The Interview

 

8/7/26 Whole Foods cafe

I could tell immediately by their body language: A job interview was taking place. After walking to an errand, I had stopped at Whole Foods’ café for an iced Americano. Tempted to sketch them at the adjacent table, I resisted, not wanting to add to the candidate’s stress if she happened to catch me observing them.

Although I could hear the manager’s questions clearly (the position was for a Whole Foods cashier), the candidate’s responses were so quiet that I couldn’t hear them at all. Recalling the many job interviews I had been on in my career, they had all been conducted in proper offices – not in a noisy, distracting café where patrons could easily overhear. It all made me cringe with empathy.

Of the many things I am grateful for about retirement, never having to go on another job interview is near the top of the list.  

No Difference

3/5/25 Neighbors Barbershop, Wedgwood

8/25/25 Green Lake

Whenever I make sketches that were made while waiting but have no other stories to tell about them, I file the scans in a folder labeled “sketchwaiting.” They are waiting for me to think of something new to say about sketchwaiting so that I can blog about them. I looked in the folder the other day and realized I had a sketch in there from March! I obviously hadn’t thought of anything new to say.

10/16/25 Whole Foods, Roosevelt neighborhood

10/19/25 Volunteer Park

Then it occurred to me that for a lifestyle sketcher like me, there’s not much difference between sketchwaiting and any other type of sketching. Sketches happen spontaneously, whether I’m walking, shopping, or waiting for a friend. No wonder I have nothing new to say.

11/11/25 Green Lake

Sketchwaiting is the embodiment of what Nishant Jain provocatively asks: What if every time we felt like pulling out our phone, we pulled out a sketchbook instead? What if, indeed.

11/15/25 Rosellini's Bakery, Ballard neighborhood

Blue Blues

8/12/25 Whole Foods cafe

I just passed the halfway point in a dark blue Uglybooks. It’s the first time I’ve used this color as my daily-carry sketch journal, and I have to admit, it’s a tough one. Coloring highlights instead of shading is a brain buster, but that’s a challenge I enjoy. My struggle is with black and gray. Although I love the way white and some high-contrast acrylic markers pop against the blue, the contrast isn’t strong enough with dark inks. I could just forego black and gray in this book, and I might eventually, but in the meantime, I’m trying different approaches.

8/14/25

The page spread (above) I made at the Whole Foods café the other day is my favorite approach so far. Instead of forcing conventional shading and highlights, I stuck with line drawings and overlapped white and black. 

Although I figured the paper would be too dark to use with colored pencils, I tried a still life (right) using a white pencil first as a base before applying other colors over it. With that technique, the colors popped well enough – better than I expected.

Urban Sketchers on the Eastside Rail Line

 

9/14/24 Redmond Technology and Wilburton stations

Late last spring, Kate, Roy and I rode the new Link light rail line 2 from south Bellevue to Redmond. Getting off at each station, we sketched briefly before hopping back on. In addition to simply having fun, we were also scouting the route for a potential USk outing. Since most stations have enough sheltered areas that the outing could work during transitional seasons, we pushed it to fall.

As it turned out, Saturday’s drizzle didn’t faze any of the enthusiastic sketchers who showed up. In fact, I was impressed and surprised by the number of sketchers who did exactly what Kate, Roy and I did. Blitz-sketching at each station, they got right back on when the next train came and made it to the northern-most Redmond station in time for the throwdown!

Making one stop at Warburton Station to grab lunch at Whole Foods, I made a quick sketch of the light rail supports, which always make an interesting composition. After that, since I already did the whole tour in May, I saved most of my sketching time for Redmond Technology Station. Microsoft’s extensively landscaped pedestrian/bike overpass is challenging fun to sketch. (Both sketches above.)

Sketcher Jyoti works for Microsoft in one of the many buildings on the tech company’s main campus on the far end of the overpass. Walking with me, she noted key points of interest, such as the archway behind the colorful Microsoft “windows” (likely a good selfie spot for new employees and visitors). The triangular structure covered with foliage is a cave-like space where employees can take a break from all the glass and concrete. At lower left is a distant view of the pedestrian overpass. (Sketches below.)

