Seattle 2025: Sketcher Fest Edmonds - Part 3: The experience (in sketches and IDEAS for the next time)

I just posted an attempt to summarize my experience at Edmonds Sketcher Fest in words and photos.

And these are my sketches made during all the little and big things that happened during the weekend.

I wish I had sketched more! Next time I will: 

- do a portrait party with all who could be persuaded;

- find a way to attend more artist talks (can we have a volunteer man the table from time to time during the sketchbook fair?)

- Find a company to draw sunrises and not only sunsets.

- bring some stickers to share (I got a collection from other artists!)

- petition for a "private viewing" hour before the sketchbook fair opens up to go and flip through sketchbooks of other artists;

- ask people all the questions I was shy to ask :)

More from this series - Seattle 2025: 

Sketcher Fest Edmonds - Part 1: My Workshop.

Sketcher Fest Edmonds - Part 2: Workshop View.

Sketcher Fest Edmonds - Part 3: The experience (in words and photos)

Sketcher Fest Edmonds - Part 3: The experience (in sketches and IDEAS for the next time)

People Sketching: Protests

Earlier this spring I wrote that a lot of people sketching is happening for me this year and promised to share more - this is the second installment from the "people sketching in 2025"  

This year one of my new constant sources for figure and crowd sketching is drawing during protests. Demonstrations are happening throughout the United States every week, and participation rates are growing. On June 14th more than 2000 "No Kings" protests happened throughout the USA, with several millions of people in attendance. The "No Kings" protests addressed a growing concern over diminishing democracy and the growth of the authoritarian behavior of the current administration.

I was there with the thousands of my neighbors and drew some of them. It was a very friendly, peaceful crowd - people were bringing water for each other and for the pets, people were singing and chanting and sharing chairs and supporting each other. They had all sorts of messages about freedom and democracy for all - it was an example of a functioning society. 

Below are my sketches from other protests. 

Democracy exists only as long as we take part in it - by not being indifferent: voting, attending city council meetings, knowing your rights and exercising them, making signs about an issue that is important to you, and showing them - in a window, on your shirt, during a protest. Make a call to your elected official, write them an email - make your voice heard. 

Here is how to place a call (or email) to your representative - it takes 5 minutes:
https://5calls.org/

Here are some of my five favorite signs from the protests so far:
First Amendment - Use it or Lose it
Only You Can Prevent Fascist Liars
Fight Truth Decay
Science Saves Lives
Justice For All

Drawing People As They Work Instead of Working

It was Monday and I was planning to do a lot of work. There was A LOT of noise. The rain did not stop anyone. Lively conversation in between the sounds of power tools with some words that I could recognize. No work was happening on my side of the window. Solution? Draw the wonderful mayhem that everyday life is :)

I used the first tools that were available - ballpoint pen and a box of almost empty watercolors. 

Enjoyed every minute :)

Recent trip report | part 4

I enjoy drawing in museums. When I have a chance to visit the same museum several times over several years it becomes interesting to see which paintings I decided to sketch and what parts of them I noticed then and now.
Kharkov has a wonderful art museum with some real treasures and amazing people who work there.
These are my notes from the recent trip:

Artists mentioned in my notes are:

• Konstantin Kryzhitsky 
• Ilya Repin
• Ivan Shishkin
• Vladimir Orlovsky
• Illarion Pryanishnikov
• Porfiry Martinovich (sorry - this link is in Russian - I could not find one in English or Ukrainian) 

Recent trip report | part 3

During this trip, I saw lots of people and animals. Most were on the planes and in airports.  I drew only some of them - which reminds me that I should draw more. 

But even these will tell you little stories.  First is about the collection of buttons that my parents gave me to look through (I opened only the first box of several but immediately my niece found buttons she urgently needed for her coat!). Also - it's not actually a collection. The correct way to describe it is "all the buttons from all the coats and dresses since the war".

Story number two: that fish was very tasty, but cleaning kitchen took two days :) 

You will find more stories in the sketches themselves.

December Sketchbook Leftovers.

 

Three Spreads about people - December 2014.

Everyday Life: Meeting people, dogs and making soup.

February 2014: Long and Interesting Day

This was a day filled with events:
First - a visit to a new dentist office,

Then collecting treasures in San Francisco
and finally meeting in real life an online sketching friend - Suhita!

I did many many pages of sketches in my little pocket moleskine book on that day and most of them are in the recycling bin. But I had to keep something for the record - so here it is - my best shot :) And here is how Suhita saw me on that day :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sketchaway/12573428053/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sketchaway/12573323335/in/photostream/

June 2011: Trip to Ukraine and Austria

June 2011: Trip to Ukraine and Austria, a photo by apple-pine on Flickr.

Just uploaded all scans from my trip to Ukraine and Austria - take a look:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23173190@N07/sets/72157627038740779/

Alum Rock Park: relatives in a landscape

Alum Rock Park: dad, originally uploaded by apple-pine.

Sketches from kid's GYM

Sketches from kid's GYM, originally uploaded by apple-pine.

And anther portrait after the run :)

Pencil at home

Pencil at home, originally uploaded by apple-pine.

A few pencil pages - click on the image to see some additional notes and comments.
Do you think I should I re-post texts here or keep them here only?

Parks

Parks, originally uploaded by apple-pine.

Back

Waiting and sketching, originally uploaded by apple-pine.

I am back form my wonderful trip and have quite a few new spreads to share about New York but since theer was not time to scan any, here is a batch form last month.

These were done while waiting at the car service center. Good people - they had Lego and comfy chairs for their customers of all ages ;)

My car is getting fixed

My car is getting fixed, originally uploaded by apple-pine.

Some people broke into my car and stole an old backpack. I am sure they are thrilled to have a bottle of water, 5 diapers, a pack of wet wipes, diaper rush cream, rain poncho and a couple of old tennis balls.

So I had a specialist stop by to fix the car - and get sketched!