Yesterday was a beautiful day in Seattle and in the afternoon I took off on my bike to meet the adventurous Captain Mark Schrader at the Seaview East boatyard in Ballard.  Mark is working to prepare a 64ft steel-hulled sailboat for a year-long circumnavigation of North and South America for a project called Around the Americas. The goal of the project is to raise ocean health awareness and the crew plans to stop in towns along the routes to offer tours, presentations, and school visits. I first met Mark in 2007 and was delighted yesterday to explore the possibility that I might join him for some legs of the voyage. As an Expeditionary Artist, I’m developing myself as a fine artist, naturalist, and educator and a project such as Around the Americas suits my interests… as well as my taste for adventure.

After meeting with Mark and taking a tour of the ship, I basked in the sun and sketched. Boatyards make marvelous subjects. I had my pocket pencil-box watercolor kit with me (see more about my kits here) and used a Varsity Pilot fountain pen, Pigma Micron pen, and my Koi water-brush. It’s challenging to make large washes of color with the water-brush, but I enjoy how portable it is.