Harbor Steps

"Harbor Steps," wc/ink on paper

One of the features of the waterfront in Seattle is the Harbor Steps, which connect the old Central Waterfront to downtown, high above. The area was once the hub of shipping activity in the city but decades ago a container ship area opened farther south and business here slowed. 

Now, the area at the bottom has been developed into an attractive tourist spot, with older piers becoming stores and restaurants. The steps connect to the downtown above (there are elevators too) and are actually part of a mixed-use development of shops, condos and public space. I sketched the steps rising into a man-made canyon, flanked by contemporary architecture, and footed by older buildings. 

 

Seattle Sketches

We've just returned a day or two ago from a week in Seattle, visiting with family. It's been a few years since our last visit, and this one included Puget Sound local relatives as well as a contingent from Florida. An outing sailing on the Sound led us to Edmonds, Washington, a few miles north, an attractive town centered on art of all kinds, and sailing. They even have a plein air sketch group like mine. Along the Edmonds marina is a boat launching facility I ran across. I drew it quickly in my pocket sketchbook, then painted and inked it the next morning. 

"Prepping for launch, Edmonds," wc/ink on paper

The next day we visited the famous Pike Place Market, once a bustling market for fish and produce, now more an incredibly crowded tourist spot. While other family members shopped and walked, I chose a public lookout spot with a view of Puget Sound and the opposite shore, including a new, enormous Ferris wheel. As with my sketch from the day before, I finished this one after arriving at our home base there, aided by a snapshot. 

"From Pike Place Market," wc/ink on paper

Tabasco

"Tabasco," oil on panel, 8x6, private collection

One my interest has been simple shapes and contours. In this still life from 15 years ago, you can see that influence. Another early interest was reflections and refractions. 

This was one of a series of small still life paintings, usually finished in a single session. Doing a small, quick work forced me to be precise, careful with placement of strokes, and judicious about color. 
 

Independence Day

"George Washington (after JCL)," oil on panel

Nearly 250 years ago, our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, forever breaking away from the British Empire. The foremost among our founders was doubtless George Washington, whose wisdom, judgement, stature, and contribution to the new nation can't be exaggerated. Without Washington, probably no United States. 

In these troubled times it is good to remember men of valor, conviction, political and social wisdom. 
 

Uncle Sam

Unlike many, my favorite concept of Uncle Sam isn't the famous one from a World War I recruiting poster ("I Want You," by James Montgomery Flagg, a renowned illustrator at the time. 

Instead, I prefer the squinty-eyed, determined Sam painted later on by J.C. Leyendecker,. That Sam, whose facial features owe a great deal to Flagg is more reassuring to me. Instead of looking us in the eye he's watching something in the distance--perhaps gathering war clouds?  

I made this 20x16 portrait of Uncle Sam from a Leyendecker July 4 magazine cover.dating to 1936 "Uncle Sam at the Helm," which shows him steering the ship of state. I was mostly interested in the face.

A Decade Back

"Omaha Summer Arts Festival," wc/ink in 5x8 sketchbook

It's useful to look back at older sketchbooks and studies. Here and there I find works from as long as a couple of decades ago, documenting where practice and work improved. It can be useful to see where one's efforts have led. 

This small watercolor dates from ten years ago, made during an art festival in Omaha, Nebraska. The site has been completely changed over that time, according to news reports, so this scene can't be repeated. 

 

Saturday's Sketch

"Big Walnut," wc/ink, 12x5

Despite the unusual heat here in the upper midwest, our group of sketchers went out as usual. A group came to my home studio where we fanned out along the creek under deep shade, where it was marginally cooler. 

This little watercolor was the result for me. One of our group took a folding chair and sketched under a giant black walnut tree. I was interested in the tree and its bark, so I sat in even deeper shade and did this one. As I usually do, I made a preliminary sketch in pencil and then painted the image with watercolor. One of the things about many watercolors one sees is how washed-out the darker values can be, so I worked hard to make my dark greens rich and believable and the tree bark varied from very dark to quite light. My initial plan was to use only paint, but after the watercolor was dry it seemed to need something, so I added grooves and ridges to the bark with ink.