Microsoft's main campus, Redmond

After the throwdown, most of us rode the train back to the southend park-and-ride lot, so I had time to sketch a few of my co-sketchers as well as other commuters. A fun day!

A green escape from glass and concrete

Riding the Rails with Kate and Roy

 

5/22/24 LINK light rail, Wilburton Station

The latest extension to Sound Transit’s regional light rail line, which just opened a few weeks ago, connects south Bellevue with Microsoft’s core campus in Redmond on the Eastside. Since it doesn’t cross the lake yet, ridership is low, which was expected – but I didn’t expect the trains and southern-most station to be entirely empty when I boarded! It felt a bit post-apocalyptic. A few minutes into the ride, the lonely, eerie feeling didn’t improve when an announcement was made that the line was experiencing a power outage. “For your safety, please remain seated,” a looped message warned me.

When I had boarded, I thought I would be arriving at the Whole Foods near Wilburton Station within a few minutes to meet Kate and Roy, so I wasn’t concerned that I needed to use a restroom. To distract myself from the delay, I sketched a selfie from my reflection. To my relief, power was restored by the time I finished, and we were on our way again (by “we,” I mean myself and the driver, since I still saw no other riders on platforms or trains).

I arrived at Whole Foods in a few minutes as planned, and then our big adventure began (after I used the restroom, of course): Ride the rail route, getting off at various stations along the way to sketch. Although the post-apocalyptic status never changed – except for the very last leg of our trip when two women joined us, the only other humans we saw were security staff – we all had a great time sketching the stations and each other.

Spring District and Overlake Village stations

My favorite part of the new rail line was our final stop at the northern-most Redmond Technology Station that mainly serves Microsoft employees. The company paid for a pedestrian overpass connecting the station to the two sides of Microsoft divided by the 520 highway. Expecting a sterile concrete bridge, I was delighted to see a white, tent-like structure that evokes the Sydney Opera House (well, it’s not quite as cool as that architectural wonder, but it makes a similar sail-like impression). Flowering plants and greenery are planted all along the bridge. Sheltered but full of natural light, it’s one of the more attractive walkways I’ve used.

Redmond Technology Station pedestrian walkway and the ride back

After riding end-to-end and back again, we agreed that the new light rail line would make a great USk outing this summer.

By the way, you’ll notice that a couple of pages include loose haiku related to the sketches. An upcoming post about haiku comics will talk more about this fun and challenging addition to my urban sketches; these can serve as teasers.

Ridin' and sketchin' the Eastside rails!

Errands and Amenities

 

2/5/24 Maple Leaf Ace Hardware store

My first incentive for getting out for a fitness walk is always the opportunity for a potential sketch. My second is accomplishing any errand on my to-do list that enables me to avoid using my car. Fortunately, I live in a neighborhood where the library, the post office, Chuck’s Auto, both PCC and Whole Foods, and Maple Leaf Ace Hardware store are all within walking distance. On a recent rainy morning, I hoofed it to Ace Hardware for ant bait. (Auughh… if it’s not one kind of pest, it’s another!)

Numerous amenities are also within easy walking distance, including Kona Kitchen (where I occasionally get takeout), Cloud City Coffee, and of course, Macrina Bakery. If an art supply store would open in the neighborhood, I’d never need to walk more than a couple of miles (let alone drive) for any essentials!

2/2/24 Northgate Mall, sketched after a walk to the P.O.

2/2/24 Sketchwaiting at Kona Kitchen

9/29/24 An unfinished Akita sketched outside Macrina Bakery

10/28/24 Subaru outside Cloud City Coffee

Green Ash at Whole Foods

 

9/23/23 Whole Foods parking lot, Roosevelt neighborhood

Every autumn I admire the trees surrounding the Roosevelt Whole Foods parking lot when they change from their usual lime green to a brilliant lemon yellow. I always intend to sketch them, but whenever I’m there, the car is full of groceries, and I put it off – and the next thing I know, the leaves are all on the ground.

