Colored Pencil as Sub for Graphite?

 

5/12/25 Maple Leaf neighborhood (Inktense and Museum Aquarelle)

On my golden-hour walk one evening, bright yellow Uglybook at the ready, I wanted to try to capture that lovely, low light. Although my usual brush pens would have been faster, I wanted the subtler gradations of pencil but wasn’t in the mood for smudgy graphite. On a whim, I grabbed a dark purple Derwent Inktense. Halfway through, I put it back – I didn’t like the “stickiness” of Inktense cores, which slows me down. Next I tried a dark green Caran d’Ache Museum Aquarelle, and although it wasn’t “sticky” like the Inktense, it still didn’t feel as fast as a soft graphite pencil, which glides effortlessly like ice skates. (Graphite lovers, you know that feeling that can’t be replicated by any other medium.)

I’m not sure I captured the lovely light as I had hoped, but the sketch got me thinking about using colored pencils in tonal thumbnails when color isn’t important. Graphite pencils have no substitute for certain types of drawings, but for a quick value study when speed is of the utmost, colored pencils can be a less smudgy option. Using one of the water-soluble colored pencils already in my bag would be ideal, but maybe there’s a better choice.

For the sketches of Jack and Greg, I tried a Black Grape Prismacolor, which is both soft and not “sticky,” and purple makes an interesting brown against the yellow paper. (The background behind Jack is a magenta Museum Aquarelle and a red Inktense.)

5/14/25 (Prismacolor, Inktense, Museum Aquarelle)

5/17/25 Prismacolor

Now I’m on the hunt through my stash of colored pencils to answer this question: Which colored pencil makes the best stand-in for graphite? Incredibly, I don’t think I’ve ever done this kind of test before! Stay tuned.

(At the risk of becoming tiresome, I will again proclaim the joy – ecstasy! – of downsizing: being able to easily grab all the colored pencils I want to test without having to dig through, search for, stack and restack so many boxes. Ahhhhh!)

My Symposium Tin Collection in the Limelight

 

If you follow the global Urban Sketchers organization’s Instagram account, you may have noticed something vaguely familiar: My symposium pencil tin collection! A sponsorship coordinator contacted me recently because she had heard that I owned a complete collection of the Cretacolor tins. They were promoting long-time symposium sponsors, she said, and a photo of my tin collection was just what they needed!

Of course, I was more than happy to oblige. How often does one’s pencil tin collection receive international attention?

A St. Spiridon Opportunity

 

5/16/25 St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral, South Lake Union

Whenever I shop at REI, I try to use whatever time I have remaining in my hour of free parking to sketch some part of St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral (the opportunistic sketcher strikes again). As I was checking out, I saw that I had 19 minutes left – but that would have to include walking a couple blocks to the cathedral, walking back, and then spiraling out of REI’s tight parking ramp. Easy-peasy.

Sometimes I enjoy self-made, high-pressure situations.

Lots of History Behind U-District Street Fair

5/18/25 U-District Street Fair

In its 54^th year, the U-District Street Fair is the longest-running festival of its kind in the country. Although I’ve sketched at it only a few times, I’ve been attending regularly since the late ‘70s when I was a University of Washington student. The fair has a long history, and I learned a bit more of it on Sunday with USk Seattle.

Shiga's Garden at 55th and University Way NE

As I walked slowly up and down the 10 blocks of the fair, I stopped occasionally to capture snippets in my sketchbook. Most fun was the Bellingham juggler who said he has been performing at this street fair for 15 consecutive years. With a continual comedic patter, he juggled a variety of props for his captive audience circled around him. Related trivia: Jane’s son went to school with the juggler!

During the throwdown, I learned from Noel (a Seattle native and current member of USk DC) that a nearby P-Patch was named for Andy Shiga (1919 – 1993). The longtime U-District merchant and owner of Shiga’s Imports was also the founder of the U-District Street Fair in 1970. On my walk back to my car after the outing, I happened to pass the P-Patch, which was an appropriate final sketch for the day. (The shop’s website includes interesting history on the Shiga family in Seattle.)

Downsizing, Phase 2: Done! Really Done!

 

This part of the livingroom has been transformed into my personal museum plus a much-needed utility table (at right). The desk at left, which I've had since I was a teen, blocks the fireplace that we stopped using decades ago for safety reasons. The drawers are filled with vintage pencils and contemporary stationery supplies. The two clocks on the mantel are family heirlooms: Greg's (on the left) and mine (on the right).

The last mile isn’t the longest. It’s the last 10 feet.

Despite being enough “done” with my massive downsizing project to celebrate with a trip to LA last month, I still had three boxes of randomness to contend with – all the dribs and drabs that I didn’t have a proper home for, yet wasn’t quite ready to get rid of. I’m still packing boxes that will go to Seattle ReCreative, where I’ve been donating art and craft supplies that weren’t ready for the last gab & grab. Most, though, wasn’t supplies; it was artifacts from my past that are just so hard to let go of. I finally managed to fit the vast universe of indecision into one box – and hauled it to the basement for further procrastination. “Someday” I’ll have to reopen that box, but that’s not bad for nine months’ work!

Although it's not as fun as my "museum," this utility table (formerly my drawing table) is something I have been wanting forever -- a dedicated space for my paper cutter, postage scale and shipping supplies. I used to have to haul each of these things out whenever needed, and then clear space on my drawing table to use them. Not anymore!

Meanwhile, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying displaying and arranging my remaining pencil collection – the part that actually sparks joy instead of just taking up space – and lots of personal memorabilia and family heirlooms. I’ll probably continue tweaking endlessly, as my intention is to rotate the vintage pencils on display with the ones stored in drawers so that they all get a chance to see the light of day once in a while. But as of today, I am really and truly done done with Downsizing, Phase 2! (Details in the cutlines.)

This image and the one below are the two built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace. My very judiciously culled books remain on the bottom shelves, and the upper shelves hold some of my more picturesque vintage colored pencil specimens. The rustic broom was handmade in Kyoto's last remaining craft broom shop (which has since closed).

I have a couple of vintage Japanese desktop drawers. . . .

. . . these drawers hold most of my remaining fountain pens . . .

. . . and yes, a whole drawer just for erasers!

The inlaid-wood tray was made by my maternal grandfather while he was incarcerated in Tule Lake internment camp during WWII. My family owns several other items that he made during that time. (In case you're concerned, the vintage and heirloom pieces are secured to the wall and mantel with museum putty. I do live in earthquake country.)

My childhood piggie bank, bronzed baby shoes and beloved Spirograph set (all pieces still intact)!

I'm not clear on who made the shogi (similar to chess) board and pieces (displayed in a drinking glass behind the board) -- either my grandfather or an uncle. I have fond memories of my dad playing this game in the evenings with our neighbor for many years.

These are mostly contemporary pencils that I don't use but that hold special interest.

Vintage stationery items, Century 21 World's Fair stamps, and my father's Eagle Scout ribbon are visible here.

A handmade teddy bear and some colorful vintage sets, plus a vintage Nicholson's Peerless watercolor set in front.

On the facing wall is the TV console and matching credenza (we got both pieces at our neighbors' moving sale years ago for a hundred bucks! So much storage space!). The drawers are full of my vintage colored pencil collection and watercolor supplies. Also visible: hand weights and yoga props, since this room is also my gym and yoga studio. On the wall is a beadwork piece I made in 2008. My plan is to move this large piece to a back hallway and replace it with several artworks I've purchased from urban sketchers. The hold-up is that I still have to get them framed.

Here's a peek inside the largest compartment, where vintage pencils must share space with the dang DVD/BluRay player, which I still can't quite let go of -- yet.

Last Resort Fire Museum

5/15/25 Seattle Fire Department Headquarters and Last Resort Fire Museum, Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square, where some of Seattle’s oldest buildings stand, is an apt home for the Last Resort Fire Museum. Housed within Seattle Fire Department’s Headquarters and Fire Station 10, the free museum holds a fascinating collection of historic fire rigs, other fire-fighting apparatus, old photos and vintage artifacts. Used in 1907, the oldest truck was originally a horse-drawn steam pumper that was eventually motorized. Although no longer in service, the vintage rigs are maintained so that they could, in fact, be used if needed in a pinch; hence, the museum’s name.

In the drizzle during the throwdown outside, I discovered that this Pilot brush pen's ink isn't as waterproof as I thought it was!

Staying dry and comfy on a cool, drizzly day, USk Seattle had a challenging time figuring out ways to squeeze the enormous rigs into our sketch pages. I kept trying to back up in the crowded museum so that I could get enough distance to see entire rigs, but that was usually impossible, so I focused on capturing small pieces of what I saw.

Thanks to Kate for discovering this gem of Seattle fire service history for USk Seattle. Supported by volunteers, the non-profit, free museum appreciates donations. 

Chirashi Test at Akebono

 

5/14/25 Akebono, Wedgwood neighborhood

On my way to the Wedgwood post office several weeks ago, I noticed that a new Japanese restaurant was getting ready to open nearby. Its space had been occupied by a divey Chinese place for many years, so a cleaner (and hopefully tasty) Japanese restaurant was very welcome in my neck of the woods. (As much as I like Moriyama and AA Sushi, each requires a drive through time-consuming traffic, despite being only a few miles away.)

