PAWA Paints Point Defiance Park 2023

Point Defiance Park is a stunning, 760-acre piece of paradise that offers a variety of scenery that's sure to spark your creativity. There are 8 gardens (rose, rhododendron, dahlia, Japanese, etc.), a large pond, beaches, bluffs, an old-growth forest, a ferry landing, and more. You're almost guaranteed to see bald eagles, seals, and raccoons and deer so habituated, they just might pose for you. On incredible lucky days, orcas and humpbacks can be spotted as well. The outer loop is a paved road that is now closed to cars, which makes it extremely easy to walk if you want to paint from a bluff overlooking the Tacoma Narrows Bridge or Vashon Island. https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/place/point-defiance-park/

Facilitator name: Kelli Stephens

Email: [email protected]

Cell Phone: 614 439 0598

Information about the park can be found at :-https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/place/point-defiance-park

Meeting location, date, and time:

I will be near the pond at the front of the park at 9:30 am to paint and greet anyone who wants to say hello. I will also have maps of various parking/hiking/painting areas for anyone unfamiliar with the park.

Lunch plans

I recommend bringing a sack lunch, but if you want to leave the park, there are several options to eat within a 5-minute drive.

After Lunch

After lunch, I will likely move to the outer loop and paint from one of the bluffs overlooking Puget Sound.

End of Day

At 4 pm, I will be down at Owen Beach for anyone wanting to meet up for a show and tell. There are plenty of picnic tables and parking spots here. Please go slow over the speed bumps, they are quite high!

Directions

From the North

Take I-5 South and take exit 133 for I-705 N. Keep right to stay on I-705 N, then take the Schuster Pkwy exit on the left. Take a slight left onto Ruston Way and continue straight (through two traffic circles). Turn right onto WA-163 N/N Pearl S. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto N Waterfront Dr

From the South

From I-5 North, take exit 132 for S 38th St. Keep left, follow signs for WA-16 W/Gig Harbor/Bremerton. Take exit 3 for 6th Ave toward WA-163 N/Ruston, and continue onto Bantz Blvd. Turn right onto WA-163 N/N Pearl St. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto N Waterfront Dr.

What to Bring

Bring your plein air painting/drawing gear. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, as this is a large park with lots of areas to paint. Check the weather report, and wear rain gear if needed.

Recommended lodging/camping

Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront is the nearest hotel, and just opened 2 years ago. You could also check out the hotels near the University of WA Tacoma.

Other Information

There are bathrooms and shelters scattered all over the park.

There is cell coverage, although towards the zoo/center of the park, my internet access becomes spotty (T-mobile)

Parking and entrance to the park is free. (The zoo and Fort Nisqually do have admission fees if you want to visit either of those). As the day gets closer, I will update everyone to let you know what I'm wearing and how to spot me.

This park can be quite busy, especially on beautiful, warm days, but there is plenty of parking. The largest lots are near the zoo and at Owen Beach, but parking on the side of the road is permitted in most areas as well.

For attendees signing up for free paint-outs, if you find you can't attend after all, please cancel on Eventbrite so that the facilitator may have a proper head count, thanks!

All paint-outs are for Plein Air Washington Artists members. It is easy to join PAWA online. Please have any friend do so if they would like to participate. Please ask the facilitator if a guest can come to a free event. Sometimes there may not be enough space for non-members. A spouse is always welcome.

It is a good idea to print out this Eventbrite page and bring with you to be able to refer to this information.

Thank you for signing up and HAPPY PAINTING!

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