"Sketching at the Public Library"

This last Saturday the "group" went to one of the many local public libraries here in the tri-cities: the Kennewick Public Library on Union.  Libraries are good places to sketch people because, unlike so many other places, people in the library move at a nice slow pace.

Unfortunately yours truly didn't get the notice out to the other sketchers until fairly late the night before, so there were only two of us who were able to make it to the sketch.

Here are a couple of the drawings:



Dave's Drawing



Jim's

Featured Group: "The Whidbey Island Sketchers"

We found the Whidbey Island Sketchers (WISKrs) online while browsing through the Urban Sketchers site and wanted to feature them here today.  Whidbey Island has some beautiful features and what artist wouldn't like to get their eyes and paints on such a place?  The WISkers do partake of those wonderful sights, but they also go indoors and "do" people in coffee shops, libraries and around the island.      

On their blog they say, "We’re a group of people on Whidbey Island who love to draw.  We're all about learning from one another, showcasing the unique character (and characters) of Whidbey Island, and most importantly - having fun.  Anyone can join us and all levels are welcome."  

Here are a few of their images: 

Featured Artist: Cathy Gatland of Johannesburg, South Africa

We found sketch artist Cathy Gatland while browsing internet.  Her blog, titled, "A Sketch in Time - South African sketches, paintings, and doodles," is filled with terrific paintings and sketches all created with careful and loving hands.  In the introductory comments she explains the contents of her blog, "Sketching, watercolours, oil painting, sketch and travel journals, a hotchpotch of what's on my right brain right now." .

She belongs to the "Joburg Sketchers," a group of local artists that goes into the community and sketches everything from restarants, jacarand trees, sidealk cafes, booksales, churches, other people and children, and other sketchers, to the architectual features of the building populating Johannesburg. 

Last summer, Cathy, travled to Lisbon, Portugal, and served as an instructor for the "II International Urban Sketchers' Symposium.  "Whoever would have thought mere sketches would have brought me to such a place and time, with so many people with a shared passion, so excited to meet each other?"

We would love to go sketching with Cathy sometime, somewhere. 



"33rd World Wide Sketchcrawl"

Little E and K Participating in the
33rd World Wide Sketchcrawl
Click the Picture For More

Living as we do on both sides of the mighty Columbia River,  we decided "Bridges and Things Associated With Them" would be our theme today, and what a great day it was.  

We drove down to Clover Island, a place we have been before, but each time we go, we go with fresh eyes for things and light and ideas.  Such was the case today as Jan, Jean, Pat, Dave, and Jim produced images of the Cable Bridge, the Blue Bridge, the river, the new lighthouse, Cedars Restaurant, and even Main Street.

Yichien emailed us during the outing to explain she felt she needed to keep the little ones, Emilie and Katherine, home and out of the questionable weather this morning; so they joined us "in spirit" by sketching at home.  How sweet!!!  Thank you ladies, we love your spirit!  

We hope you enjoy viewing the images.

"Last Thursday's Informal Outing"

Jim's Vineyard

 

This last Thursday we put out a call for artists to join us at the vineyards adjacent to Bookwalter and Barnard/Griffin wineries.  Jim was there for a while by himself, but then Bob pulled in and then Dave showed up for a few minutes. 

It was cool and very windy, and Dave had other errands to run, so Bob and Jim headed for the Food Mart at the Mall to draw people and get out of the 'elements.' 



Jan's Fishing Boat at the Richland Yacht Club



By now it was about 10:30 and there was hardly a soul in the Food Court.  We did some very rough sketching, and soon Jan, from Connell, joined us. 

We talked a while then Bob had to leave, so Jan and I each enjoyed a Bruchi sandwich, and then headed out to the Richland Yacht Club.  

The wind was fierce at the Yacht Club, but Jan and Jim persevered and finished with a couple nice sketches.  



