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| 4/26/13 F-C Albrecht Durer water-soluble colored pencils, Zig markers, Stillman & Birn |
The 38th annual Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival in the Seattle Center’s Armory was supposed to
be the purpose of this morning’s ad hoc Urban Sketchers gathering. But the day
turned out warm and sunny enough that it seemed a shame to stay indoors, so I
spent most of the morning sketching some of the Center’s many attractions.
The Pacific Science Center’s iconic arches have long
been something I’ve wanted to sketch, but didn’t dare. I knew that if I
attempted their beautifully symmetrical webbing and intriguing shape with a
precise pen point, I would get the perspective, angles and curves all wrong, if
I had the courage to begin at all. So I took a cue from Liz Steel, whose
blog I study regularly, who has been experimenting with water-soluble colored
pencils to make loose, expressive drawings. Paradoxically, I used brushmarkers – my usual medium of choice when I need a loose line – to sketch
the finer-stroked tree in front of the arches.
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| 4/26/13 Platinum Carbon ink, watercolor, Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook |
Performing outside the Armory was Quichua Mashis, a Seattle-based
group that plays traditional music from the Andes Mountains. These Quichua
Indians of northern Ecuador have become such a mainstay at outdoor events that
I associate their lively music with scones, strawberry shortcake, flip-flops
and everything else that is summer in Seattle. Today they played a few traditional
tunes, but also “Hotel California,” “The Sound of Silence” and “Let it Be.” I
don’t know if their repertoire contains contemporary numbers because they like
that kind of music or because they think we do, but I’ll take their traditional
music over the Eagles any day. (In fact, I did: After I finished my sketch, I
bought a CD, specifically asking for one that contained traditional music.)
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| 4/26/13 Platinum Carbon, watercolor, S & B Alpha sketchbook |
On my way back out to the bus stop, I decided to confront
one more Seattle Center icon I’ve avoided previously. When the Urban Sketchers
met last June to sketch a Habitat for Humanity demo site under
construction, a number of sketchers took on the shining, amorphous blob that is
the Experience Music Project. I chickened out, saving it for a braver
day. Apparently that day was today, although I took a baby step by sketching its
back end, along with the monorail track.
One strategy to consider with something that is "scary" is to just start with a blind contour of it. It gives you a "safe" and relaxed way to explore the subject with no pressure of having to produce anything that "looks like" anything. :0)
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