A Single Snow Gum Eucalyptus

 

5/3/26 snow gum eucalyptus, Maple Leaf neighborhood

A pair of spectacular snow gum eucalyptus trees on my walking route were among the many trees I sketched a couple of years ago while following the book, Street Trees of Seattle. Sadly, about a year ago, I saw that one of the pair had lost a major branch that had been precariously hanging over the street. A few months later, the entire tree was taken down due to poor health. According to author Taha Ebrahimi, these were the first snow gum eucalyptus street trees to be registered in the City of Seattle in 1978.

I didn’t have the heart to sketch the remaining tree for a long time. Walking by recently on a beautiful morning, I finally sketched it. In the foreground you can see the wide stump of the one that had to be cut down, but at least its remaining sister is still thriving and dancing.

(Even after sketching it several times, I still can’t seem to scale it accurately so that it fits on the page! The top of the crown reaches far beyond what I show here.)

The Last Kwanzan

 

On my walk to Green Lake, I saw the pavement covered with pink snowfall wherever I had enjoyed blossoms in the previous weeks. Wistfully, I looked for one last Kwanzan cherry to sketch at the park. Although this one had started to shed petals, it still had a full crown of pink. The temperature was only in the high 50s by late morning, so it wasn’t exactly warm. Avoiding the shade, a young woman sat in full sun, sewing (repairing?) a jacket – a refreshing change from the usual phone-gazers.

What a terrific season of pink we’ve had! And as the last of the Kwanzans leave the party, just arriving are the dogwoods and redbuds.

Dogwood

Redbud

Dogwood

Green Lake Kwanzans

 

4/21/26 Green Lake

Petal-peeping season isn’t over yet, and I don’t even have to go far to peep. The Kwanzan cherries at Green Lake seem to have exploded into pink pompoms overnight. Growing sporadically around the park rather than in large clusters, they pop brilliantly against the otherwise mostly dark foliage. Ironically, I didn’t even have to walk to the lake for these: I found them in a parking lot.

I must say that the second sketch might be one of my favorite tree sketches. It started raining shortly after I began, so I worked much more quickly than I usually would with water-soluble materials. Under-thinking instead of over-thinking!

I also may have exaggerated the vibrancy of the hues a bit -- so shoot me!

In the same parking lot, I found a few thirsty geese.

Pacific Science Center

 

4/18/26 Pacific Science Center arches from inside the courtyard

Although I’ve sketched the Pacific Science Center’s iconic arches several times over the years, and I’ve seen a couple of IMAX films and other ticketed events inside the Center, it had been 14 years since I was in the central courtyard (I remember that day well – it was my first urban sketching workshop). After being closed to the public for many years, the courtyard only recently reopened as a public space. Last Saturday was a terrific day for USk Seattle to meet there: It was sunny all day, and the temp got up to 70 by late-afternoon!

I first joined other sketchers in the courtyard to sketch the fountains (below) and my first view of the arches (top of post).

Courtyard fountains

Feeling iconic, I then wandered outside the Science Center so that I could sketch the Space Needle (twice!) and the arches again, this time from a distance. I also caught my first busker of the year: a man playing an electric violin (and competing with a busking drummer nearby).

Sketching in the sunshine until I had to take my jacket off, it sure felt like spring!

Still Chasing Pink

 

4/5/26 Prairie fire crabapple, Green Lake

Cherry tree, Green Lake

Easter Sunday was another spring day of the type we wait six long, dark months for: Blue sky with temps in the low 60s! We all knew we’d be back to our normal programming (gray and back down to the 50s) soon enough, but it was a well-deserved treat.

When I got back home from DC, I was disappointed to see that the Yoshino cherries had shed most of their petals. I took a walk to Green Lake, determined to chase whatever pink might remain. I did spot other cherry varieties that still had most of their blossoms (at left). What really stunned me, though, was this spectacular crabapple that I later learned is of the “prairie fire” variety (top of post)! I noted its location so that I’ll be able to find it again next year.

