Tag Archives: NW Industrial Sanctuary Portland

Eagle Creek Fire Rain

The evening the rains came after the Eagle Creek fire, I felt so blessed. Skies which were grey with smoke and ash falling, suddenly had the blue of night. Actual color, yellow from the setting sun and the green of … 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: Out my New (Studio) Window

I have more space in my studio, and a new window.  It is pouring. My urban sketch today was out my new window looking east on NW Nicolai! All the spring greens against the evergreens, a riot of green and … Continue reading

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USk: Slabtown New Seasons Opening!

We are so happy to have New Seasons blocks from our studio! No more driving all around for groceries!  YAY! We went opening day before we opened the studio. Mostly they were setting up and greeting their new customers, and … Continue reading

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USk: St. Patrick’s Church in the Alphabet District of Portland

I love Saint Patrick’s Church in NW Portland. I drive by it all the time as it sits across from our bank. The Beaux-Arts church looks like it belongs in Italy, set into cobbled streets surrounded by a park and … Continue reading

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USk: Meriwether’s Restaurant NW Portland

Meriwether’s Restaurant looks like a nice house on a commercial street, but for the riot of bright yellow echinacea that bloom every summer in front of lavender and blue hydrangea.  Walking between the building and the flowers you might forget … Continue reading

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USk: Pyramid Juices + Schoolhouse Electric

Schoolhouse Electric is on Nicolai St. It’s been revitalized with a barista and a great home furnishing and lighting store. It was a hot day to sketch. Pyramid Juices was once made in Ashland Oregon before it was bought out … Continue reading

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USk: MPF Conservation’s NW Neighborhood

I haven’t sketched outdoors much lately.  I wondered what I might make of our buildings. Our studio is in an industrial area in NW Portland. This is the approach from the freeway. We share space in the building with Portland … Continue reading

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USk: 17th and NW Davis

I’ve approached these buildings, which are part of the St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception complex, dozens of times.  Needing a break from bidding I stole away to sit in the car (easier to lay watercolors out) and do … Continue reading

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USk: 26th Street, WHAT IF?

Took a walk and sketched in our studio’s neighborhood, buildings I look at all the time. I was able to sketch both of them, and it was a bit like old times, architectural sketches. They are both shades of grey: … Continue reading

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USk: Kiva Tearoom, NW Portland

I braved another day of sketching with the intention to sketch people in a crowded place. There were few people in today — what? — Saturday in Portland? This post is a big deal for me because I am posting … Continue reading

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