April 8th, 2026

Waterfront Sketch & Stroll

Read about our first Sketch & Stroll event of the year!

By The Art Toolkit Team

A group of people sitting on a beach, attentively listening to a woman in a white striped shirt and yellow pants. She is holding an object and gesturing while explaining. Others are seated around her, some wearing hats and engaged in the discussion. The calm water is visible in the background.

Last Saturday, April 4th, we hosted our first Sketch & Stroll event of the year at the waterfront in downtown Port Townsend. It was an intimate group of 11 people, including a few people joining from out of town, from as far away as Tacoma, Washington.

A woman with curly hair sits in a portable chair, wearing sunglasses and a red scarf. She is smiling while sketching in a notebook, surrounded by art supplies on a table. People can be seen in the background, with a street scene and shops visible.
Maria Coryell-Martin leading a gesture sketching demo in the waterfront plaza in downtown Port Townsend.
A person with a gloved hand is sketching in a blank notebook. Watercolor paints are visible in a palette nearby, and the individual has a bandage on their arm. A red backpack serves as a backdrop for the art supplies.
Maria sketches with a Platinum Desk Pen in her Hahnemühle 100% Cotton Watercolor Book.

Art Tookit Founder and Expeditionary Artist Maria Coryell-Martin led with an introduction to gesture sketching, and afterwards we split up to practice those skills on location!

A person's hand is holding a sketchbook with a watercolor painting of a seated figure. A palette with various watercolor paints is also visible, resting on the sketchbook. The scene suggests an outdoor painting session.
Outreach Coordinator Cole Morreale’s Pocket Palette.
A young woman with glasses and a colorful scarf smiles as she holds a sketchbook and a pen. She is outdoors, with a street sign and park in the background.
Cole sketches in the plaza.

Somehow, we all ended up on the beach! Participants said they enjoyed the one-on-one time with Maria, who gave sketching pointers and suggestions.

A group of people sits on the beach, engaging in a discussion. One woman, wearing a striped shirt and yellow pants, is demonstrating something while others listen attentively, wearing hats and sunglasses. The beach and water are visible in the background.
Maria talks about paints and other sketching supplies with a group by the water.

The sun was out in full force, with music from a flash-mob choir, which added to the glorious sketching afternoon.

A hand wearing a blue glove and a striped sleeve holds a green pen, drawing on a large sheet of paper laid on the ground. The paper features sketches of trees and other nature scenes, and various art supplies are scattered nearby.
A sketchbook rests on a sandy surface, open to a watercolor painting of a coastal scene with boats. Nearby, a small palette of watercolor paints sits alongside a napkin palette, while a sketch of a seated figure is visible in the background. A turquoise blanket is partially visible in the scene.
A person holds a sketchbook open, featuring a watercolor painting of a beach scene. In their other hand, they grasp a bag of cookies, sitting alongside a small cloth and an artistic tool. The setting appears to be outdoors, suggesting a relaxing creative moment.
A person holding a small sketchbook open to a watercolor painting depicting a vibrant outdoor scene with people sitting under trees, a clock tower in the background, and a colorful building. The artist's hands are visible, and they are wearing denim jeans.

Finally, we gathered at the end to share our art and take a group photo. Thank you to everyone who came and sketched with us—we’re looking forward to hosting more local events soon!

A group of eleven people sits on large rocks by the beach, smiling and holding illustrated books or artwork. They are dressed in various outdoor attire, including hats and sunglasses, with a building in the background. The setting is sunny, creating a cheerful atmosphere.
Sketch & Stroll participants joined together at the end for a group picture on the beach!

Learn about upcoming Art Toolkit events here.
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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