Cars & Coffee

 

9/20/26 David drawing the Miata's birthday portrait at Cars & Coffee

When I had proposed a commission to David Hingtgen to make my Miata’s birthday portrait, he suggested that we meet at Cars & Coffee in the Madrona neighborhood. A local chapter of a national group (like Urban Sketchers!), this community of car enthusiasts meets every Sunday morning, rain or shine, throughout the year. The large parking lot, apparently unused most of the time, is right on the shore of Lake Washington. On a chilly but beautifully sunny morning, I took the top down to drive my clean and shiny Miatamobile to Madrona.

Similar to the Greenwood Car Show, it was fun to see people greeting friends, admiring each other’s vehicles and chatting about their favorite subject. It reminded me of Urban Sketchers: People of all ages happily congregating with their tribe.

I started the morning by sketching David drawing my Miata (top of post) while he drew my Miata and me! (Woo-woo, a meta Miata moment!)

Skimming from Lake Washington

Between admiring and snapping photos of cars, especially convertibles, I captured a man skimming stuff out of the lake, a metal detector (I assume?) beeping as he waded along slowly (at left).

I also met nice people who told me about their cars and wanted to hear about mine. A young woman said a Miata was her “dream car,” especially one of the same vintage as mine. She had entered a drawing to win one before she started college soon, so I wished her luck. Her boyfriend, who had brought them to Cars & Coffee in his dark green Lotus, teased that she seemed to think Miatas were hotter than the Lotus (I heartily agreed and said so).

A patient pup

A young man, owner of the most souped-up Miata (2000 vintage) I had ever seen, described and showed me every modification he had made since he took ownership of it last January. He has already crashed it once, he said, but he repaired the damage himself at his father’s auto body shop. When I said I was sad that top-down weather would soon be ending for the season, he said he is looking forward to rain so that he could practice “drifting.” According to Google, “Drift racing is a motorsport where drivers intentionally break the traction of their rear tires to slide cars sideways through corners while keeping full control.” Who knew? Now I do. I pointed to my own Miata and said proudly that I try to keep all four tires firmly on the ground.

I figure that’s why she still looks so good at 30.

Not too shabby for 30!

This '00 Miata was so souped up, I hardly recognized it. The owner uses it to "drift race."

This man's roadster was so new that it still had temporary plates.

A perfect top-down day!

Labor Day Weekend Friday

9/4/26 drink & draw at Phinney Station, Phinney Ridge neighborhood

USk Seattle kicked off Labor Day weekend in the best possible way with a casual drink & draw on Friday afternoon. I was happy to have Jenny’s dog Balloo nearby to draw several times. As many times as I seem to end up drawing Kathryn and Michael, this time I actually saw a resemblance!

On these waning days of summer, it’s always bittersweet to be able to sit outdoors comfortably in daylight, knowing that the Big Dark will be upon us all too soon.

I hope you’re having a restful Labor Day!

I got engrossed in conversation and didn't finish this one.

Butterfly Garden

9/3/26 Woodland Park Zoo's Butterfly Garden

On the last week before the Butterfly Garden was to close for the season, the Woodland Park Zoo gave members the offer of free admission (usually $3). The only time I’d sketched live butterflies was 11 years ago at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Remembering that butterflies had been difficult to sketch, I’d never been inside Woodland Park’s exhibit, but who am I to decline a free ticket? I was delightfully surprised to be wrong: Many of the butterflies quietly sat for minutes on end on flowers or, strangely, information placards. They were relatively easy to sketch compared to continually moving animals.

Species identification photos made it easy to label them as I sketched. Noticing how many butterflies were mostly black, I wished I had a black sketchbook with me. I managed to color the Atala and Eastern black swallowtail with a brush pen, but they would have been easier using colored pencils on black paper.

Palm cockatoo in the Conservation Aviary

The most challenging part? Trying to draw foreshortened butterfly wings in perspective!

After spending an enjoyable hour in the Butterfly Garden, I needed to hoof it through the zoo to give myself “credit” for fitness walking and not just sketching. I got almost all the way back around, resisting more sketches, until I got to the Conservation Aviary, which is full of exotic (and sadly endangered) birds. I caught a quick gesture of the palm cockatoo before heading for the exit. 

(See my Instagram post for a butterfly video.)

The Zoo is Full of Surprises

 

8/25/26 Silverback gorilla, Woodland Park Zoo

Visiting the zoo is always a crapshoot. Some days the animals are awake and active; others they are sleeping or just hiding from visitors. Woodland Park Zoo opens at 9 a.m. each day because the animals are supposedly more active in the morning, but I’ve had both good and bad luck at all times of day. You never know what you’ll get.

When Mary Jean, Roy and I visited last week, our sketchbooks were ready for whatever the animals gave us. I’ve been visiting the zoo for all the years I’ve been sketching, and on this day, the gorillas were the most visible and sketchable than any time I can remember! The silverback gave us the best show, loping around, leisurely chewing on twigs he was foraging and finally chillin’ with his snack very close to the viewing area. Several other adults and a few adolescent gorillas were also actively hanging out. They were all fascinating to watch and draw.

