InkTober, Week 2

 

For week 2 of InkTober, I tried to up my game by sometimes choosing more challenging reference photos. Like the cats – black cats (my double nemesis, though timely for the season). The challenge is avoiding a solid black face by retaining subtle highlights. With only two tones – black and the midtone colored paper – it’s hard to distinguish between the darkest local fur color and shading on that dark fur. The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen is better at making calligraphic line strokes than hatching large shapes. Poor Ada, a gorgeous cat in reality, took on a grumpy, gorilla look from all my bold brush pen strokes.

Overall, the dogs were much easier; a snout defines the face much more easily than the subtle forms of cats. Except for wall-eyed Fin, my unmeasured proportions are improving. I didn’t choose any solid-black dogs, however. Maybe that will be my challenge for week 3.

I’ve been sticking to my time limit of 15 minutes or less. After I feel confident about that time limit with a brush pen, I might try allowing 20 to 30 minutes and use a fountain pen to hatch. That might be a better approach with black animals.

(All InkTober reference photos were used previously for commissioned pet portraits in the past couple of years.)

Poor Ada... a wolfman cat.

Pet Portraits for InkTober

As I mentioned a few days ago, I’m taking advantage of InkTober to practice pet portraiture in a style that’s more time-efficient as well as more fun and challenging in a new way. I’m allowing myself no more than 15 minutes for each portrait, mainly to keep InkTober from becoming burdensome but also as an exercise in speed without sacrificing too much accuracy. Without careful measuring and blocking as I used to do with colored pencil portraits, I sometimes lose proportions, but I’m hoping that will improve over time.

 o far, I am really enjoying the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen alone or with my Sailor Naginata fude de mannen fountain pen (containing Platinum Carbon Black ink). The white Gelly Roll is for tiny highlights only, like the catchlight in the eye, and whiskers. For the cat, I used a light gray Uni Pin brush pen for the shadow that the eyelids cast on the cat’s eyes. It probably wasn’t necessary, but before I put in that shading, the cat didn’t seem to have quite the same attitude. My goal is to capture the animal’s essence more than an exact resemblance.

Another thing I used sparingly was the fude pen to hatch shading or dark fur in some areas. I need to avoid the temptation, though, of drawing in all the fur with the finer pen, which is another reason for my 15-minute time limit!

One of the biggest challenges so far is drawing white or light-colored fur with a black brush pen only (both Oct. 5 and 6). I end up drawing mainly the negative spaces around the light fur. Another challenge will be drawing an all-black animal without ending up with a solid black mass of ink. The first week was a warm-up; I’ll move on to more challenging pets soon!

(All reference photos for InkTober pet portraits were used previously for commissioned portraits in the past couple of years.)

Charli (New Pet Portraiture Style)

 

9-26-25 Charli (reference photo by Katelyn This)

For a while now, I’ve been thinking about ways to continue making commissioned pet portraits as a fundraiser, but in a different style. Although I still enjoy making colored pencil portraits, they are no longer challenging in the way they used to be. They are also time-consuming. After making nearly a hundred of them, I thought I would eventually reduce the length of time they take, and I did become more efficient over time, but the nature of the medium just takes time. I don’t want to raise the price to be commensurate with the time because that might be a barrier to donating (and I’m not interested in spending time on something that no longer challenges me anyway).

I practiced some looser styles at home, and then I was serendipitously given an opportunity to practice under live pressure (fun, though a bit daunting).

My intention was to continue practicing variations of this looser, quicker style before I opened up offers for commissions this fall and winter. But as these things seem to happen, Charli came as a commission request from one of my most generous donors and supporters. How could I say no, especially when I saw the sweet face of this pup? (Charli had to be put down recently, so making her portrait was especially poignant.)

These materials didn't quite hit the mark I was looking for.

Although I like the speed and efficiency of using a brush pen with a gray marker for shading, and I also like the comic-y look (at right), I wasn’t quite satisfied with my practice results so far. I decided to use Charli as a guinea pig, so to speak, to try different variations. I was prepared to make several tries until I was satisfied, but on the first try, I came up with this combo of two ever-faithful favorites: the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and my Sailor Naginata Fude de Mannen fountain pen with Platinum Carbon Black ink.

While the brush pen did most of the work, I wanted a finer tool for important features like the eyes (which I believe is the feature that pet owners connect with most significantly, so the eyes have to be right, whatever “right” is). Although I didn’t use it much this way with Charli, I think the Sailor fude would also make a good hatching tool when I want to shade lighter-colored fur.

