August 5th, 2026

Art in the Park

On a Wednesday in summer, Art Toolkit Founder Maria Coryell-Martin led a sketching event with the Port Townsend Public Library!

By Maria Coryell-Martin

A group of people enjoying an outdoor art workshop on a grassy area, surrounded by tall trees. Some participants are sitting on blankets while others are engaged in activities at tables. A woman is setting up supplies on a table, and a few spectators are seated nearby.

We met at Chetzemoka Park for an hour of summer sketching and an art scavenger hunt. I rode my bike with my caboose full of supplies to share with everyone. We had just a wonderful mix of families—people of all ages spread out in the sun-dappled shade in front of the Chetzemoka Park gazebo.

A gazebo surrounded by greenery, overlooking a body of water. People are seated inside the gazebo, engaged in conversation or activities. Sunlight filters through the trees, creating a peaceful atmosphere. — A group of folk musicians in the gazebo played as we sketched.

A bicycle with a large front cargo rack and a trailer attached, filled with various bags and supplies. The bike is parked on grassy ground in a park with trees and a view of the water in the background. — Maria’s bike with her caboose full of art supplies for the event.

Autumn Child, a local musical group, were playing music in the gazebo throughout our sketching time, creating an idyllic scene with the warm air, the shade, and greenery of the trees all around us.

A diverse group of people sits on the grass in a park, watching a performer at a small outdoor event. Trees surround the area, and some attendees are seated in camping chairs while others sit on the ground. — Maria welcomes attendees with a sketching demo.

Prompts for the art scavenger hunt.

I kicked off the event by sharing a few fundamental tools for observation with everybody. We began by squinting our eyes to see big shapes, practiced some simple contour thumbnail sketches, and played with color.

Attendees were invited to bring their favorite sketchbooks and supplies, and we had several Explore Palettes and Demi Explore Palettes and water brushes to lend out, too!

A child wearing a blue stuffed animal hat is drawing on white paper with watercolors. Surrounding them are art supplies, including watercolor palettes, leaves, and other materials, on a patterned blanket spread out on the grass. — Attendees experimenting with Explore Palettes and sketching salal leaves.

A diverse group of people sits on the grass, some on blankets, engaged in a community gathering in a sunny outdoor setting. A speaker stands in front of them near a tree, while others are seated, facing the speaker. Lush greenery surrounds the scene, creating a peaceful atmosphere. — Everyone gathered under the big fir trees.

We were happy to welcome upwards of 30 people of all ages! A big thank you to everyone who joined us, and special gratitude for those who were visiting from as far away as Colorado, Oregon, and South Carolina, and to the library for making this event possible.

Learn about upcoming events through the library’s Summer Reading Program, and join Art Toolkit in person at our upcoming events.

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