This year I put them on my leaf-peeping walking tour. On the overcast morning when I sketched them, that lemon hue put sunshine back into the gray sky. The PlantNet app identified the trees as green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica).

Palette thoughts: Although I had a lot of fun last fall experimenting with different secondary triads, I’ve decided not to tie myself to a specific triad this season. One reason is that yellow is an important color to have for some fall trees, like these. Instead of a triad, my general rule of thumb will be to simply stick with a limited palette by using no more than three or four colors at a time. (I think I broke that rule only once in the four sketches I showed yesterday.)

My current pencil palette may look like a random rainbow, but it’s actually fairly methodical (plus a little idiosyncratic): My favorite CMY primary triad (Caran d’Ache Phthalocyanine Blue 162, Purplish Red 350, Yellow 010) and a secondary triad including both a very warm green and a very cool green (Caran d’Ache Cornelian 850, Light Olive 245; Derwent Iron Green 1310, Dusky Purple 730). To those, I added two “convenience” colors: Caran d’Ache Scarlet 070 and Gold Cadmium Yellow 530 (AKA heavy-equipment yellow). It’s a versatile palette that should get me through any urban sketch I’m likely to make this fall.

Green ash foliage

I do find Phthalocyanine Blue a little too warm for Seattle skies (except in summer), but it’s my favorite in primary triads, and I don’t want to carry two blues. Strangely, even though it’s a primary, blue is not very useful for the way I like to sketch. I find dark violet to be more versatile.

Closed

 

8/17/22 I drank my cold brew at home on my own back deck because
 the outdoor tables at the Wedgwood store aren't nearly as scenic.

I rarely sketch my cups of coffee, but on this afternoon, I felt compelled: I had to go to Wedgwood to get this cold brew because my favorite Starbucks in the Roosevelt neighborhood had closed. There was nothing special about that Starbucks (and I spend more time and money at independent coffee shops anyway), but the one at 65th and Roosevelt was in the same strip mall as my pharmacy and a Daiso store, and right above Whole Foods, so it was a convenient stop when I had errands.

More significant is that the Roosevelt Starbucks is where I made many sketches from its patio tables. The patio was especially convenient in the middle of a busy day when I didn’t have much time to sketch, but I could take a quick break between appointments.

During the first COVID summer, feeling a need to do something “normal” again, I went to my familiar Roosevelt Starbucks one day. Though not without some anxiety, I had hoped to sketch out on the patio. I was surprised to see that all the seating had been removed, both inside and out. I would have thought that it was an ideal time to offer outdoor seating.

A year later, post-vax and feeling relatively comfortable again, I went to the same Starbucks, looking forward to sketching on the patio. I was disappointed to see that the patio tables had not been replaced. The store had become a grab-and-go location only, I was told, and seating would not resume for the foreseeable future. That was the handwriting on the wall.

I had read recent news about several local Starbucks locations closing, but I didn’t see “my” store listed, so the closure had caught me by surprise. It’s just a Starbucks, and there are certainly plenty more nearby (though none quite so convenient), but long-time habits and routines are hard to let go of.

The Gift of Sketchwaiting

 

4/1/22 Northgate

Instead of an annoyance, an opportunity for sketchwaiting is a gift. The challenge is that the time available is usually unknown. Will my name be called in moments, or is the doc running late, and it’s 20 minutes? The spouse guy’s errand should take only minutes, but it could take longer. The traffic light will likely change in seconds – surely long enough to capture the flock of pigeons on the wires above the intersection. 

Another challenge might be that subject matter is often limited to what is nearby. But you know me – I can sketch a rock in the driveway and be happy.

I choose the medium, page size and composition complexity based on how much time I think I will have. Sometimes it’s less than I anticipate, but I enjoy that tension. I appreciate the gift of sketchwaiting however long it lasts.

