"The Coffee Shop Collection"

Click the photo for more sketches

The "509 Urban Sketchers and Painters" began working on a collection of images designed to capture the flavor, aroma, and architectural styles of the many coffee shops here in the Tri-Cities (all puns intended) this last Saturday.

Members Greg, Dave and Jim started at the Big Bean Espresso on Clearwater, across the street from Winco (sorta); then moved onto "Wired 4 Coffee," another small rectangular building on Clearwater just west of the "GH Guesthouse" motel/hotel; and then on out to the end of Clearwater at "Nikki Jean's."

We're thinking we want to build on this collection, eventually having a record of everyone of these small locally owned coffee-drive-thrus in the tri-cities.

9/11 Artifact Dedication in Kennewick

Yesterday, on the tenth anniversary of that most horrible of horrible days, a couple of us went out to the dedication of this memorial to the tragedies of 9/11. 
It is an actual artifact from one of the World Trade Centers that was awarded to the city of Kennewick, WA., following the city's application for such. 

It is suspected to have come from a fairly high location since it is thinner steel that those pieces that are found closer to ground level.

There were hundreds, or more, of folks at the dedication yesterday, with lots of interesting speeches, accolades, and music to adorn the day. 

Actual photos can be found at this link.

"Walla Walla"

Join us for a fun-packed day on September 9th when we head out to Walla Walla to do some sketching and painting.  Some call it "pleine aire," we call it fun. 

We will leave from the parking lot (map linked here) in front of the "509 Artspace" in Kennewick at 9am, and return somewhere around 2 or 3 pm.

You will need to bring your supplies, something to sit on, maybe a snack, and a drink, or two.  We hear there's a nifty little diner in Pomeroy....stay tuned on that one.  We'll probably do a bit of planning in the parking lot before we leave.   

"The Richland Farmers' Market"

In our area there are three Farmers' Markets, one in each of the Tri-Cities:  Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. 

This past Friday we met at 9 am at the Richland Farmers' Market on the Parkway.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous: all blue sky and shirtsleeve temps.

This market has grown considerably this year.  We were there at opening, sketched and visited, had lunch at Cheese Louise, right there on the parkway, and departed when the vendors were taking down their tents:  the place was packed with people throughout!

We had six people today:  Dave, Jean, Jim, Nancy, Fred, and Patrick.  Super turn-out!

Thanks to Dave for this spectacular sketch!  Click on it find the others.

We're heading for Walla Walla next Friday.  Hope you can join us!!

Lisbon, Portugal: "II International Urban Sketchers Symposium"

Urban Sketchers in Lisbon (day 1) from Patrícia Pedrosa on Vimeo.

Check out this video, produced by Patricia Pedrosa of Lisbon, of the 2nd International Urban Sketchers Symposium held in Lisbon on July 21st - 23rd of this year, 2011. She says she is still editing and will have an english subtitled version soon. This is fabulous. (Be sure to enlarge to fill your screen.)

Friday Sketchcrawl at the Richland Farmer's Market

Join us this coming Friday morning at 9am in front of the Richland Theatre for a sketchcrawl of the Richland Farmer's Market.

At the Farmer's Market you will find everything from people, to tents, to onions, watermelons, raspberries, corn and maybe even a busker or two, to sketch and add to your growing collection of urban sketches. And who knows, maybe you'll capture a new idea for something larger from your studio?

See you there.

"Sketching at the County Fair"

There may have been only two of us sketching today, but we still had a good time drawing, painting, and talking art.

Most of the conversation centered around the art scene in the tri-cities and how difficult it seems to motivate others to come out and sketch with us, in public.
Of course, it is summer. People are busy with family and vacations; and the heat these past few weeks has been in the upper nineties. One's home air-conditioner is similar to a nice cold popsickle to a kid in summer. That cool air is just way too nice to go outside, even for something fun!

Posted here is a little watercolor Nancy did with her new Koi Watercolor kit. Spectacular, don't you think?

Click on the pic to see the other images we created at this fun spot!

Featured Artist: Gary Yeung of Hong Kong

Waiting and Chatting Away 一路等一路傾

We found Gary Yeung, an Urban Sketcher, on flickr. Gary has a terrific eye for his city, Hong Kong, and he possesses all the requisite skills required to present that city in a fashion that would make any Hongkonger proud.

Check out his bio below, and if you haven't already, click on the image, then click on "slideshow."

"As a local born Hongkonger, Gary Yeung always held an intense passion towards drawing. After being awarded the diploma in Fine Arts at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (SCPS), he continues to hone his skills by taking oil painting lessons from Russian painter Anastassia Katafygiotis, who opened her studio in the picturesque Sai Kung Old Town, away from the bustle of urban Hong Kong.

Ever evolving as an artist, Gary was strongly influenced by his training background which tends to make the oil and acrylic paintings impressionistic in style. He was also active in doing live and studio sketches, capturing the Hong Kong local scenes. As for content, his paintings exemplify the mystic charm of Hong Kong’s past, present and future. Drawn with vivid and intricate details, they feature objects and people that Gary found relevant, if not profound. These works often represent the demure yet visceral feelings he possess as a proud local born."

Stay tuned for more "Featured Artists," and please feel free to leave us a comment.