Someday I'll arrive for lunch earlier so that I'll have
the patience to sketch this lovely meal properly in full color.

The next time I had a postal errand, I stopped for lunch at Akebono (which means dawn) to give it my “chirashi test.” I like to order chirashi the first time I try any Japanese restaurant because it gives me a useful general overview of the food quality and presentation. It’s typically a colorfully arranged “chef’s choice” of sashimi over a bowl of rice. As an extra credit to the test, I asked if I could have saba (mackerel) added to my chirashi (saba, one of my favorites, is not usually included in any chirashi I’ve ever ordered). They happily accommodated my request at no extra charge. I’d say Akebono passed my test with flying colors!

Speaking of colors, with lunch a bit late-ish that day, I was famished, so my sketch was hasty and without much detail (but with enough notes for my future reference). However, I’m including a photo here so you can see how colorful it really was.

In addition to sushi, Akebono has a vast menu of other items – ramen, Japanese style curry, non-fish meats, bento boxes and more. I’m looking forward to trying other things someday, especially since it’s so close to my neighborhood.

Light Rail Commuters (Plus Culled Brush Pens)

 

4/25/25 Pentel Pocket Brush Pen

My favorite tool for making quick sketches of light rail riders (and people in general) is my very old but reliable Pentel Pocket Brush Pen. With actual hairy bristles (not a felt or foam tip) and filled with Platinum Carbon Black ink, it does require some confidence and boldness (or foolhardiness) to wield, but I’ve come to love its expressive line so much that I shrug at the inevitable mishaps (see the mess I made on May 9, end of post). (It’s important to note that I only use this brush pen when I’m commuting by train; on a bumpy bus, all bets are off.)

4/28/25 Pilot Pocket Brush Pen

5/7/25 Pilot Shunpitsu Brush Pen

Just lately, I’ve been using a Pilot Shunpitsu Brush Pen (with a hard rubber tip) for some of my comics-like sketches, and one day I tried it on the train (May 7, above). Compared to the Pentel, it’s much easier to control – I could probably use it even on a bus. The tradeoff, though, is that its line is not nearly as expressive as a real brush, but it still has some good thicks-and-thins to it.

5/9/25 Pentel Pocket Brush Pen

One day during my downsizing, I put all my brush pens together – hairy, non-hairy, waterproof, non-waterproof, colored ink, black ink – all of them. I had many, many more than I ever reviewed here or at the Well-Appointed Desk. I had a lot! (I regret that I didn’t take a photo of the entire collection, but I was on a mission at the moment and forgot.)

Unfortunately, quite a few had issues of various types – ink that didn’t behave well; caps that didn’t post (or posted upside-down! What kind of idiot came up with that design!); barrels that were too skinny to hold comfortably. I culled mercilessly.

Now the brush pens I’m left with (still quite a few) are all ones I enjoy using (shown below are only the black ones; I’ll show the color ones another day). It’s such a pleasure to reach into a cup and know that whatever pen I pull out will be a good one.

Brush pens that made the cut: waterproof on the left, non-waterproof on the right

Goliath

 

5/13/25 Goliath (reference photo by Katelyn This)

Look at that grin! It gave me great joy to draw a pup as happy as Goliath.

It also made me feel rusty. After making nearly 90 pet portraits by a year ago, I then tapered off on commissions to focus on downsizing, and I’ve done only a few sporadically in the past year. I guess I didn’t forget how to draw, but my process was off. I used to have sets of “dog pencils” and “cat pencils” (mainly it’s the eye colors that differ) picked out, so it was fast and easy to choose from them. I also forgot which Uni Pin fineliner point size I prefer to use to draw the eyes, and I think I should have used a finer one here.

Finally, when I moved into my new studio and unpacked my drawing table, I had to choose which top-tier, most-often-used colored pencils would be on the desktop (while the rest were in drawers). Although Faber-Castell Polychromos had long been the desktop choice for non-soluble pencils, I was thinking about how I often end up getting out Prismacolors anyway, so I decided to change it up, put the Polys in a drawer, and put the Prismas on top. When I started drawing Goliath, I reached into the desktop cups, picked out Prismacolors to use . . . and as soon as I started drawing, I remembered how delicious the pairing used to be between Polychromos and my current drawing paper of choice, Stonehenge Lenox Cotton. As much as I often prefer Prismas to Polys, that paper has a bit too much tooth for a soft pencil like Prismacolor. So I stopped abruptly, picked out all the same colors in Polys, and I immediately felt like I was home.