Higan cherry

Prairie fire crabapple

Although I spend most of early spring peeping and sketching petals, I also adore spotting tiny, new leaves on trees. Blossoms are fleeting, but leaves promise many more months of good sketching weather ahead (yes, I relate everything in nature to how it might affect my sketching potential). Although I don’t really celebrate Easter, these leaves felt like true signs of hope and rebirth. 

Japanese maple (hand for scale)

Norway maple

Washington, DC, Part 2: Tidal Basin Cherries

 

3/28/26 Jefferson Memorial

Washington Monument

When I heard that Washington, DC,’s famed Tidal Basin cherry trees were expected to be at peak on the very weekend that my family would be in town, you can imagine my excitement! Petal peeping at the national level! With many years of experience sketching at the University of Washington Quad, which can attract a hanami crowd of thousands a day (a total of 40,000 during the couple of weeks that the cherries are in bloom, according to the UW), I thought I was well-trained and ready. But nothing I’ve experienced as a sketcher could have prepared me for the density of the crowd that those blossoming trees attract!

Despite that challenge, I had the opportunity to sketch the cherries twice. The first was during Sakura Taiko Fest on the same Saturday as the No Kings march (which was over by the time we arrived, but crowds lingered). Along with tens of thousands of other petal peepers, I was determined to find the picture-postcard scene I was looking for: the trees with the stately Jefferson Memorial on the opposite side of the basin (top of post). Although the sheer quantity of blossoming trees is truly impressive, I didn't know how to show that!

Although multiple banks of porta-potties were available nearby, lines to use them were long all day. I used the waiting time to sketch more blossoms, this time with the Washington Monument (at right).

The following Monday, I had a slightly less congested opportunity to sketch the trees again (though it was still amazingly crowded for a weekday). I was happy to meet up with USk buddy Joel, whom I have sketched with at every symposium I’ve attended as well as in Seattle a couple of years ago during Sketcher Fest. This time, he got to show me his neck of the woods and offer helpful tips on how to tour the National Mall more humanely (like where to find restrooms and good cafes).

3/30/26 Tidal Basin

So I’m a tourist: I couldn’t resist ghosting the Jefferson Memorial back there behind the blossoms. The strong wind of the previous days must have shortened the cherries’ peak considerably; petal “snowfall” was everywhere, and the green leaves were showing through between blossoms.

Joel sketching cherry trees

(Part 3 will continue with more sketching that Joel and I did that day.)

Me sketching from the Porta-potty line

I tried to take a photo that showed the density of the Tidal Basin crowds, but I'm not sure this captures it.

Tina and Joel at the Basin

A Brief Quad Hanami

 

3/26/26 University of Washington Quad

On a jam-packed day, I barely had an hour to squeeze in at the University of Washington Quad, but how could I miss sketching peak cherry blossoms with USk Seattle? Arriving an hour-and-a-half late, I quickly singled out one tree so that I’d have a sketch to throw down (above). Of course, it was magnificently much wider than I allowed room for on the page.

After the throwdown, I went back into the throng for one more quick one: A gnarled, moss-covered branch as thick as an entire tree trunk itself and happy hanami participants enjoying the sunny (but cold) day.

Obligatory sakura selfie

Not Yet Prime Time on Sunset Hill, Either

3/22/26 Sunset Hill neighborhood

Sunset Hill is my all-time favorite petal-peeping spot. Although certainly the University of Washington Quad is the city’s biggest, grandest Sakura show, and I enjoy the spectacular hanami experience of the throngs, this single block in the Sunset Hill neighborhood is more my vibe. Even at peak, these blossoms seem known only to residents who jog or walk their dogs there. It’s such a quiet residential street that I always walk slowly down the middle of it, hardly needing to step aside for cars.

Look at that shape!

Each tree’s unique shape is as familiar as a friend. As we both admired one tree in particular (which I’ve drawn many times), another woman and I declared in unison, “It’s my favorite,” then beamed at each other.

Like their sisters on Crown Hill and Capitol Hill, these beauties hadn’t yet hit their peak, but they were close. I’m planning to be back again next week with USk Seattle when it’s full-on party time, so I chose a smaller tree this time that I hadn’t sketched before. It’s just a warm-up for the main event.

