My sketchbooks are a place of pure play for me. Sketching is a way to experience where I am, a way of relating to where I live, what I’m doing, and where I’m going. With a sketchbook available, I always have entertainment – sketching people while waiting in line at Costco or the back of a pickup truck when stuck in traffic.

My sketchbox has traveled to Japan, Central America and Europe, and I can look at these and I’m immediately drawn back to what it was like to be there. I can remember exactly what was going on around me, even though it was years ago.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Summer...Bits and pieces

Summer doesn't keep to a schedule. I have been carrying my
sketchbook a lot, but it is definitely bits and pieces that appear.
I've been doing a lot of people sketching. More soon on that.

I was fortunate to be able to sketch with the Puget Sound
Group of NW painters at their annual Rudy Bundas memorial
gathering at Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island a week or so? ago.
It was cold and rainy in the morning as braver souls found their
posts. I tucked under the eaves and sketched this little house and
tidelands, tried to stay warm and watched a racoon gather
breakfast. He should be in the sketch..... It was as cold and gray
as it looks... with one spot of color!


In contrast, Island Design, a wonderfully elegant presence in Langley
is filled with wonderful arrangements and color combinations!


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Whidbey Island Mobile Studio


Whidbey is such a beautiful place to live, but sometimes a mobile studio (my car....) is the best place to sketch. This is a view of Cultus Bay on South Whidbey, sketched from Hammons Preserve on a bit of a gray day...


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Our Apple Tree in Massachusetts

Last year's sketch of our backyard apple tree made its way to Massachusetts. Thanks to the Whidbey Island Sketchers blog. And....save your applewood tree prunings!





Sunday, May 15, 2011

A week near Manzanillo, Mexico

The Whidbey Island Sketchers were invited to spend a week with a fellow sketcher at her Casa near Manzanillo, Mexico.
Actually, there were two Casas and four of us had a luxurious house and pool....all our own. Phyllis, our mentor and Barb were just below us, with another beautiful casa and infinity pool overlooking paradise. After an early morning flight from Seattle, we arrived to a wonderful dinner cooked by Susan and Bill, and an evening in the stunning infinity pool, margaritas included.
The week had begun.
Bougainvillea and hibiscus were in full bloom, and it felt like living in
a Mark Rothko painting. Total immersion in color.
Reds, fuschias, violets floated through the air and landed
in the turquoise pools.

Bougainvillea surrounded the pool at Casa Maya.

And all I had to do was turn around to this view.

I loved the constantly changing reflections in our pool.

Early mornings from our deck were soft and muted, filled
with sounds of birds and surf.

My favorite morning coffee chair.

And to my left....

Bougainvillea landed as I sketched.

Travelling with other sketchers made for long
relaxing days with just brushes and pens and amazing
subjects. Weeks of material in just this one place.
Thank you so much Phyllis!

Our pool buddy.
<

Pelican sentry at the beach.

Mangos for breakfast right out of the back yard.
What I love most about sketchbooks..
as I sit here in my warm wooly socks and double
layers of fleece, I can look at these images and go
right back to the warmth and color and
comraderie and all its memories. I love my camera,
but it's not the same experience.



Sunday, May 1, 2011

Spring in La Conner

FAVORITE THINGS IN LA CONNER:- the snow geese,
the tulips and Christenson's Nursery.
A warm oasis off Best Road near La Conner,
Christenson's Nursery is filled with colorful blooms,
an infinite variety of roses, and the love of growing things
evident everywhere. These sunny parakeets were in the gift shop.
If you go, be sure to check out the potting shop too!
And an additional treat was a short catch-up visit with
Toni and John Christenson. Creative, amazing people.
http://www.christiansonsnursery.com/


And tulips sketched from Sue's mobile studio.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Mostly Subway Sketches

I just returned from a full and wonderful week with my son and his family in Brooklyn.
Two fun filled grandchildren, along with hours of free time to wander and explore.
There is so much to choose from, but I spent little time just sitting and sketching, except for riding on the subway into Manhatten and back. So much material to attempt in the bumping and lurching....and sometimes very tight space. Several times I got so involved in my sketch I didn't notice we had  passed my stop!
I travelled lightly, only a small sketchbook, brown Noodler's Ink and a little color.


It's good practice for trying to not be noticed...I often just
looked away, or just down... at feet. Interesting feet, I could
fill a sketchbook with subway feet.

But people get up and leave.......
Faces and heads everywhere, all ages.
But they leave too.



One day I walked across Manhatten through the
West Village over to the subway stop on 6th.
It was raining, and as I stopped for coffee I looked out on
this blooming tree in front of an umbrella
store.
Another day began at Union Square with breakfast on the
second floor of Whole Foods looking out at the spring trees.
The square had a Farmer's Market already
stocked with vegetables and plants.

Back on the R Train, standing room only...

Train change at Canal Street


This little bit of color was from the snack bar
at the Guggenheim Museum looking out at
Central Park. The current show is
The Great Upheaval, Modern Art from 1910-1918.

And then, time to come home. Only two little
airport sketches.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Much Merriment at Studio 106


This week, the sketchers gathered at Studio 106 in Langley and
sketched a local citizen volunteer in her full spring color.
She was great! Thank you Sharon!

And a hat to match!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

March sun on the Olympic Mountains!

Spring IS coming. As we say in the Northwest "The mountains are out today!"


This little Navajo chicken I found
in Tucson is waiting for spring too.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Sketches from Whidbey Island

The birdfeeder in our neighbor's yard is what
I look out at when sitting at my computer.

From North Whidbey, looking toward Mt Erie
on the left and across to the La Conner area.

Deception Pass bridge on the north tip of Whidbey.

One of my favorite places on the Island is Crockett Lake
near the Port Townsend Ferry. It changes constantly
with the light and the seasons, and is filled with a wide
variety of birds.

Greenbank Cellars Vinyard in the fall.

Greenbank Farms , many many great walking paths.

Chochokum is Langley's summer Arts Fair.
This was the view from Whidbey Island Fine
Art Studio's booth, a center of demonstrating
artists and much fun.

Lucy is a landmark at the Recycling Center
near Freeland.
Music for the Eyes in Langley. I sipped
hot mint tea as I sketched, surrounded
by rugs and fabrics of every color
from all over the world.
Bayview Corner is the home of our
summer Farmer's Market. Definitely worth
a visit if you are on the Island!
High tide at Deer Lagoon
Barns at Hedgbrook, a creative retreat for
women writers.

Summer dahlias in our front yard.
Scarlet runners in our backyard.


Oaxaca cricket on my desk.