Out of the Groove at Drawing Jam

9/6/25 Life drawing at Gage Academy's Drawing Jam

Gage Academy’s Drawing Jam has long been one of my favorite art events of the year. I’ve attended every year since 2012, even during the pandemic years when this popular event went virtual. Last year was the first time it was held at Gage’s new facility at South Lake Union, so that gave Drawing Jam an additional air of excitement.

For the first time ever, Gage moved the Jam from its traditional first Saturday in December to September to coincide with the new facility’s anniversary. I’m all for that change: I remember way too many cold (even sub-freezing), rainy drives to Capitol Hill in winter. Like last year, the spacious building felt comfortable instead of over-crowded as the old school often did. The vibe was again relaxed and pleasant.

Despite all that, I just couldn’t get into the groove this year.

After my first life-drawing session, I’m usually so buzzed that I feel like I could sketch all day (and often did). On Saturday, I kept waiting for that feeling, but it never came. By noon, I felt like I had seen and drawn enough. I wasn’t tired; I still had the stamina to draw more. I just didn’t want to.

Maybe the only thing that somewhat excited me about my life drawing attempts (which, admittedly, felt very rusty – I haven’t practiced life drawing in ages) was that I spontaneously tried a different tactic than usual. First, I kept the initial figure sketches tonal with brush pens. Then, before the 15-minute poses were over, I picked one of the two models’ faces to make a small study in black colored pencil. That kept my attempts fresh throughout each 15-minute session rather than belaboring a single sketch for the duration.

When I got tired of drawing models, I stepped back behind the group and sketched the artists, which is always a fun, “urban sketching” perspective to take.

After seeing all the exhibited art and having lunch with Ching, I decided to go home, still feeling frustrated and restless that Drawing Jam just didn’t buzz me like it usually does. 

On my walk back to the light rail station, I spotted an unusual scene (below): A pianist busker, and nearby was a man (part of a large group) who was protesting the Communist Chinese practice of organ harvesting. That’s got to be a unique combo even in downtown Seattle! 

After that, I finally felt satisfied and ready to go home. 

Fourth & Pine, downtown Seattle