The Humboldt penguins are usually easy to see and sketch wherever they are in their large, open exhibit, but on this day several were within the viewing area that puts them closest to visitors. Molting and apparently uncomfortable, the birds vigorously scratched and preened their scrappy-looking feathers. After taking a dip, they would shake their tiny wings and rear ends, then dive in again. So much fun!

Humboldt penguins

A few weeks ago when I visited, Carson, the red panda, had been easily visible. This time, I could barely see him in the distance, so all I sketched in the Forest Trailhead exhibit was a tree kangaroo (probably the same one who was sitting on the same perch as last time).

Tree kangaroo and Humboldt penguins

Like all urban sketching, much of the fun and challenge is not knowing what you’ll get but enjoying whatever it is.

(See this Instagram post for a couple of videos I took of the silverback and a penguin.)

Goin’ to the Dogs – from Life!

 

Barnaby Sherlock patiently sits for me as I help raise funds for PAWS. (photo courtesy of ArtSpot)

When I look back on the 15 years that I’ve been drawing, a few experiences come to mind as the most intense. Being a correspondent at the Manchester Urban Sketchers Symposium would be near the top of the list. My early days of one-minute life drawing poses used to leave me breathless (both exhilarated and exhausted). But I’d have to say that last week’s benefit for PAWS beat both of those as the single-most intense drawing experience of my life!

What made it so intense? Beginning at ArtSpot, people and their dogs were lined up halfway down the block all evening, waiting for a portrait! When I participated in the same fundraiser last year, the time pressure was the same, but the work was divided among four artists. This year, one had to cancel at the last minute, so three of us carried the load for the full three hours.

8/20/26 Bob

Nessie had the most amazing eyelashes!

The other big difference for me was that of the 20 portraits I made, only three were from photos – all the rest were from sniffing, squirming life! Last year, it was the other way around: I started out doing a couple from life, but I soon realized it was impractical, given the time constraint. For the rest of that evening, I used photo references provided by the clients or that I had snapped myself. Using photos, though, can also be challenging (as I’ve learned from the many commissioned pet portraits I’ve made) when they are poorly lighted or blurry. Taking good photos of excited, distracted dogs in fading light isn’t easy, either.

Barnaby Sherlock

Phoebe Anne

When the first couple of clients said they wanted portraits from life, I was delighted – drawing from life instead of from photos is certainly my preference anytime. Up for the challenge, I decided I would continue drawing all of them from life unless a client showed up with a photo instead of a dog. At any time, I could have taken my own photos, but once I got started, I just kept going.

Lilo

Phe Phe (pronounced like Fifi). Chatting with Phe Phe's mom and another customer who had a part Chihuahua, I learned that a disproportionate number of mixed-breed dogs show Chihuahua lineage when they get their genes tested. Those little dogs get around!

Exhausted by the end, I still had a blast at this unique opportunity. It gave my confidence a big boost that I can sketch any dog’s portrait in less than nine minutes – from life!

Bee Paper mixed-media sketchbook

Material notes: Like last year, I kept materials simple, bringing only my current favorite Pentel Sign Brush Pen, a broader Kuretake Brush Writer and a gray Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Soft Brush Pen for shading. Once I got going, though, I mostly used only the Pentel with occasional help from the Kuretake.

For paper, ArtSpot offered each artist their choice of sketchbook to use for the benefit. I chose the same book I used last year: a 6-by-6-inch Bee Paper Co. Super Deluxe Mixed Media spiralbound sketchbook (the spiral binding was most practical for ripping out pages to give to clients). Although I would never choose a spiralbound book for urban sketching, I have grown fond of this Bee paper after using up the remains of last year’s book on Pencilvember and other animal portraits. It takes everything I’ve used on it beautifully – colored pencil and crayon, both wet and dry, various juicy brush pens and markers. If it weren’t for the darn wire binding, I would happily use Bee books for general urban sketching.

Two Moments at Green Lake

 

8/13/26 Green Lake

I can’t count the many times I’ve sketched at Green Lake by now, yet I never tire of the (mostly) same subjects and similar compositions: trees, water, the opposite shoreline, ground shadows. Each is a new challenge cushioned by the familiar.

While the resident geese, too, have been sketched many times, I thought I found a fresh composition. A (human) couple were sitting on the bench when I began, but I went against my own urban sketching policy and didn’t sketch them first. Sure enough, they got up and left by the time I’d sketched the geese. Again, a challenge cushioned by the familiar.

Activity in the Forest Trailhead

 

8/10/26 Red panda and tree kangaroo, Woodland Park Zoo

I hadn’t been back to Woodland Park Zoo’s new Forest Trailhead exhibit since it opened in May. That time, it had been difficult to see the animals beyond quick, distant glimpses. Last Monday was a good time to return: All the animals were more active, so as they moved around the exhibit, I could follow until they were in better positions to sketch. Carson, the red panda, gave me the best view when he flopped down on a branch to doze.