4/1/22 Northgate

11/23/21 Maple Leaf Ace Hardware

11/30/21 Whole Foods

12/24/21 International District pigeons

Scribble Journal Update

 

11/14/20 Early pages include more white space.

A couple of months ago I started a trial daily “scribble journal.” In the past, I’ve tried various versions of a daily sketch journal sporadically, but I never sustained the habit for more than a few days. I think one big reason the habit didn’t stick was that the format was redundant of some other habit I already had. If I sketched something from observation in the journal, then how was that different from my “regular” daily-carry sketchbook? If I sketched something merely to record what I did that day, then it was redundant of the text-only log book I’ve kept for years. (The latter is a simple bulleted list of places and things I’ve sketched, books, movies and TV shows I’ve consumed, fitness or health achievements, natural or current events, major purchases, and new foods or beverages I’ve tried.) Those sketch journal attempts didn’t feel like they served a unique purpose.

After a successful sketch journal page created for the Sketchbook Techniques and Expressions class I was taking through Gage, I was encouraged to focus a daily sketch journal practice on sketching from memory and imagination rather than from observation. This would eliminate redundancy with my ongoing sketch practice.

The trial I began in November was to find out if I enjoyed the process enough to sustain it and whether it served a unique purpose. For the remainder of 2020, I continued with my usual log book, which confirmed that the two books recorded mostly redundant information. If the scribble journal were enjoyable and sustainable, however, it could replace the log book in 2021.

That’s where I am now: On Dec. 31, I completed the trial book (an amazing coincidence to have exactly the number of pages I needed to finish it on Dec. 31! How often does that happen?!). On Jan. 1, I stopped keeping my formerly text-only log book and replaced it with a fresh book for my daily scribble journal.

12/4/20 The blow-up Santa and reindeer was an attempt at drawing from memory something I saw during my morning walk.

Keeping my scribble journal has become more enjoyable over time while also being more challenging to keep than a written log book/journal. I’ve been a writer my whole life, professionally and on my own time. Although I won’t say writing is effortless, describing or explaining something with words is probably the one skill I have that is as close to “second nature” as any. But when it comes to describing something visually, that’s a skill I’ve been working on for less than a decade. Drawing from observation has become easier over time, yet it’s never without challenge. And now my scribble journal is pushing me to think more visually and describe things visually.

Bonus: It’s already more fun to look through the journal as reference, which is one of its purposes. The way all our pandemic days seem to blend together or repeat like an extended Ground Hog’s Day, I find myself using it to answer questions like, “Was it two weeks ago that we had that fantastic crab from Fish Guys? Or has it already been three weeks?” 

12/10/20 I'm filling up more of the page lately with both sketches and writing.

With more page space than the vertical inch or so of text space I used to devote to each day, I can write more commentary when I want to. When I compare the early pages to the later ones, I see that I’m filling in the page space more effectively with both words and sketches. The drawings are often nothing more than rudimentary stick figures and symbols made from imagination (or lack thereof). But sometimes they are conscious efforts to study something visual during the day and then draw from memory that evening (more on that process in an upcoming post). I enjoy making the crude, cartoon-like sketches with no attempt at shading or modeling in any way (which is something I practice regularly with nearly everything I sketch from life). I’m pushed to think about things in a different way than I’m used to.

Representing my yoga practice has been especially challenging and often humorous! I try to visualize what I look like while I’m doing a pose, but it’s not easy. I can study my instructor’s pose on the screen and try to draw from my memory of that, but I’m not nearly as flexible as she is, so my body doesn’t always form the same shapes!

12/28/20 When I sketch my own little red car, it's a symbol to myself that I made a sketch from inside my car.

Fresh Leuchtturm journal in optimistic yellow.

The materials I use for scribble journaling are intentionally simple: I don’t want to be stymied by having too many art supply choices or being annoyed by having inappropriate paper for the media. I also want to be able to finish a daily page in 15 or 20 minutes. That’s another important aspect that keeps a habit sustainable for me. With that little time commitment, I could maintain the habit even when I travel (thinking optimistically into 2021).

