast and a warm-up of the fort

I warmed up with a small thumbnail from the front as I devoured a cinnamon roll (which was one of the best I’ve had in a long time). Then I tackled the color version, focusing on trying to get at least the proportions right. Whew! That took more than an hour, which is longer than I usually spend on any sketch!

That done, I went around to the back to capture the spacious outdoor seating area, where families were enjoying coffee, treats and shade after climbing the fort. Next door to the café is Nelson Treehouse’s office and warehouse. A funny wooden mascot sits atop that building.

Aroma Coffee's spacious seating in the backyard

About 45 minutes east of Seattle, Fall City is a little far for me to make regular coffee/sketching stops, but it’s tempting. Even without the treefort, Aroma Coffee offers unique beverages and treats in a spacious, comfortable place, inside and out. (The coffee shop building, itself, has its own story: It’s the Prescott-Harshman House, on the historic register, built in 1904.) But the treehouse certainly makes it special.

Next door to Aroma Coffee is the Nelson Treehouse warehouse and office.

For ideal sketching, I recommend going early in the morning. By 10 a.m., this bit of light was already disappearing, and then the treehouse is in shade the rest of the day.

My Mojo’s Back

 

8/7/25 Maple Leaf neighborhood

Just when I was beginning to worry that my urban couch mojo had dried up, I spotted one right on my walking route! Despite the drizzle that morning, I couldn’t pass it up. And what a fine, rare specimen it was – upended on the sidewalk! (To keep passersby from getting too comfy?) Bonus: It was also trash day!

Miatagrrl’s mojo makes a strong comeback!

Art and Bananas at Nitro Plaza

 

8/6/25 Nitro Plaza, South Lake Union

My sparkling wine flute from dinner afterwards.

Gage Academy has been sponsoring free pop-up art events this summer in South Lake Union. With big tables spread with markers, pencils and still life objects at Amazon’s Nitro Plaza, the events encourage the community to sketch and interact while promoting Gage’s programs.

Natalie, Ching and I met there last Wednesday to check it out. We had a great view of both the Amazon Spheres and the vintage Elephant Car Wash neon sign. The sticker from Gage was a fun addition to my page.

In case you’re not familiar with Amazon’s “community banana stand,” the company has long operated a kiosk outside the Spheres offering any passerby – employees as well as the general public – a free banana. The kiosk was closed by late-afternoon when we arrived, but Ching had several to spare in her bag. A banana was just what that space on my page needed. (And how about that pop of bright yellow on dark blue?)