Jim's Panorama of the Yacht Club setting



We hope you enjoy the sketches; and we hope if you have yet to join us on one of these outings, you'll take it in consideration and join us this coming Saturday for the "33rd World Wide Sketchcrawl."

Hopefully the weather will cooperate Saturday, and we won't have to deal with any rain, or wind.

     

"Franklin County Courthouse"




Click Jim's Courthouse to Find the Others

All last week we felt cooler air move in at night, watched the sky cloud over, and noticed we had rain a time or two, as autumn finally began showing its face. 

But this morning there were no clouds and by noon we were in the middle of an absolutely wonderful fall day with a low noon sun and great lighting.


We agreed to meet over at the Franklin County Courthouse for a sketching/painting session that proved more difficult than expected.

Next time you drive past the courthouse on 4th in Pasco, check out all the architectural features on the building. Deciding which to leave in and which to leave out was one of the challenges of this sucker, not to mention perspective and composition problems.

Thanks to Nancy, Fred and Jim for a fun-filled few hours.

Next Saturday: The 33rd World Wide Sketchcrawl.

"Sketchers Featured in Local Newspaper"



Pat Fleming, Nancy Thurston, Jim Bumgarner
click the picture to find the article

We were pleased with this feature article in the Atomic Town edition of the Tri-City Herald this morning. The event reported is the hanging of our show at the Cheese Louise deli, mentioned in a prior post on this blog.

We greatly appreciate the coverage; hoever some clarification is warranted: 

Our first showing was when we were the featured artists at "Phaddy Caddy Coffee Lounge" in Kennewick last June.  This is our second showing.

Enrico Casarosa, of Pixar, originated the "World Wide Sketchcrawl" movement, not the "urban sketcher" phenomenon.  Gabi Campanario, of the Seattle Times, started the "urban sketcher" movement that has participants from all over the world, as does the WWSKcrawl movement.

The "509 Urban Sketchers and Painters" represent the Tri-City area by participating in both of these online activities.

See original letter to the TriCity Herald here.

"Updates"

1. We will be going "somewhere" (destination yet to be determined) local this Saturday, October 8th, to sketch, paint, draw. Departure will be 10 am in the parking lot of the 509 Artspace and we'll finish up sometime around noon. We usually find somewhere near where we finish for lunch together and the sharing of our work. Hope you can join us!

2. October 15th - the "33rd World Wide Sketchcrawl" is scheduled, world wide. We have had good numbers for these outings and hope you can join us either for the first time, or again. The sketchcrawls were originally designed as "marathon" sketch days, going from morning through lunch and well into the afternoon. Don't know if we'll have the stamina for such a lengthy outing, but we want to keep the option open this time. If you're new to this phenomenon, go this link, click on forums and find us at "509 Urban Sketchers and Painters." From the forums you can also find us as "Tri-Cities, WA" in past sketchcrawls. Photos of our work will be added afterwards. This is a ton of fun and we certainly do hope you can all join us that day!!

3. Watch for a feature article of the "509 Urban Sketchers and Painters" in the Tri-City Herald this Friday, October 7th, tomorrow. When we hung our show at the Cheese Louise, they sent a photographer and Dori O'Neal told me she is hoping for publication then. Our show will be up for the month of October there.

4. One of own, Bob Irwin, is having a show this month at You & I Framing in downtown Kennewick. Be sure to catch him there this evening at Kennewick's First Thursday Artwalk!!! Way to go, Bob!!

keep arting, and we hope to see you soon.

"509 Urban Sketchers & Painters Hang in the Cheese Louise"

509 Urban Sketchers and Painters Exhibit at Cheese Louise

Thanks to Evan, and the staff, at Cheese Louise in the Richland Parkway for providing the wall space for us to hang our show this October.

Represented artists are: Nancy Thurston, Patrick Fleming, Greg Ashby, Jean Fu, Fred Fraser, LaPoynte, and Jim Bumgarner.

"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.