PSA: Sketchbook ID

 

I put these labels on all sketchbooks (and even notebooks) I take out of the house. I regret that they look so messy -- the digitally garbled text is just to obscure the phone numbers for this post. The line that has been Sharpied out, however, is my former email address, which I changed shortly after I got hundreds of these labels printed on sale. Poor timing.

Look at the sketchbooks you’re using right now: Is your contact information somewhere on the covers? If not, put it there – RIGHT NOW! (Go ahead – I’ll wait here.)

It is usually hearing yet another sad story of a sketcher losing their sketchbook that prompts me to trot out this PSA. Just in the past few weeks, I’ve heard two such stories. One book is still at large, but contact info is in place, so we’re all hoping that book eventually finds its way back home. Eleanor Doughty recently wrote of her ordeal of losing a sketchbook while traveling in Washington, DC – and she eventually got it back! But I’ve heard many other stories without happy endings – and usually it’s because the books had no contact info.

Lately I’ve been adding an additional label to my sketchbook covers: My emergency contact’s phone number. Here’s my logic:

I used to follow an old bit of advice I learned way back when smart phones were new. My emergency contact person could be found as ICE (“in case of emergency”) pinned to the top of my phone’s contacts listing. Apparently first responders know to look for the ICE designation. But it occurred to me that my phone is now secured, so a first responder wouldn’t be able to get to that information. I needed a different solution.

I asked myself, When am I most likely to be out alone when I might befall an emergency? The answer: When I’m out sketching. If my sketchbook is in my bag or nearby, maybe someone coming to my aid would think to look in it for contact info? I hope so.

Bothell 4th of July Parade

 

7/4/26 Bothell 4th of July parade

I think the last time I went to a small town 4^th of July parade was in Edmonds in 2019. This year I was in the mood to try a different one – Bothell. I talked Ching into joining me for the small town experience, but it turned out not to be so small after all!

Lasting an hour and a half, the parade included all the usual marching bands and local dignitaries on floats, but also unusual characters that I didn’t recognize and unexpected organizations, like a Sikh motorcycle club. Receiving the most enthusiastic applause were the colorful lion dancers.

Although it was impossible to sketch everything, I tried to grab whatever stayed within my field of vision for more than a few seconds. During lulls, I caught a few audience members (I’d hoped more would be dressed appropriately for the holiday, but I hardly saw any star-spangled clothing). What a fun time!

A New 4th Tradition

 

7/3/26 Old Stove Brewery Gardens, Ballard neighborhood

A typical weather pattern lately, the overcast morning gave way to sunny skies by late afternoon for USk Seattle’s drink & draw. We met this time at Old Stove Brewery Gardens in Ballard, which was the location of a drink & draw on the same occasion last year: the day before the 4^th of July holiday.

I usually write more observations or overheard dialog on these types of pages, but I was too busy with good conversations this time!

With good conversation over brews (and my grilled corn on the cob) under nicely shaded tables, we thought we were a small turnout. Halfway through, we discovered a bunch more sketchers inside the brew pub, where they had been viewing a World Cup match. Our group turned out to be much larger than we realized at first! By the time of our throwdown, the match was over, so everyone came outside.

It was a fun way to kick off (did you see what I did there with a sports mixed metaphor?) the holiday weekend. And now that we’ve done it for two consecutive years, it’s a tradition, right?

The Chair Chooses

 

7/2/26 University Village

Natalie had an errand at University Village, so I met her there for a sketch-and-chat. It had started raining, so we chose a table under the deep awning surrounding the Apple Store. The view was full of colorful hanging floral baskets (which have appeared in many sketches I’ve made at U Village) and lots of indistinct trees and foliage in the distance. This composition probably isn’t one I would have chosen if I could have walked all around the Village, but sometimes it’s a good exercise to let the chair choose.

Skaters

 

6/30/26 Skaters at Kraken Community Iceplex, Northgate

Strangely, my physical therapist’s office is located inside the Kraken Community Iceplex, which is where Seattle’s hockey team trains. When the team isn’t using the rink, anyone can skate for fun or learn and practice.

Although I had heard that the facility was open to the public, I’d never been inside until my first appointment a few weeks ago. Seeing the fantastic public viewing area, I brought my sketchbook to my next PT appointment. It’s a fun place to capture quick gestures of figure skaters and young kids learning to skate.

A great view for skating gestures

The Patio

5/4/26

5/1/26

We had many sunny days in May and June when the memory care residents could enjoy their lovely patio. Whenever I visit Greg on days when the weather allows going out there, I probably enjoy it more than the residents do: I have things to sketch besides them.

5/10/26

5/22/26

6/17/26

Drawing Wind

 

Shortly after the previous sketch

6/9/26 Maple Leaf Park

We had a couple days of strong wind a few weeks back. The two sketches above were my attempts to capture that wind – first at Maple Leaf Park and then again with a single tree on my walk home. I think the single tree captured it better, though some of the energy might be apparent at the park.

The rest of these are more fitness walk-sketches from the past month or so. The colorful pages are the result of using my first handbound sketchbook from UglyPads. I’ve now filled that one, but I haven’t made another yet. Standard staples are a bit too short for the number of pages I had stacked, and the book started falling apart after I passed the midway point. I had to patch it together with washi tape to finish it. I think I’m going to have to get my bookbinding materials out and stitch the next one.

5/26/26 Maple Leaf

6/5/26 This was fun to capture... a bunch of kids blowing bubbles at the park!

6/12/26 Maple Leaf

6/25/26 Green Lake Park

6/29/26 Maple Leaf