A quick internet search for yummy breakfasts directed me to The Templeton. When I saw the staff chowing down on generously portioned egg dishes from the kitchen, I knew I was in safe hands.

Each booth had one of these retro jukeboxes. Back when they still worked it must have been quite a racket with them all going at once.

I made some friends at the meet-up, and Jacqueline drove me to Sophie's Cosmic Diner. One could draw here many times and not repeat a scene. The owner saw what we were up to and offered us free milkshakes but we were already full from our meal.

When I travel, I don't rent a car or take buses or Ubers. I prefer to explore every street and block within walking distance, looking for the less touristy nooks and crannies, seeing the place as if I lived there.

After I mentioned this online, someone said I was a "flaneur" so I looked it up:

"The destiny of the flâneur is to immerse himself in the panorama surrounding him, to the point of becoming one with it and, ultimately, to vanish."

-Federico Castigliano

Another new friend, Bob, suggested we draw at Café Calabria. Was it Italian? French? Greek? Who could tell?! Bob knew I'd enjoy the eclectic kitsch.

My favorite sketch of the week is from Jam Café, because I was afraid the details would lead to chaos, but somehow it worked. Sitting at the bar and ordering a full meal gave me the sense I could take my time and so I did.

Hello friends,

I've just returned from Nanaimo, Canada, where I met with the Nanaimo Sketch Club to draw on location at the Bee's Knees Cafe. Friendly people. The stereotype of the nice Canadians holds true.

I stayed at The Painted Turtle hostel. I sprang for my own room, though everyone else I met there bunked with strangers. I've never roomed with anybody I wasn't in a relationship with and I'm not about to start now.

When I travel, I don't rent a car or have an itinerary. I prefer to saturate myself with one neighborhood, getting to know the locals and imagining what it would be like to live there.

The first morning I settled into Serious Coffee with a mocha and sketched in the dark before sunrise. Hence the muted colors.

The next morning, the hotel manager recommended I try Brix and Mortar and the mocha there was excellent.

I could see the National Land Building from the window of my hotel and was drawn to the clean geometry. I drew it while chatting with a couple of German gals who were just passing through on their way to other Canadian adventures.

I guessed St. Peter's would have interesting details to draw. I was a tad self-conscious drawing during mass: sitting, standing, kneeling, standing again- all the while sketching.

After the 70 minute service, a woman behind me said, "My late husband was an artist. I enjoyed watching you sketch." So I guess I needn't have worried about distracting the faithful.

I'm heading back in a week to explore Vancouver. If you live there and want to sketch together, let me know!

Steven

What helps me not get bogged down by the daily news: drawing and dogs. Sketching is meditation and dogs are a comfort.

Keeping it simple.

I'm coming to terms with a life that is no longer an emotional rollercoaster. I walk a lot. I'm grateful to live somewhere not on fire or melting from the heat, where I can still enjoy sketching on location or hanging outside with the dogs.

After a decade in the theater, bouncing between Alaska and Florida, fourteen years as an elementary teacher, a year in China, a ne'er-do-well beatnik, life has settled into a calm, drama-free pattern, somewhat predictable and peaceful.

I'm enjoying drawing this summer, even more than usual. Maybe taking a year to paint has taught me something, or maybe I'm just learning to draw better. I don't know.

A reader commented, "I'm reading Walks With Willa slowly, savoring it. Your writing has an emotional, nostalgic tone that grounds me. A reminder of how mundane life actually is - and that feels comforting."

At first I was offended. "Mundane!" I wanted to assure her my life has been an exciting and sometimes scandalous adventure. But then I came across this quote by John Hodgman: "As long as we are mortal, the mundane shall always be a life-and-death struggle."

I'm wrapping up volume four of Shut Up And Draw.

Etsy.com/shop/stevenreddy

Thank you for being here.

Steven

Finally, Walks With Willa has been revised and reprinted. Thank you for your patience! The new edition has a few new drawings and a rewritten, much improved text. I'm quite happy with the new printing.

etsy.com/shop/stevenreddy

I think I've only missed one day with my morning sketch practice. This personal sketching time, with no commercial potential, is a highlight of my day. It's silly how much I look forward to recording a bit every morning. There's a time-lapse video of a morning sketch on my Insta page: @Steven_reddy

Some upcoming events:

I'm giving a short presentation at MIVAL (Mercer Island Visual Arts League) January 4th at noon. www.mival.org

2-Day Pen, Ink and Watercolor Workshop at GAGE (Capitol Hill, Seattle)

Jan 27-28; 11:00-4:00. www.gageacademy.org

2-Day Sketchbook Habit Workshop at GAGE

March 2-3; 11:00-4:00. www.gageacademy.org

As mentioned in my previous blog post, I revisited oil painting this year. I enjoy the process and especially the saturated, juicy colors, but a life-time of daily sketching has left me impatient with the longer drying times and accustomed to sketching on location. They're also bulky to store. A full sketchbook with 50 watercolors fits neatly on a shelf, or even in my backpack and I can get to work even while walking Willa.

I had more fun translating my sketchbook doodles into oil paintings, and eventually I turned to acrylics, when I decided to give up the pretense that "real" painters only use oil.

While teaching my adult class, The Sketchbook Habit, I committed to doing a daily morning sketch over breakfast and sharing whatever it was on-line, as an example for my students. This return to my roots has been very engaging. Each doodle is autobiographical and spontaneous, done without forethought or judgement.

I can't wait to finish breakfast and sit next Willa and do my morning entry. This is my sweet spot, where I love to be. I have to restrain myself from starting the next day's image as soon as I finish today's.

I'm grateful for the commissions I get to do in my more immediate signature style. Here's a recent drawing of the Top Pot Doughnuts in Wedgwood. 
If you'd like to take my weekend workshop, there's one in January and another in March at Gage Academy, here in Seattle.