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!

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...

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!

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.