Category Archives: architecture

VSW: Barcelona, 1, Looking for Gaudi

This month on our virtual walk we are looking for Antonio Gaudi… Admittedly, by the time I landed in Barcelona I was burned out on travel, and spent more time eating and shopping for boots before returning home… However, Gaudi was … Continue reading

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USk: Yama Sushi

Yama Sushi, named after Yamantaka, apparently! First time was for our anniversary. Discovered just before we found the kitties.  A sign. Amazing sushi, clean, fresh fish, good sushi man, and a woman sushi chef (wow a first!) No more having … Continue reading

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USk: Cargo Portland

Picking up an old Fabriano Watercolor journal that I really don’t like *but will finish off in some way, like the 100 faces challenge*  I came across an old drawing of the building in the Pearl that originally housed Cargo, … Continue reading

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VSW: Bear’s Tee Pee

A study in shadows, quick quick before I had much time to think from our virtual walk on favorite object, one of Bear’s. Leaving a swath of white helped I think! To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook! ☾ … Continue reading

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USk: PAG Trip to Monitor

This shows you how busy I’ve been! April 29th PAG took a field trip to Donovan Harding’s amazing woodworking shop, Monitor Millworks.  He creates doors and windows the way they did them in the late 19th century.  He was kind … Continue reading

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VSW: Doolin

When I was a child my mom kissed the palms of my hand each night at bedtime and told me this prayer.  It has a special place in my heart. Images are from Doolin, courtesy Joyce, who did a grand … Continue reading

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Every Day in May, 7, Architecture

This I see when I go to the bank.  I take my sketchbook often. Such a beautiful church sitting under the I-5 on-ramp! The list, above.  To hear about journalling and architectural sketching classes, follow me on Facebook! ☾ Hahnemühle … Continue reading

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VSW: Dublin, with a Wee Bit O’Color

Okay, you KNOW I am not big on self-criticizing… But gads the green got away from me. I think this is a good lesson in not just planning from a sketching point of view, but from a color point of … Continue reading

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VSW: Constance Lloyd

Constance Lloyd married Wilde man, and bore his children. That was not all she was — feminist, adventurer, leader. Well bred, well read, an author of children’s stories. Deceptively strong, though she died at forty from a complication of surgery, … Continue reading

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VSW: Dublin Black-and-White

It started with the Monkey King tile from Christ Church in Dublin… And then I had to draw the one next to it… And then I found more… And more. They marched along the bottom of the open pages. They … Continue reading

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VSW: Oaxaca, 2

When sketches go wrong… blobs from a bad pen! *how to “fix”?  add more blobs… then smear… oops* I feel good about the looseness of these sketches. I put the brush between my teeth to get me to play fast … Continue reading

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VSW: Oaxaca, 1

Trying to keep things loose. This sketch was started in pencil in early March and finished at the yesterday. Time can make one move toward looseness! this whole sketch took a few minutes, and the color splashed on. It feels … Continue reading

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USk: Another Cal-Bag

What can I say… it is outside my office window. Feeling stuck, I turn to a material I rarely use, Watercolor charcoal big fat pencil. If that won’t loosen you up — having no control with a fat dull tip … Continue reading

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USk: SCBWI Day

Somehow I have to sketch every day… Nothing special, a doodle in front and in the lecture hall. I felt like I was coming down with something by the end of the day… so a very half-hearted attempt to finish!! … Continue reading

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USk: H&R Block, yup, Taxtime is Near….

The new construction in Portland is rather depressing. Here is the welcoming plaza between two buildings. Not one plant.  BTW, I added the green and brown… Could not stand all that grey and I am a fan of the color…. … Continue reading

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VSW: Max’s Car, 2

NOW I’m getting somewhere!  From Max Vanderwyst’s car images! Again I used grisaille to shadow, the Super5 Frankfurt ink in a water-brush. I should go back and add a bit of shadow to the columns… Very fast watercolor, middle of … Continue reading

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VSW: Max’s Car, 1

Max Vanderwyst offered his lovely car images and I still went first for the building image. What can I say? Old habits die hard.  But I’d like to do some cars, so…. It was a lovely building to draw, and … Continue reading

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Castle Pond at Laguna

Missing home, simpler times.  Middle of the night. I was thinking about the time I ditched school and me and my boyfriend swam or walked from Main Beach in Laguna to my house in South Laguna. Laguna kids always had … Continue reading

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