Concrete Bridge

Thanks to Patty Gardner for finding this location for us to draw from last Wednesday morning. It is a personal residence situated along the eastern banks of the Columbia River.  The view was of what many call the "Concrete Bridge" that connects Pasco to Richland, WA. Depending on which direction you are traveling the bridge is on an incline/decline as the Pasco side is elevated above that of the Richland side.  What I wanted to capture in this sketch was the group of sketchers at the base of that old sycamore tree who were in the sunlight.  It was a beautiful October morning where the temperature was almost perfect, there was no wind, and tons of blue sky overhead. As usual we had a fun time together, sketching.

6x9 Super Aquabee Sketchbook, Lamy Safari with Lexington Gray Ink, watercolors. 

 

"Concrete Bridge Pasco WA"

Todays sketch-out was so beautiful near the banks of the Columbia River in Pasco WA.  Fall is a the most  beautiful time to visit Washington.

Gail Roadhouse artist sketcher and insturctor. gailsgalleryandgifts.com

"Hanford Bus" at the REACH

USktc met at THE REACH Richand WA some of us sketched out side the museum and some went in side to sketch.  I think I pick the Fall Season for my favorite time of year I had a black jacket on in the middle of the black parking lot and didn't even break a sweat.

Gail Roadhouse

full time artist and urban sketcher

gailsgalleryandgifts.com

"Queensgate Gardens" IN THE RAIN

Here are some real urban sketchers IN THE RAIN  some with umbrellas and blankets too.

Gail Roadhouse full time artist and #USktc gailsgiftsandgallery.com

"Wires at the Uptown"

Out with the sketchmob, aka, USkTC, last Wednesday morning at the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland, WA. While the others stayed on the "outside" of the rectangle of shops, I found my way to the inner core where the electrical wires, garbage, and other utilities are located.  I am amazed that this wiring system passes code in all respects and that the whole center hasn't gone up in flames, yet.

"The Uptown Shopping Center"

Jim Bumgarner gave us a demonstration a while back on looking into a crowd of people and how to sketch it very fast.  he said all the heads would be on the same level and of course he is right again!

Never doubted him for a minute

.
Gail Roadhouse urban sketcher and full time artist.
gailsgalleryandgifts.com

"Sketchmobbing Down at the Yacht Club"

Went sketching with the gang down at the Richland Yacht Club Wednesday morning and couldn't keep my eyes off this condo grouping. The Yacht Club building is in the middle (gutter) and off to the right are some other condos. I ran out of energy when I got those on the far right, so you will notice the style change.  Off to the right are the boat docks; no time.

"Richland Yacht Club Richland WA"

We meet out at the Richland Yacht Club.

I decided to sketch the condos instead of the yachts.

Gail Roadhouse
full time artist
part-time children's instructor

"Viera's Bakery Corner of 4th and Lewis Pasco WA."

This went totally flat for some reason and I'm okay with posting something I don't think is my best.  I will not give up I will keep sketching to find out why.  Possibly bad composition  should of sketched it in portrait instead of landscape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gail Roadhouse "full time artist and urban sketcher"
gailsgalleryandgifts.com

"Steptoe Street and Gage Boulevard"

Intersection of Stepto Street and Gage Boulevard in Kennewick, WA> 

I was sitting atop this incline, there is a bank behind me so I'm in their parking lot.  It's Tuesday evening, later than the sky here would indicate.  This intersection has caught my eye before, in fact, I think I've sketched it before from another angle.  I continue moving along using this quick-sketch approach trying to capture the energy and expressiveness of the scene.  I keep thinking, one of these days, my drawings will enter the next level.

6x9 Super Aquabee Sketchbook, Lamy Safari pen, Noodler's Lexington Gray ink, and watercolors

"Barnes & Noble" bookstore doorway

#usktc met this morning at our Mall Barnes & Noble bookstore.

This is the mall entrance store front.

Liked the hanging lights.

Gail Roadhouse full time artist

and urban sketcher tri-city 

"Columbia Park - Kennewick, WA."

What caught my eye here was the way the light was hitting the bridge behind all the trees in the park. Originally I decided to leave the tree trunks white, but after looking it over, I realized to grab what I wanted of the bridge, the trunks had to be dark.  So there it is, another Wednesday morning out sketching with the Urban Sketchers; Tri-Cities.

