Caught the Blazers game on Saturday, flew out to Toronto for Low-Dao’s 60th birthday on Super Bowl Sunday, and just got back to Seattle today. Go Hawks, and time for bed!
Sketch of Julie on the way to Portland.
Sketch of Gabe on the same ride.
Talking with Russ, a dog breeder watching over a young Shelty pup probably named Journey.
Passengers waiting at O’Hare.
Waiting for our ride at Pearson.
Olwen reads Caitlyn a bedtime story.
Sketches of people at Pearson and O’Hare.
Because of the NY cancellations, the flight ended up being pretty empty.
Lots to update on, so I’m going to split this up into separate posts. Just got back from a week in Toronto visiting friends and family.
This is my fifth time visiting, but this was the first time that I was bringing a sketchbook. There was a moment when my mother-in-law, I call her “Ah-Ma”, asked me why I sketched all the time. At the time, I told her that I was doing it for practice, and trying to get better at my craft, but for some reason, that answer didn’t feel quite accurate to me. When I later reflected on that conversation, I realized that the real reason was because it helped me to have a new outlook at what was before me. I never thought about how sketching forces me to be more observant about the things in front of me, how it causes me to sift through the vast amount of visual information in front of me to get to what Walt Stanchfield calls the “first impression”. And it helps me to see the story that’s behind every seemingly insignificant gesture or moment whether it be someone stirring their coffee, a couple having a conversation, or a weathered shipping yard; there’s always an individual backstory to everything and everyone.
So here were some of the moments that I managed to capture, some accurately, some not so great. Regardless, what I would’ve expected to be a routine family visit turned out to be rich with enjoyable moments and little surprises.
Passengers wait at the gate at O’Hare.
Samantha walks down the aisle with her dad.
Johan and Samantha say their vows.
Studying Samantha and Johan.
The reverend shows off the ring.
Lunch at Sams Congee Delight. Not “Sam’s”… “Sams”.
Mike and Cindy share their first dance as newlyweds.
Caricature attempts. Left, from top left, clockwise: Gabe, Leanne, Janet & Mike, Alvin (not good), Genuine, and Ben. Right: Another attempt at Ben.