"509 Urban Sketchers and Painters"

"Downtown Kennewick"

The "509 Urban Sketchers and Painters" travelled to downtown Kennewick, WA., today to enjoy of few hours of arting-about-town. As usual, we had a lot of fun and when our drawing time was up, we convened at Willingham's Diner on Columbia Drive (Avenue C, for the old-timers), for lunch and comraderie.

The only "downer" was when we learned the diner, Willingham's, only open for a few months, will close its doors tomorrow, Sunday!

My crab sandwich was massively delicious!! Shucks.

Click on the pic to be whisked away to our flickr account where you will enjoy the other images that were created by this inglorious bunch of artistes.

sketch: Bob Irwin

REPORT: "The II Urban Sketching Symposium Lisbon 2011"

The Urban Sketching movement started with Gabi Campanario, Seattle PI sketcher/journalist.

Gabi began with a flickr account, "urban sketchers," where he monitored the sketches posted by the ever growing numbers of members; then not long afterwards a blog appeared entitled, "Urban Sketchers."

In July of 2010 the Urban Sketchers held their first symposium in Portland, Oregon. We missed it!

This summer, 2011, the second symposium, "II International Urban Sketchers Symposium," was held in Lisbon, Portugal, July 21 - 23 (we missed this one too...). Click on the link, then click on "Photo Updates" to see their sketches.

sketch by Pete Scully

"32nd World Wide Sketchcrawl"

This morning at 9am we met in the parking lot at the "509 Artspace" without much of a plan as to where we go sketch. After some discussion, we decided we liked Jan's idea of heading out north of town to her friend Dennis Wise's farm.

Once there we found, in addition to some cows, horses, turkeys and goats, this marvelous old 1928 Chevy truck, flat tires and all, sitting in the middle of his driveway. Soon all four of the guys were sketching it.

It was rather hot today as the summer sun was blazing high in the sky (check the shadows in the pic), and firing off some rather severe rays.

Jan found a nice shady spot near the fence and worked on her pastoral scene. Greg also found some shade near the barn and ended up producing a sketch of the truck from an interesting perspective.

Dave, Bob, and Jim braved the summer sun in the dusty driveway.

Afterwards we drove back into town to the Ice Harbor Brewery where we had lunch, a few libations and some great conversation. (L to R: Jim, Dave, Greg, Jan, and Bob.)

Hope you can join us next time.

"Pasco Train Yards"

A small group of us, three, drove over to the railroad yards in Pasco to do some sketching. It was a good day for sketching as the sky was blue, the sun was comfortably warm, and there was no wind.

We found a line of about five cars sitting quietly on a side-rail, so we pulled out our folding chairs, sketchbooks, easels, pen, pencils, and paints and began sketching (Nancy and Jim), and painting (Pat).

We talked about how the numbers to both our figure drawing sessions and urban sketching sessions are dwindling down, and decided it is either due to the summer months and people having more things to do than art, or maybe we're just unfun people. And maybe, I think, it's because we are so open with our work - posting online. Maybe.

We're not sure yet if there will be a session this coming Saturday. Speaking for myself, I need a break from Saturday sessions, so I'm going to visit the Farmer's Markets this Saturday, and enjoy a family outing.

'Hangin' at the Phatty Caddy Coffee Lounge"

A big "Thank You" to Tammy Furth down at the "Phatty Caddy Coffee Lounge," in downtown Kennewick for helping the "sketchers and painters" launch their first, I'm sure of many, many, many, shows!

We met there this morning to hang our show, and just like when we go out into the world to sketch, we had a great time.

And thanks to the following folks for bringing in something to hang: Laura G., Jan W., Pat F., Greg. A, Nancy T., Dave P., and Jim B.

To see the rest of the "hang," click on the picture.

Columbia Park Outing

We met in Columbia Park this morning at 10am under sunny skies and warm temperatures, in the parking lot near the sno-cone vendor. After some "art-talk" we laid out our plans and went right to work sketching the trees, the river, some of the people, and the sno-cone vendor.

What fun it is to meet up with people with common interests to share ideas, thoughts, and our work together.

Today it was Greg, Dave, Jan (from Connell), and Jim. Pat was with us for a while as he brought his oil painting from our outing at Lampson Yards a few months back so it can be hung with the others in the show at the "Phatty Caddy Coffee Lounge" next week.

Stay tuned for our June outings when, tentatively, we are planning trips to both Maryhill Museum and Walla Walla. Hope to see you then!

The image is Jan's lovely little sketch of one of the big tree clumps.

"Phatty Caddy Coffee Lounge" Show

Tammy Furth, owner of the "Phatty Caddy Coffee Lounge" in Kennewick has opened her walls to the "509 Urban Sketchers and Painters" for the "First Thursday Art Walk." This means our work will hang there during the month of June.

The hanging will take place on Tuesday, May 31st, at 10 am.

Anyone who has been out sketching/painting with us is welcome to bring down 3 or 4 of their sketches/paintings and have them hung that day.

This isn't fine art, so no one is expecting expensive frame-jobs. Cheap is the only way to go, some of us are using $3 frames from Wal-Mart, and other are using frames purchased from St. Vinny's; or don't frame at all. It doesn't really matter.

Click pic for map to the "Phatty Caddy Coffee Lounge."