6x9 Super Aquabee Sketchbook, Safari Lamy, Noodler's Lexington Gray, Dick Blick Watercolors.

"COMMUNITY SKETCH DAY" on the patio of THE GALLERY AT THE PARK

After a crazy windy day yesterday everyone ventured out to try some fresh air and sunshine.
We met early at the gallery for a 2 hour Community Sketch day hosted by Kelly Reed and Yichien Copper. Some went to John Dam Plaza some went to Library.  Cassandra Wald and I met at the gallery.

River Walk Village Richland WA

The #usktc met at River Walk Village to sketch fountain and buildings.

These buildings are next to Columbia Point Golf Course.

They look very European for our region.

Gail Roadhouse 

urban sketcher & 

full time artist.

gailsgalleryandgifts.com

The Lady Washington "sketched out of bounds"

This Wednesday Urban sketchers adventure took us  10 or so sketchers to Pasco Marina for a close up of the Tall Ship called The Lady Washington.  She is grand and the setting was beautiful.  But we were sitting out of bounds on Private Property that had a strange odor.  We knew the property was not vacant but we did not think we were endangering the home owners.  But we were asked to keep off.  That was it we decided to leave with one group picture to share on face book.
I am grateful we all made it back home safe.  Gail Roadhouse full time artist and urban sketcher

"Mosaic by the River Apartment Complex"

Our group of sketchers settled in at the Mosaic by the River apartment complex in Richland, Wa., to do some sketching together.  This is my take on the apartments. I enjoyed doing this one, as I enjoy trying to capture the essence of buildings and other architectural structures.

Mosaic Apartments Richland WA 6 point perspective???

Urban Sketchers Tri-City met today at The Mosaic Apartments really close to the river off of 240 bypass.  It was hot at 98 am but we persevered.  Sweat rolling off all of us.  Not really we were in the shade.  I think this is 6 point perspective.

"Morning Light Out Back"

A gorgeous morning this late July day, sitting out back with coffee, newspaper and sketchbook. 

Lizzie & Mollie sketching on THE GALLERY AT THE PARK PATIO

 Art In The Park Saturday 

sketching these too cuties- Lizzie and Molly 

as they sat on the patio.

Gail Roadhouse urban sketcher tri-cities

and full time artist and childrens instructor

"Back At The Blue Bridge"

Back At The Blue Bridge

Kennewick WA

Columbia Park will  be closed tomorrow for Water Follies 2015.

there were a lot of workers getting the park ready for the weekend.

It was breezy and 70 degrees so I opted to paint from my inside my car.

I had to move my car so they could spray paint some lines on the grass.

I just realized I miss an opportunity to look out the window and see me

in my rear-view mirror

Caught up with Marsha Bates then left early.  See you next week???

"Quick Sketching the Upper Floors"

With time to kill prior to a presentation I am scheduled to give at the 5th Annual Triconf Conference, I went to the second floor windows in the Richland Public Library to do a quick sketch of the new construction going on top of nearby Kadlec Regional Hospital.

The real purpose of adding this image to post one that will move our blog up toward the top of USk International blog.  I want to demonstrate this feature on that blog.

Wish me luck.

Richland Uptown Parking Lot (under a tree in the shade on the sidewalk -Symon Street)

4h pencil colored pencil and sharpie

Urban sketchers met this morning at

The Uptown for our sketching.

I arrived early and sketched

in the shade of a tree.

It felt wonderful and very cool.

Then Yichien drove up and we

went to The Caterpillar Cafe

where Kelly Yichien and I sketched

on pad and cups.

Cassandra and Patty came later and

also sketched.

Sketching with the Grands!

Trying to fit in some sketching yesterday at Cannon Beach, OR  I tried to help Avey and Eden with their watercolors first.   Fighting the wind and kids needing attention I finally got in a quick sketch with pencil, ink and a kids watercolor set ;)

"Columbia Center Mall"

The USkTC group met this morning at the Columbia Center Mall food court at 10am.

I have been interested in trying to capture these vaulted ceilings for a long time, so today was my opportunity.

Using my oldest sketchbook (literally, it is 112 years old) for the task, I found a nice location from which to draw (one where I could also plug in my phone), and got started.

At 11:05 it was 95% completed, so I returned to the food court and met up with the rest of the sketchers (six of them) and finished it off.

