the coffee stained blog

It was so nice out today I caught some good shadows on this tree. I'm loving this hunt because, not only did I find out about Heritage trees, but found one in my neighborhood.  Also, because it was so nice out, I had several people stop and ask me what I was doing and I haven't had a drawing spectator in a while. It was fun.

This afternoon I was stuck in our weekly meeting and did a quick sketch of my coworker drinking an Ice Coffee from a travel mug. Sorry it's so light.

My office is in downtown Portland, overlooking the corner next to Pioneer Square. I happen to have a straight shot view of a Benson Bubbler outside my window (of course 10 stories up so not up close). If you are wondering what a "Benson Bubbler" is click  Benson Bubblers  I did this quick lunch time sketch for the hunt (I exaggerated the bubbler for this purpose). Enjoy, and happy sketching:

I am excited to participate in the PDXUSK scavenger hunt 2019. Here are the rules: Get out and sketch as many things on the Scavenger Hunt List below (one item per sketch, please) and then post to the blog. The person with the most scavenger hunt items posted on the blog by the end of the day on April 30, 2019 will get a prize. your neighborhood library (interior or exterior) dogs in a dog park spring blossoms a MAX, streetcar or bus (interior or exterior) ✅ a heritage tree ( map ) ✅ a face from above or below two people in conversation a meal or snack (or the remains of one) a Benson Bubbler ✅ an ink drawing, done without a pencil underlay light media on a dark background something under construction someone drinking coffee ✅ an artwork at a MAX stop something left over from the Louis & Clark Exposition  So I am working on my list already. I will post my drawings here as well as the PDXUSK blog as well. Happy sketching!!!

I seem to have a lot of blank, spankin' new sketchbooks lying around the house (I have a problem) and I decided to use one of them to document my lovely neighborhood of Irvington. I've been dying to draw this interesting church in the area so this weekend I braved the heat to sit in the dirt and get it in the book. However, after about an hour and a half of drawing...I went running for some cool air indoors. I will get back to it this weekend and get the color on.

Hi all, It's been a while since I posted and I've kicked up my game a little. I have joined the Urban Sketchers group here in Portland. They are a fun group of amazing artists...professional, amateur and all talented. It is a great learning experience to meet up and look at a location from different sets of eyes. You can check out their blog here:  http://urbansketchers-portland.blogspot.com I have also updated my kit of traveling supplies. I've learned more about what works and what doesn't work for me...so here it is: I have my own watercolor kit with scavenged tube watercolors from cheap coleman to some pricy utrecht artist line. As I get better with my skills I plan to upgrade my watercolor kit. Other items on my list: Pigma Micron .005 very fine line ink pen Copic Multiliner with replaceable ink cartridge - .05 and .01 Niji waterbrush - medium and small - mini size pentel 0.5mm mechanical pencil woodless graphite pencil 4B knead eraser small pencil ...

Here are the drawings from my first sketch crawl. I'm still getting use to the water colors (I have never been very good at watercolor painting) and I think I improved over time. I had a great time drawing in Stowe as it's a big tourist area and I had quite a few people stop and talk to me about my sketching and the idea of Urban Sketching. It was so much fun. I'm hoping to get some more in next week maybe Burlington next Saturday. I'm happy to say I'm becoming addicted to the Urban Sketch!! Town Hall - Stowe, Vermont