Charli’s portrait took only about 20 percent of the time it would have taken if I’d used colored pencils, yet I found it challenging in a different way. With my previous tighter style, the tedious block-in stage often took up to an hour because I was trying to be as accurate and realistic as possible. With Charli (and my brush pen/marker practice portraits), I made quick measurements with my eyeballs to gauge general proportions, but I made no block-in marks at all. I just observed closely before hitting the paper with the pen and brush. I hope the owner will feel that I captured Charli’s essence without trying to accurately duplicate the reference photo.

As happened with my colored pencil portraits, I’ll probably continue to revise my materials and techniques as I do more of them, but I’m pleased that I already have a method I’m happy with so that I can proceed confidently with more commissions. Before that, though, I’m getting more practice – during InkTober! Stay tuned for my first report soon.

Portland, Part 5: Walk-Sketches and My Sketch Journal

 

9/22/25 St. Patrick Catholic Church, Alphabet District, Portland

(My Portland series was interrupted by more exciting news, but now it resumes.)

As I did last year in Portland and this past spring in L.A., I stuck with my daily walking routine even when I traveled. On days when I had a fairly packed agenda, I didn’t always sketch on the walks, but when I had time, I took along my A5-size Hahnemühle sketchbook in case I wanted to use color.

I would simply set off in a direction from my hotel, then turn a corner at some point, eventually working my way back to the hotel. Along the way, I sketched whatever caught my eye. It’s absolutely my favorite way to sketch on location, especially when traveling: Wander aimlessly until I’m compelled to stop and sketch. I love the sense of discovery coupled with the urge to draw!

9/23/25 William Temple House, Portland

The two color sketches shown above were among my favorites of the whole trip. Both buildings were discovered when I turned a corner I hadn’t walked before, and suddenly there they were, demanding to be sketched – and I was delighted to oblige.

As always, many of my sketch journal pages also document food and beverages consumed. Meals are always part of the fun of travel, right?

9/18/25 Lacey and my drive to Portland

9/19/25 Breakside Brewery, Portland

9/19/25 Hachi restaurant and Breakside Brewery

9/20/25

9/20/25 Scottie's Pizza Parlor

9/23/25 My last Portland neighborhood walk and a rest stop where I had lunch on the drive home.

Portland, Part 3: Hollywood Theatre and Sellwood-Moreland

 

9/20/25 Hollywood Theatre, Portland

When I wasn’t touring Portland with family or sketching with USk, I went out on my own to explore areas of Portland that I had not sketched before. One was the magnificent Hollywood Theatre, which I had seen once years ago when Greg and I were driving through the city on our way to somewhere else. I couldn’t remember its name or neighborhood, but I had always hoped to get back to it someday.

Serendipitously, I was driving through the Hollywood neighborhood on my way to somewhere else again, but this time I made note of the location. When I went back later to sketch it (top of post), the afternoon light was getting low, and the ornate façade looked even better than it had in the morning.

9/21/25 Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood, Portland

Moreland Theatre

A friend had mentioned the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood as being both walkable and sketchable. It’s a charming neighborhood that still has many traditional homes, and other former residences have been transformed into coffee shops and other small businesses. I did see signs of old houses being taken down and replaced by multi-story developments, but those were the exception instead of the rule.

While the morning was drizzly, I sketched some bright yellow trees from my car (above). When the rain stopped, I took a long walk up and down the main drag and eventually sketched the Moreland Theatre (at right), which was celebrating its centennial anniversary.

Although I didn’t see any turning maples, this neighborhood had lots of trees that were glowing bright yellow when the sun eventually came out (below). Walking and sketching – my favorite way to explore a neighborhood when I travel (or anytime)!

Sellwood-Moreland

Marianne’s Old House

 

8/30/25 Mt. Baker neighborhood

When I was driving to the USk outing in Leschi last Saturday, an idea popped into my head: A lifelong friend grew up in a house in the Mt. Baker neighborhood not too far from Leschi. Since I was in the area, I drove over after the outing to sketch the house as a gift.

Although the house was now painted dark green, I couldn’t quite remember what color it had been when Marianne lived there . . . maybe white? I decided not to color it according to the current green, since I wanted the sketch to evoke the house of her past. And despite the many, many times I had visited as a child, it’s funny that I had never noticed those eyelid windows until I stood across the street to sketch them. I’m pretty sure the trellis hadn’t been there, but I didn’t want to take too many liberties. (We can’t go back again, even in sketches.) It was a relief, though, that like my own childhood home, Marianne’s old house hadn’t changed much (or hadn’t been torn down as so many have in both neighborhoods).