Not yet prime time, but close.

Dibble on Crown Hill

3/22/26 Crown Hill neighborhood

When Sunday afternoon turned out dry and even partly sunny, it was a good opportunity to check out a couple more of my favorite pink streets. Although Dibble Northwest on Crown Hill is a narrow, quiet and somewhat messy residential street (a broken-down basketball hoop has had a prominent spot on the block for years), every spring it turns into a pink fairyland. Not the grand fairyland of Sunset Hill (see tomorrow’s post), but more like the fairy who insists on wearing dirty jeans with her tiara. No matter – the trees are still lovely.

Like the cherries on Capitol Hill, these were not yet at their peak, but they were lazily working up to it. I think the party begins this weekend.

Premature Peeping on Capitol Hill

 

3/21/26 Capitol Hill neighborhood

Although the cherry trees were not quite ready for prime time – many were not even 50 percent in bloom – the hanami energy was high on this sunny afternoon. A regular stop on my petal-peeping tour for the past few years, this residential area of Capitol Hill is relaxed and easy without the mobs of more popular places (like the UW Quad).

I’ve sketched this view with Holy Names Academy in the background at least once before. It’s a lovely domed building, but during Sakura season, it always takes a backseat. One benefit of sketching cherries before their peak is that the buds are a much brighter pink than their petals, so they’re actually easier to sketch with bright pink crayons rather than trying to capture near-white clouds of blossoms.

Overheard, pointing to my Miata parked across the street: “Hey, that’s a little red Corvette!” Excuse me?!

Sammy

 

1/12/26 Sammy (reference photo by Katelyn This)

This commissioned portrait of sweet Sammy was a gift for the buyer’s friend, who had recently had to put down the 18-year-old pup. I could see what a long, well-loved life he had had. RIP, Sammy.

Technical notes: It was the kind of reference photo I dreaded back when my approach was to be as realistic as possible. The image was a low-res thumbnail, the lighting was dark, and the whole face was a bit out of focus. I couldn’t even see much of the eyes, let alone a sparkling catchlight. Arrrggh!

I knew a brush pen would save me from having to render what I couldn’t see; I could simply capture the gesture and essence of Sammy’s sweetness. For the all-important eyes, I fudged, mostly from experience: I created catchlights where there were none, and I’ve drawn enough dogs’ eyes to fill in what the photo didn’t provide. I hope Sammy’s human will see her beloved somewhere in the portrait.

Cloudy with a Chance of Sketching

11/21/25 Capitol Hill neighborhood

11/18/25 Maple Leaf neighborhood

My sketches during walks have become fewer and farther between now that we are into the full-on rainy season (though we are temporarily enjoying our own version of “dry January”). I take whatever dry moments I can get.

11/24/25 Maple Leaf neighborhood

12/19/25 Green Lake neighborhood

1/3/26 Maple Leaf Park

12/13/25 Maple Leaf neighborhood

Three Pups, Three Materials

 

12/19/25 Jaxon (Pentel Pocket)

12/19/25 Roxy (Holbein) (all drawings on Lenox Cotton)

12/21/25 Sammy (Derwent Drawing)

I made these pup portraits as a gift for a friend. Although they won’t look very cohesive displayed together, I felt like making each dog with a different material. Jaxon was made with my favorite Pentel Pocket brush pen. I used Derwent Drawing pencils on Sammy because I’m currently having a lovefest with that set. Holbein is not a pencil I ever think to reach for, but since I had them out for the opacity comparison I did recently, I used them on Roxy. I could hardly remember the last time I used them to sketch anything.

I don’t know what it is about Holbein: They blend beautifully; they are deliciously soft; they feel as close to graphite as any colored pencil can (which is a good thing). Yet I’ve never purchased more than the 50 colors I originally bought. Exorbitant price notwithstanding, I have never felt compelled to. I want to love them, and yet I don’t. Especially now that Derwent Drawing comes in a full palette.