This is a reminder from the universe that it is time to pick up those pencil and pens from your beginner drawing kit and get out there drawingđ A few quick sketches on a walk, the view from your favorite local coffee shop, bar or cafĂ© or a dedicated drawing of a spot you have wanted to spend more time with. Take the time to find your flow and really settle into the moment rather than rushing to the next thing or scrolling through the endless stream of social media.
How to Participate in the Group Drawing Weekend
Grab a sketchbook and pencil and head out the door. When something catches your fancy do a quick sketch. Then keep walking and repeat. Before you know it, you will have a notebook full of great doodles, sketches, and caricatures. Itâs that easy.
It would also be great to see some of what you draw. This is a supportive space where we focus on strengths that people can focus on developing. You can share your drawings in the group chat at:
Quick Takes from the Travel Journal
Recently I have been traveling a lot and it feels like I am always rushing from one thing to the next. I am really looking forward to being able to take a weekend to not being constantly trying to stay on schedule. One of my refresh activities with traveling is fitting in time for drawing. People give you fewer odd looks when you are in a meditative drawing state than when you are meditating by staring off into space on a park bench.
One spot that was particularly fun was drawing the gate at the Pixar Headquaters. The coaching training I was taking was only a half mile from here and it was a pleasant walk through the development around the Emeryville train station to Pixar. It was the perfect way to unwind after checking into my hotel the day I arrived and to fill the time in the morning on the day I took off. The area also had a lot of other interesting spots like the Canât Fail CafĂ© and the old city hall.
On the day that I arrived I spent most of my time exploring the area and seeing what there was to find. I got in a quick exploratory sketch of the Pixar gate and the historic Emeryville city hall. Honestly, I wish I had gotten in more of these quick little sketches, but I was too caught up in seeing everything in the area.
On the day I was leaving I had a fair amount of time in the morning before my plane left so I went back to the Pixar gate to get in a more detailed drawing. I was able to finish off the pencil and ink line work on site but did not have time for adding the watercolor. I wanted to fit in a breakfast at Canât Fail CafĂ© and their challah bread french toast was worth it. So I took a photo of the gate and finished off adding the watercolor today.
Inspiration for the Week
As someone who came of age in Seattle in the 2000s, I find it rather humorous that the whole grunge look is coming back with the baggy pants and plaid shirts. More enjoyable though is the growing body of work that is coming out documenting the emergence of grunge and the Seattle music scene in the 1980s and 1990s. The University of Washington (UW) Magazine recently had a title article on The Rocket, which was Seattleâs music newspaper during the 80s and 90s.
Driving up to Seattle, I also enjoyed listened to Let the Kids Dance from NPR, which provides a great look into the music culture in Seattle from the 80s to 2000s. While not the most flattering portrayal, its many call outs to Seattle neighborhoods and locations did bring back some fond memories of visiting these places growing up. I also had not realized at the time how edgy it was to be going to music events in Seattle as a teen in the 2000s. I thought I was just having fun with my friendsđ
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