Pier 58 Waterfront Park Finally Opens!

 

8/10/25 Pier 58 Waterfront Park

After many years of planning, designing and rebuilding, the much-anticipated Pier 58 Waterfront Park is finally open! The first part to be completed was the Overlook Walk, but that didn’t open until fall last year. The new Pier 58 renovation opened while we still have plenty of summer to enjoy it.

Although Roy, Mary Jean and I had gotten a sneak peek of the waterfront in June before it was officially open, I knew that USk Seattle would eventually meet there, so I resisted sketching the new park. Last Sunday when USk finally had its outing, I tried to capture as many new elements as possible.

Statue of Ivar Haglund and a live human 
borrowing Ivar's chair

The meetup location was the eye-catching jellyfish climbing apparatus, which is the focal point of the new playground. It became a popular subject for many sketchers. Other highlights I had fun capturing were a bride being photographed on the Overlook, the giant swings (with the most comfortable seats of any swing I’ve used as an adult), a caricaturist (though her client got away before I could sketch him), and a man wearing a huge sombrero while singing in Spanish.

While I typically wouldn’t sketch a public restroom, this one seemed important enough to capture: My whole life, I’d heard (and have myself uttered) complaints about the lack of facilities anywhere near the long stretch of the waterfront between the Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. At last, a clean, safe public restroom!

When I ran out of space in my orange Uglybook spread, I opened my smaller blue one to catch a couple more scenes: A weary human resting in the seat attached to the statue of Ivar Haglund feeding his gulls, and a magician dazzling his audience.

With temps rising toward the upper 80s on the mostly shadeless waterfront, I thought I would run out of steam quickly, but it’s funny how sketching can keep me going. I just walked from one bit of shade to another, covering several blocks and back again. As a native and lifelong resident, I’m happy to say that Seattle finally has a waterfront worthy of my tax dollars!

Unauthorized at the Sculpture Park

7/30/25 Calder's Eagle from inside Paccar Pavilion, Olympic Sculpture Park

I knew it had been a while since I had last sketched at the Olympic Sculpture Park, but I was surprised to find that it was as many as three years ago. Arriving there a bit early for a workshop (more on that tomorrow), I had time for a few quick sketches. (I made a mental note to come back sometime soon so I could spend more time there.)

On that hot, late afternoon, I had initially ducked into the comfy AC of Paccar Pavilion, Seattle Art Museum’s indoor facility at the sculpture park, which has a view of Calder’s Eagle. Shortly after I had begun the sketch, a security guard, surprised to see me, informed me that the pavilion had closed 15 minutes earlier. When I explained that I had entered because the door was unlocked (pointing to the door), he muttered something (which I took to mean that he was supposed to have locked it but hadn’t). Oopsy.

Fortunately, the outdoor part of the park stays open until dusk.

After I got kicked out, I sketched Ellsworth Kelly's Curve XXIV at the Pavilion's entrance.

Rediscovering Southeast Green Lake

7/28/25 Green Lake

Although Mary Jean and I both know Green Lake well, Roy does not. We decided it was a good time to further his education of our favorite lake. Last fall, I showed him the lake’s north end, so this time we met on the southeast side. In particular, I thought it would be fun to start at Green Lake United Methodist Church, which is as close to a European stone castle as anything in Seattle might be. Since I’ve sketched other parts of the church before, I focused on one “tower” to fill the last page in our round-robin single-sheet signature booklet (below).

Green Lake United Methodist Church

At lower right is a different church that I see regularly but had never stopped to sketch before.

Restaurant Christine

From there, we continued walking and sketching around the lake until we got to the Tangletown micro-neighborhood in the south end of Green Lake, where we stopped for a delicious lunch at Restaurant Christine.

Exploring familiar territory with someone who hasn’t seen (or sketched) the area before always gives me a fresh view.

Color notes: I’d like to start exploring more variations of primary and secondary triads available in Caran d’Ache Neocolor II’s palette. Many Neo II hues are not available in the Cd’A Museum Aquarelle line, which I’ve become familiar with, so it’s fun to try new combos. I also find that choosing a very limited palette of just three or even two hues (a warm and a cool; a sketch I made at Sketcher Fest is one example) makes it much easier for me to interpret and mix color temperature shifts. I’m not especially fond of the primary triad I used in this Green Lake sketch (top of post), though. The blue leans too hard in the violet direction, which results in an odd green when mixed with the yellow I chose. I find that these waxy, water-soluble crayons don’t blend in the same way that Museum Aquarelle pencils do (which I still prefer in that regard). 

