Tag Archives: Urban Sketchers Portland

My Secret Journal: Five, NW Neighborhood

(Note:  I am writing a journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full.   I realized I can simply share some of the images without the writing;  These are a few blank pages that will … Continue reading

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Gratitude Journal: Back to Studio Work!

 It is good to be back in my finish studio working on paying conservation projects. I have a NPS project due this month. Historic Mason Monterey paper and iron “chandeliers” for the Chateau need to be reproduced.  The original historic … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, furniture, handmade paper, making a living, paper, pastel, process, shellac, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

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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Worldwide SketchCrawl USk: PSU Outdoor Market

Portland Urban Sketchers did not go on the World Wide Sketchcrawl today. After weeks of too hot weather this weather was perfect, a bit overcast, some sprinkles (Oregonians do not care about sprinkles) and cooler temps. I had work to … Continue reading

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Palace Cakes

Good coffee.  Not Espresso but good coffee. Cake and coffee can do a lot to change your world! A bad day saved by Palace Cakes in Portland! Drawn in an Strathmore Mixed Media journal with Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum … 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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4th of July: The best part was the morning

We went to the PSU Farmer’s Market on the 4th of July, arriving when it opened as we wanted to avoid heat and crowds. It was lovely, cool under the canopy of trees and on the cool lawn.   We bought … Continue reading

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USk: Glisan’s Painted Ladies

I drive by these painted ladies several times a week, always thinking I should give them a go.  The complicated details and the colors were a challenge for me to do loosely and not too “architectural.”   I wanted them to … Continue reading

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USk: Montavilla Sewing Center and DEQ

Mitchell sews on machines; I do not.  I used to follow him around for a while at the sewing centers and drive him crazy behaving like a five-year-old, then go sit with the husbands waiting for their wives. Now I … 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: Nick’s Italian Cafe, McMinnville

McMinnville Oregon is a sleepy town with great places to eat, and a wonderful art store (Merriartist) which is staffed by people who either know the products or say they don’t, a refreshing change from overly huge chain stores that … 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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USk: St. Honoré, Lake Oswego

I risked my weight loss diet and spent 90 minutes at St. Honoré Boulangerie to sketch while Mitchell went to a client’s home.  (Yes I did “break it — but only a tiny bit with a teeny chaussen aux pommes … Continue reading

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USk: Drawing Around Portland

I haven’t had much time to paint anything this week but found moments in the car. Being back in a city is overwhelming in terms of the cacophony of lines and layers, rhythms and patterns.   (Yes I spelled that wrong … Continue reading

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USk: Palm Motor Hotel

Whenever I drive by the Palm Motor Hotel I get a little surge of home energy. It looks like motels I remember staying in when visiting Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. I’ve always loved these Mid-Century Modern signs. Today I … Continue reading

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