For the trial, I used a spiralbound Stillman & Birn Zeta that I happened to have available. Although I love the heavy paper and surface, I don’t need that level of paper quality for something I call a scribble journal. I also prefer a volume with more pages. Since using wet media wasn’t important to me for this purpose, I decided to use an A5-size, hardcover, unruled Leuchtturm 1917 journal, which was my favorite format for my log books. I like the familiar feel of the book, which reminds me that I haven’t stopped keeping a daily log; it has simply morphed into a more visual form. 

Simple materials close at hand.

So far, my favorite drawing and writing pen is a Uni Pin pen with a brush tip because I like the thick-and-thin line it produces for both. For spot color, I selected a limited number of Prismacolor pencils – only what would fit comfortably in one coffee mug. This limit keeps me away from the distraction of looking for just the right color. 

The mug as art supply holder is also practical: It compactly sits on the side table next to my recliner where I relax in the evening. If I had to go upstairs to my studio to keep this journal, I would be more likely to skip it or, if I did go upstairs, I might get distracted by other projects or art materials. I’ve set myself up for success, not failure.

Edited Jan. 2022: I published an update on my scribble journaling tactics and the tools I am using at the Well-Appointed Desk.

Whole Foods Café

2/15/20 Whole Foods cafe

While his mom was engaged in animated conversation with her friend, a young boy sitting in a shopping cart was obsessed with something he wanted in the bag. Mom would feed him a bite, and as soon as he got the food in his mouth, he would return his attention to whatever was in the bag that was obviously better.

Cosmic Crisp

1/2/20 Cosmic Crisp apple

I’m not sure how far outside of Washington state the new Cosmic Crisp apple has been distributed yet, but it is a huge hit in these parts. More than 20 years in the making, this apple variety has been bred for its “ability to survive in all of Washington state’s microclimates, its taste and texture, and how long it would store without decaying.” At first I poo-pooed the news as just another type of hyped-up, over-promoted, fancy, expensive produce. But since its price is about the same as Honeycrisp, our apple standby, we decided to try it. Somehow both sweeter and more tart than a Honeycrisp (I know that sounds contradictory, but that’s how I perceive it), the Cosmic Crisp has a startlingly intense flavor. I’m sold!

We’ve bought them several times now, including a recent organic batch from Whole Foods. Less shiny (unwaxed) compared to conventionally grown Cosmic Crisps, they are also not perfectly round, but they still taste the same. Most notably, I found one embellished with a “star”! I didn’t notice it the first time I bought them, but then a friend mentioned that she saw this cosmic-like mark on her apples. The next time I shopped, I took a more careful look . . . and there it was! I’m ambivalent about such overly designed produce, but I certainly couldn’t resist sketching it.

Star-struck or over-designed?

At Last – the Minnesota Fair Sketchout!

8/27/16 colored pencils (rooster)

Greg and I have been visiting his family in the Twin Cities annually for 30 years. During those decades, due to various family events, we’ve managed to time our visits to coincide with the Minnesota State Fair only a couple of times, and the last time was about 10 years ago – long before I began sketching.

Certainly I’ve been to our own Washington State Fair, and the last few years I’ve even joined Urban Sketchers Tacoma there. But I have to say, our fair cannot hold even a 15-hour votive candle to Minnesota. One of the oldest and biggest state fairs in the country, the Minnesota State Fair is arguably the best.

Ever since I started reading Roz Stendahl’s blog several years ago, I’ve been fascinated with her passion for sketching at the Minnesota fair – and for the fair in general. I could see that she worked very hard to organize a very special outing for sketchers in the area – bringing together not just urban sketchers but art groups of all kinds. Every year her sketches of animals at the event and eventually the sketches of other Twin Cities Urban Sketchers inspired me, and I became more and more determined to get to the fair again someday – this time with sketchbook in hand.

My prized Fair Sketchout button on my bag!

This summer the stars finally aligned, and we were able to make it to the fair again – and even better, I made it to the 8th Great Minnesota State Fair Sketchout! Since I had used the previous day with Greg’s family as a preview, I knew exactly which animals and attractions I wanted to sketch, so I hit the ground running! Before I took off, however, I joined Marty Harris, the current sketchout organizer, and an enthusiastic group of Twin Cities sketchers at the morning meet-up. I was proud to finally wear an official Fair Sketchout button (artwork by Marty)!

I spent quite a bit of time wandering slowly through all the animal barns. The chickens were so colorful, and the bunnies were adorable, but I think I had the most fun sketching a broad-breasted bronze turkey. Constantly twitching, his bluish-pinkish head had a bizarre texture that was very challenging to capture. It was fascinating to watch that thing that normally hangs down over his mouth lift up when he ate or drank. Eyeing me intensely, the tom occasionally turned around to display his rear end.

8/27/16 colored pencils (broad-breasted bronze turkey)

In the Dairy building, I watched a demo of the Smart Masker Pro several times. This product would be 10 times faster than using an ordinary roll of masking tape, he assured us. Although he moved quickly, the demo guy made the same motions repeatedly, which made it easier to anticipate what his next gesture would be.

When the occasional drizzle dried up, I wandered around outside to capture the Sky Flyer ride (I stood on a bench to get above the crowds) and Fairchild, the fair gopher mascot, who is celebrating his 50^th birthday this year.

Speaking of crowds, I learned afterwards that a record-breaking 140,000 people attended the fair on the Saturday Sketchout. (A second Sketchout was held the following Monday.) While London crowds completely overwhelmed me, for some reason, I wasn’t bothered by fair hoards. Perhaps eating deep-fried foods on sticks has a sedating effect. (By the way, if you think that making all these sketches kept me from eating, you would be very wrong!)

Spin Art -- something I hadn't
done in decades!

My only regret for the whole day was that I missed sketching Princess Kay of the Milky Way! Crowned during Minnesota fair pageantry, the princess and each of her court members has her likeness carved in a 90-pound block of butter. At a previous fair, I had seen one of the princesses sitting for her butter sculpture (crowned and bundled in a down parka because the sculpting occurs in a refrigerated chamber with glass walls for viewing), and that image was seared in my memory. Where else on earth would I have the opportunity to sketch someone being sculpted in butter? Unfortunately, the sculpting schedule isn’t published, so by the time I got to the Dairy building, the sculptor was done for the day. Oh, well – it gives me a new life goal.

In the late afternoon the sketchers got together again to share sketchbooks, and that’s when I was delighted to meet Roz herself! After all these years of learning from her extremely informative (not to mention entertaining) blog, it was a thrill and honor to meet her in person.

8/27/16 colored pencils (rabbit)

Ken and Roberta Avidor, two more Twin Cities urban sketchers whose work I follow, were also a delight to meet. In addition, I was happily reunited with Amber Sausen and Daniel Green, whom I last saw at the Manchester symposium only a few weeks ago.

I know I’ve said it before, but the single-best thing about Urban Sketchers is the amazing network it offers. Whether I travel around the globe or go to Minnesota, I can find sketchers to spend the day with. The Urban Sketchers world keeps getting smaller.

Many thanks to Marty for organizing a fantastic Fair Sketchout! I can’t wait to get to another one!

Updated 9/2/16: Minnesota Public Radio News has been covering the fair on its website with many sketches by Sketchout participants, including a few by me!

8/27/16 brush pen, colored pencils (pig)

8/27/16 colored pencils (hen)

8/27/16 ink, colored pencils

8/27/16 brush pen (sheep shearing)

8/27/16 brush pen (bunny waiting to compete)

8/27/16 brush pen, Zig marker, colored pencils, ink
(Fairchild, the fair's gopher mascot)

8/27/16 brush pen, rainbow pencil (Sky Flyer)

The Saturday Sketchout sketchbook sharing!

Tina, Roz Stendahl and Marty Harris

Daniel Green, Tina and Amber Sausen

Ken Avidor and Tina