Phinney Farmers Market

 

7/25/25 Phinney Farmers Market

I was hoping to find local heirloom tomatoes at the Phinney Farmers Market, but I guess it’s still too early. Instead, I found a group of ladies called the Sølje Sisters entertaining shoppers with their accordion, violin and flute music.

Even more entertaining were the dogs getting cheese curd treats from Neighborlady Cheese. Whenever she saw a dog pass by, she would call out, “Would your dog like a cheese curd sample?” I didn’t see any pups decline the offer. As she explained to one dog’s human, she’s not allowed to give samples to humans, only to dogs. (Maybe those samples had fallen on the floor during production?) I’m sure the dogs were happy to get a treat that their humans couldn’t have. And I was happy to have dogs sitting still long enough to sketch them.

Capitol Hill Homage

7/25/25 Broadway, Capitol Hill

 After an errand on Capitol Hill, I made homage to Jim Hendrix on Broadway outside the Blick store. I knew it had been a while since the last time I sketched his sculpture, but I was surprised to find that it was way back in 2013.

A few blocks away, I also sketched the poor old Broadway Theater building. It used to be a Rite-Aid for a while, and now, sadly, it seems unwanted and unused, waiting for a tenant. Once a cool marquee, its lights were removed a long time ago.

Chuck’s Auto

 

7/24/25 Chuck's Auto in Maple Leaf

Only 10 blocks up the street from me, Chuck’s Auto is where I take both my little Miata and Greg’s Subaru for servicing. Reliable and reasonably priced, it’s also convenient because I can walk home after I’ve dropped off a car.

(After the high of Sketcher Fest, it’s always a bit hard to get back into the swing of mundane, fitness-walk sketching, but life goes on, doesn’t it? Thankfully, I never tire of the mundane.)

Technical note: I’ve always loved my Sailor fude pen for its thick and thin lines, but I’d forgotten how much I also like its squiggly nature. It’s the opposite of a precise technical pen. Since I hadn’t used it much in Uglybooks until now, I was surprised to find that it feathers and bleeds a bit on this stout, 80-pound paper – and yet I like the look. Years ago, that would have bothered me. Maybe that lengthy break from my Sailor was good for our relationship.

Sketcher Fest Wind-Down

 

7/22/25 Gateway at Hing Hay Park, Chinatown/International District

Even though Sketcher Fest ended on Sunday, some visiting guest artists and attendees were still in town for a few days following, so local planners kept the fun going.

On Tuesday morning, Roy and I decided to show Cathy Chinatown/International District. We stayed mostly at Hing Hay Park, where we found all the ping pong tables in use by skillful, aggressive players (below). We all had a fun challenge trying to capture their fast moves!

Hing Hay Park

Hing Hay Park

When I was ready for a quieter sketch, I took on the brilliant vermilion Gateway sculpture with tiny Cathy in the foreground (top of post). Although I’ve sketched it many times, I never tire of its distinctive shape and modern counterpoint to the traditional Asian motifs elsewhere in the park. 

Food and beverage at Fuji Sushi and Pike Place Bar & Grill

After a leisurely lunch at Fuji Sushi, where we had fun sketching our meals (my bento box was especially sketch-worthy, above, though I was too hungry to do more than scribble hastily), we hopped on the light rail to the Pike Place Market. There, Ellie had organized an intriguing outing that was literally a sketchwalk. We began near the information booth, sketched for a while, and at the designated time, we all moved on to the next location. We had a total of three sketching stops of about 45 to 60 minutes each, all of us moving together as a group, then returned to the starting point for the throwdown. An event like this would be difficult to manage with a large group, but for a group of the right size (and with people who have similar sketching approaches that don’t require a lengthy stay in one spot), it was fresh and invigorating.

Pike Place Market

Waterfront Overlook Walk

As a farewell to our visiting friends, we ended the day with a relaxing drink & draw at
Pike Place Bar & Grill, which has a view overlooking the market from the second floor. It’s always hard to say goodbye, but we all know that our love of sketching will bring us together again someday!

Technical note: This was the first time I attempted the Gateway with Caran d’Ache Neocolor II water-soluble crayons, and I’m continually pleased by how efficient they are at covering large areas with color quickly. In addition, their blunt, chunky tips prevent me from getting fussy with details. I don’t know that I could say I love them more than CdA Museum Aquarelle Pencils (or water-soluble colored pencils in general), but they are certainly ideal for certain types of sketching.

Throwdown group photo at Pike Place Market

Drink & draw at Pike Place Bar & Grill