I used a pencil to get it started, then added the ink. Dark spots are intended to push the background back and bring the middle ground forward. The darks in the foreground to emphasize different color schemes and contrasts.  This was a fun one.

Fantastic scenery!!!

Mount Adams is the huge mountain from this backyard view in Trout Lake, Washington.  The Thunderbirds, a powerful women's tennis team from Hood River were about to seat for a delish barbecue on this expansive deck last weekend.  They did not know I was going to sketch them.  Directly behind the deck is a beautiful natural tall grass pasture and between this tennis team and Mt. Adams is a herd of cattle on the right and on the left, the dust cloud the cattle had kicked up while heading towards their barn.  Perhaps now they'll know that I had sketched them..... oh
patti kirch

6th Street Prosser WA.

The urban sketchers met in Prosser to sketch the buildings this morning before it got too hot.

It was nice in the shade till about 10 am.  I did ask Jim Bumgarner for urban advice. Instead of sketching in pencil he said to just do it in sharpie or pen.  This is 1/2 pencil 1/2 sharpie.  Finished in watercolor.
I was taught some many different rules in high school art classes and college art classes. Composition, values, lines, perspective, space, balance, expressionism, and contrasts.  Today I was trying to be just LOOSE.

"Just Chillin"

When it's 106 degrees there is no better place than HOME.

"I Paint and Rick Puzzles"

Gail Roadhouse

full time artist and 

part time children's instructor.

Franklin County Court House Pasco WA

We sat in the shade early Wednesday morning to recapture the court house in all its splendor.  It is a beautiful building in side and out.

Artwalk, Lodgepole and Dan Maher in Moscow, ID.

Moscow, Idaho has an amazing amount of activity during the summer.  On Friday, before a delish dinner at Gnosh, my daughter and I hit the annual Art Walk where most all of the businesses on Main Street hosted one or two artists' works.  On Saturday we began our day at the closed off Main Street Farmer's Market; then cleaned out her apartment before our 7:30pm reservations at Lodgepole, North American Kitchen a new and must experience restaurant.

We continued our evening and headed to Bucer's for a tea.  Dan Maher, NPR's Inland Folk's host, was on stage, at mic belting out entertaining shanty Irish Pub songs and classic folk and of course diddy's about Dillan.
"Whiskey your my darling drunk or sober"
and new lyrics
"Summertime is coming and the trees are sweetly blooming, blooming together"
Sunday morning, we couldn't leave Moscow without a Parisian breakfast at Blooms, which I will have to come back to for another enjoyable sketch and flavors experience.
patti kirch

USPTA Wheel Chair and High Performance Tennis

USPTA (US Tennis Professional Association) Conference
Sorry Dave Eads, yes this is you, I really over emphasized the cantilever 25"- 27"wheels!!!!
Inside turns, Outside turns and Reverse Turns are some of the movements wheelchair tennis athletes must perform throughout a competitive tennis match.  The Hub is an important area of the backcourt that these athletes prepare and hit most balls from during singles and doubles play.
I am a USPTA tennis professional and have worked with wheelchair athletes and high performance tennis juniors.

Michael Calkins, a High Performance Tennis Coach and USPTA professional captivated the pros in his audience, I just sketched a few while note taking.  Continuing education is an important feature of our association, we meet annually and this year Stafford Hills Club, Portland hosted the conference.

Patti Kirch
USPTA
Columbia Basin Racquet Club
and urban sketcher  : )

Vegas with no sketchbook

Here are a couple sketches that I managed to sneak into our busy few days, One from the couch of our room in the Polo Towers and the other while inching through the mountains of the Arizona strip between Utah and Idaho on the I15. Wish I had thought to bring my sketchbook.

"Wednesday Morning at The Blank Canvas"

It was nice to have a morning to sit and sketch today.  Gail shared some of her great idea's for getting our sketches ready for our show at Allied Arts.  We had some new (to me) folks join us.  One of them being my first neighbor Marcia Bates!  After sketching the flowers I brought to The Blank Canvas, Marcia, Patti and I headed over to Little of This and That for some more sketching.

There was some discussion about the use of pencil in Urban Sketching. Here are some 

photo's of my process as I started with a light pencil sketch. Went into more

 detail with the pen, then added color later.  

Urban Sketcher Manifesto                          

#5.We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.

 That's all I am saying folks ;)