Sketchcrawl at the Commons

10/13/13 Platinum Carbon ink, watercolor, Canson XL 140 lb. paper

As has been true every morning the past few weeks, the sky was completely overcast and even foggy as I headed north to Third Place Commons for the sketchcrawl sponsored by the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Arts Council. I was surprised to find their farmers market still going on this late in the season, so I wandered outside to look for a sketch. I never made it past the parking lot – I was dazzled by all the fiery maples! But painting trees at high noon under overcast skies completely confused me as I tried to apply what I had learned from Peggy the other day – I just couldn’t see where to put the shadows. (In front is Carleen wearing her official bright yellow sketchcrawl T-shirt while sketching the market behind me.)

10/13/13 Diamine Chocolate Brown ink, Sailor pen, Canson XL paper

By the time I finished that sketch, I was getting hungry, especially with all the delicious food scents wafting by from the market. I found a vendor I had never seen before – Drummin’ Up Wontons – which serves up innovative savory and sweet wontons made to order. I sketched owner Amanda while I waited for her to make my combo order of mac & cheese and smoked salmon wontons (drizzled with mae ploy sauce – yum!). I scarfed those hot puppies down as I wandered back through the Commons chatting with other sketchers.

Wouldn’t you know it? When it was time to leave, the sun came out, casting plenty of shadows, and it was warm enough to drive home with the top down.