As usual, I got so excited and engrossed in sketching that I took almost no photos. This photo of one of the tree kangaroos was the only one I remembered to snap.

On my way back out, I stopped to see the Humboldt penguins. A mama gull and her youngster were trying to get in on the penguin feeding. The keeper who was giving a presentation said that mama gull had made a nest in the open-air penguin exhibit and was now raising her chicks there! Although the keepers avoid feeding them, the clever opportunists know when free room and board are a good deal.

Humboldt penguins and an opportunist.

Seattle-Style Heatwave

 

7/23/26 Green Lake

It was an old-school, Seattle-style heatwave: A few days in the high 80s and 90s that always cooled to comfortable temps overnight. Still, it was hot enough that I had to get out early for my walks, or the afternoons would be brutal. By the fourth day, we were down to the comfy mid-70s with some clouds – ahhh!

Breezy and shaded with trees, Green Lake Park is always a summer oasis – and more so right after a heatwave.  

Gas Works Revisited

 

6/1/26 Gas Works Park

The grass is still littered with goose poop -- some things never
change. The fuzzy goslings sure are cute, though!

The deconstruction and removal work at Gas Works Park was supposed to be complete by now, so I went to see what the result looked like. Other than part of a long, horizontal pipe that had been removed, I was surprised to find that not much else had changed. The intention of the work was to eliminate structures that could be climbed, reducing the risk of falls. I had been expecting more of the pipes, ladders, catwalks and other connecting structures to be gone. Looking around, I could still see plenty of structures that a determined individual could figure out ways to climb, but if that’s the extent of the work, I’m relieved.

When I was at the park with Urban Sketchers last month, I sketched the eastern half of the primary gas works. This time I sketched the western half. Next time I visit, I’ll remember to bring my panorama landscape sketchbook so I can get the whole structure at once. Shown below are photos I took before and after the removal.

5/2/26 The long, horizontal pipework is still in place.

6/1/26 The middle section of the long pipe has been removed. 

Neppy

 

5/22/26 Neptune (reference photo by Linda Lee)

From the many stories I’ve been told about the pets I’ve drawn, I gather that rescue pups are a hardy lot. They’ve already survived untold hardships before finding their forever homes. Once they know they are safe and loved, they have reason to keep on barking.

A Papillon and Chihuahua mix, Neptune lived to the ripe old age of 14, despite numerous health issues. A friend commissioned this drawing to give to her aunt, Neppy’s mom.

RIP, Neppy.

A Larger Demo

 

A practice demo I did at home using markers on 9x12 paper.

My second in-classroom workshop for ArtSpot was on drawing animals with colored pencils. Since the brush pen workshop had focused on pets, I broadened the second one to include any animal, but the chosen subjects were all pets anyway. As I’ve found with my own commissions, pets are always an endearing subject!

After my first workshop, I thought hard about how I could improve my demos. The issue was that since I typically work on small paper, it’s difficult for the students to see my work in progress. Yet trying to use colored pencils on a larger scale would be time-consuming. I decided to use a 9-by-12-inch sketchbook at an easel to demonstrate the drawing methods (scaling, measuring, the drawing sequence) using bold markers. I felt that students could grasp the concepts that way, then apply them to colored pencils.

I think it worked out better, and the students all did really well. It’s always rewarding to interact with hard-working, motivated students!

Demo sketch on how I might use bright yellow to imply highlights that are
difficult to see in the reference photo.

An urban sketching-style group selfie!

Photo courtesy of ArtSpot

Photo courtesy of ArtSpot (I'm holding the demo I did with markers at the easel)

Long-Awaited Forest Trailhead Exhibit Opens

 

4/29/26 A tree kangaroo and a kea in the Forest Trailhead exhibit

Members got a preview this week of Woodland Park Zoo’s long-anticipated Forest Trailhead exhibit. The spacious, well-designed environment is a much-improved home for Carson, the red panda (a zoo ambassador for his endangered brethren), tree kangaroos and a kea. In an equally spacious indoor area, nearly 20 species of fish, reptiles and amphibians live in tanks.

On the day I visited, I focused on the outdoor exhibit (I’ll get to the indoor part some rainy day), where I was happy to see and sketch all three of the furry and feathered residents. (I was so eager to sketch that I forgot to take photos! I’ll certainly do that on return visits.)

Carson, the red panda, a popular zoo ambassador

As I took a walk through the rest of the zoo, I came upon Skyanna, a North American porcupine, who is a much more active ambassador. Out of her exhibit and on the main thoroughfare with human companions, Skyanna was as tame and friendly as a house a cat! We all awww’d as she munched on treats and tore up a toilet paper tube for fun.

Skyanna, a North American porcupine

This is the time of year when I get my money’s worth from my zoo membership. I’ll be back soon!

Skyanna munching on a treat

In response to a question, Skyanna's human friend explains that porcupines don't need to run fast because they wear very sharp armor!

When I arrived at opening time, the stroller set filled a long line. I sketchwaited a few minutes so that I could just walk in without standing in line.