A slow and rusty start, but fun the rest of the way.

Although all of that threw me off a bit when I began, I soon got into the groove and realized how much I had missed making pet portraits. I’d like to go back to doing them, but not at such a continual pace as before. I have to figure out how to get occasional commissions but not too many. (I’m still donating all proceeds to Dog Gone Seattle, my favorite local pet rescue and adoption organization.)  

Color note: One tricky thing about drawing a dog head-on is indicating the head form. If I shaded the unlighted side of Goliath’s head with the same brown as the subtle spots in his mostly white fur, it could look like I had mistakenly colored that side of his head brown. I typically choose gray for such shading, but suddenly my color temperature class lessons came to light: Though subtle, the facial shading in the reference photo was the coolest area. How about trying blue? I know it’s subtle and may not even be apparent in the finished drawing, but I used Polychromos Delft Blue to shade the head as well as to enhance all the darkest areas of features. I was pleased to be thinking in terms of color temperature instead of picking gray on autopilot.

Ahhhh....tools at my fingertips, and all I had to do was sit down and draw!

Ahhh, it felt so good to simply sit down at my clear desk and start drawing! Before beginning any desk-based work in my former studio, I used to spend an annoying amount of time moving stuff around to clear a space large enough to work on, and then later moving it all back onto the desk so that it wouldn’t get in my way wherever that stuff had landed temporarily (often the floor). This feeling is probably the single biggest benefit of downsizing!

Changes in the ‘Hood

 

5/11/25 Maple Leaf neighborhood

I hadn’t walked in this part of the ‘hood in a few weeks, and suddenly – poof! Two new houses are under construction where only one once stood.

On the same walk, I noticed that one of a pair of unique snow gum eucalyptus street trees that I had sketched last summer had lost a major limb (see below). Even as I sketched it back in July, I had worried about those huge, heavy limbs. I couldn’t show their full length in my sketch, but many hang way over the street. This limb must have torn off, and its remains had been cut.

5/11/25

sketched on 7/15/24

Mirabelle with Beanfish Chaser

 

5/9/25 Mirabelle by Orphee in Pioneer Square

The day before I went, The Seattle Times had published a major review of Mirabelle by Orphée that I didn’t even know about until after my visit. What I had heard about was the local TV coverage the prior week about this brand new French bakery in Pioneer Square. In fact, I had heard about it from Janet, who makes a cameo appearance in the KING-5 Evening segment. With media attention like that, I could hear a pain au chocolat calling my name all the way in Maple Leaf!

As Paris as we can get around here.

I braced for a line out the door as had been reported, but around 10:30 a.m., no one was ahead of me, and I easily grabbed a seat by the windows. (An hour later, a long line did form, so I must have luckily slipped in between the breakfast and lunch crowds.) My review: The Paris-authentic pastry was well worth a trip downtown (but still not quite as good as Rosellini’s in Ballard).

What Mirabelle has over Rosellini’s is a great view of Pioneer Square, including a peek of the Pergola, iconic globe street lamps and, periodically, large groups of tourists on Bill Speidel’s Underground Seattle Tour. As I munched my pain au chocolat and sketched, my view was suddenly blocked by a crowd of people all looking down – at the translucent paving blocks that illuminate the hidden ghost streets below (sheesh, I’m starting to sound like a tour guide myself). It’s a fun spot to sketch from.

Beanfish operator making taiyaki

Even I don’t typically indulge in two treats in one day, but sometimes pastries happen. After sketching the Federal Building protest, I had planned to go home, but my croissant was only a fond memory in my stomach by then, and I was already getting hungry. I decided to pop over to Uwajimaya for a small (and somewhat nutritious) snack to tide me over, which I did – and then I spotted Beanfish. It was more than a year ago that I sketched and ate a Beanfish taiyaki, which can be filled with all manner of sweet or savory innards. I opted for custard, but I could have had bacon, matcha cream, Gimme S’mores, Spam, Elvis (peanut butter and banana) and so many more.

As I waited for mine, I sketched the operator making taiyaki in the fish-shaped waffle irons. They take a while to make, but they are handed to the customer piping hot. A street food in Japan, taiyaki is sort of the opposite experience of the refined Paris bakery esthetic. Sketching at record speed so that I could scarf my Colonel Custard down while it was still warm, I made no apologies for excessive pastry consumption on a beautiful Friday.

Bacon, Spam, chocolate chips and pineapple oozing out of fish-shaped waffles.