Tag Archives: Urban Sketchers Portland

Hot Lips Pizza

Hot Lips Pizza parked outside our favorite sushi bar… Stopping in for a bite? In the final days of the first World Watercolor Month! Only a few days until Cherished Blogfest July 29, 30, 31! Tell us about a cherished … Continue reading

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Thursday Doors, USk: Grimm and Impact on 26th

26th Avenue, two doors within throwing distance of our studio. Above, on the historic American Canning Company, which then became the Multnomah County Medical Examiners offices (and then, how apropos) became the door to Grimm’s studio costuming annex. (Sitting across … Continue reading

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USk: PSU Saturday Market and Oregon Berry Festival

Memory of a lovely day with Mitchell.  Started with the Pen Show, then on to the more normal Saturday activity for us: Going to the Portland Saturday Market for peaches and squash and other yummy things. We also happened upon … Continue reading

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USk: Mitchell, Saw, ER Kaiser

Mitchell had a saw buck and a piece of wood went flying yesterday. We are very lucky and thanked KaliMa that it missed his artery in his arm by mere mms! Hit him in the middle of his two eyes … Continue reading

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More Trains: Portland Union Station and more

Part two of the response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! Part one here! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also … Continue reading

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Bright Ideas, Week 5: Gratitude in Gifting

A tough week; on top of our Kamala being sick, the astrological forces (Mars retrograde or whatever is going on) have conspired to make some of the people in my life complete arseholes. Fortunately, none are very close to me. … Continue reading

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USk: Art Gallery Door, Alphabet District

There is this amazing rusty metal door going into the art gallery on Raleigh. It is a wild thing, all twisted and colorful and rough and organic. I did my best; but gads, what a door. It pops out of … Continue reading

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National Train Day: Portland Union Station

This is in response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also was stolen from him….) … Continue reading

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USk: Painted Girls, Alphabet District

We see these sweet homes on the way to our vets, and on walks. They are no where near special enough to be saved when the bulldozers come, which they will because way laid back Portlandiars won’t fight to save … Continue reading

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USk: Trinity Episcopal Church’s Red Doors, Alphabet District

Trinity Episcopal Church, at the corner of 19th and Everett, across from where the NW Outdoor Market is often held.   I rarely see it like the image right (Wiki) — trees obscure the lovely old building except when it … Continue reading

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USk: Vaughn St and 18th Street

Near Lindy Ltd., Vaughn curves into 18th and there is a lovely set of older buildings. I’ve seen chickens in the street in this odd quiet part of the city. Quick studies, not that happy with outcome — trees are … Continue reading

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USk: Pro Photo Supply, 18th and Marshall, NW Portland

Had little time to sketchcrawl last weekend, but found a great corner near us in NW. Around the corner from the main Pro Photo shop on 19th is the new-old building, where they’ve taken a dull green-grey corner at 18th … 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: Native American Student Center PSU

Above, a quick sketch (with Diamine Ancient Copper ink in a Lamy Al-star) of the Native American Student Center at the south end of the PSU campus, off the park.  Watercolor wash moved the inks: three colors were used: Yavapei, … Continue reading

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Doc Youping Qin

Dr. Youping Qin is my acupuncturist.  My images here are part of a larger set, depicting the history of acupuncture and Chinese immigrants to Oregon.  (This post is about the painting, not the story!) Doc Qin has been a Portland … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, creativity, drawing, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, portrait, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

NW Portland Industrial Sanctuary

Our studio sits in the NW Industrial Sanctuary.  When most think of a sanctuary they think of preserving bird and wildlife habitats, but there are other kinds of sanctuaries. Once this was a gorgeous waterway and lake , used for … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, commentary, history, making a living, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Sketching Memories of Our Staycation, 3 Industrial

Writing, writing, writing. . .  Make the book exciting, Raw-hide! Mitchell likes to make up new words to old songs! Our quest to try new places took us to the Industrial Cafe for breakfast. It was good, but not great.  … Continue reading

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Sketching Memories of Our Staycation, 1

I love sketching in journals because I love making our memories come to life. Mitchell and I are staying in Portland for our vacation; I am told the hip thing to call it is a “staycation.” Mostly we are working … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, cards, creativity, journal, making a living, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments