La Casita Mariachi

Didn't get many sketches in. But the band was really great!

Drinks & diners @ La Casita

Went for the mariachi band (which was wonderful) but they moved around the restaurant too fast for me to sketch them so I had to capture other elements inside La Casita!

More from the Edgecliff - Barbara's Sketches

Another newcomer to the group, Barbara Mearing, did these 3 sketches at the Edgecliff. Barbara is showing at Island Angel Chocolates in Langley through the end of Feburuary and doing very well. See more of Barbara's work on her blog.

 

Pat's Edgecliff Sketches

These are Pat Brookes' sketches from our session at the Edgecliff on Wednesday. Pat is showing at the Fine Balance Imaging Gratititude Giclee Print Art Show this month. You can see more of Pat's work on her website.

Diana's Sketches from the Edgecliff

We had some fun and talented new sketchers join our group this week at the Edgecliff. So far, I haven't met a sketcher I didn't like. These are Diana Carter's sketches from the Edgecliff with her own comments. Very nice work, Diana! And welcome to our group. You can see more of Diana's work on her blog.

The first is of Lisbeth who was talking and moving so much that she should have come out as a blur! Due to my skillful handling, she looks beautiful! LOL

The sketch of the table and window is at the Edgecliff Restaurant in Langley. The sun was setting and the scene was changing minute by minute. But it was a beautiful day with great companions.

February

Still not feeling too well, and missed the Edgecliff sketch.

So I curled up on the couch, watched the Olympics and

sketched this guy. He always makes me smile.

The apple tree gets a trim.

The camillia outside our bedroom is coming to life!

Happy Hour at The Edgecliff

The lovely and talented Ron Kasprisin enjoying a nice glass of Cabernet. He had a hard day in the city - too tired to draw.

This family was playing cards at a nearby table, but got up and left before I could add line to my drawing. I kinda like it.

A couple sitting under the television and Lisbeth drawing. I have a real problem drawing faces straight on - I make everyone look old and haggard. Sorry, Lisbeth.

And a lovely girl at the bar with a pink drink!

The Edge

We had a great time sketching at the Edgecliff late afternoon and evening yesterday. A beautiful, crystalline day made for a spectacular view out the window. Though I have no sketches of it. The views indoors were too good. Here's a mess of my sketches...


Cosmopolitan Girl


Way to tight drink drawing.


People at the bar. Some shirts should not be worn. Virginia on the far right. Sorry Virginia.


Mr. Ron Kasprisin, a local fixture.


Sue drawing people in the bar.


And a quick study.

Wine, Watercolors & Whidbey Island Sketchers

Different spin on our regular sketching day -- Happy Hour at The Edgecliff in Langley.  Enjoyed sketching bar, folks at table & rhodys out the window -- all while enjoying wine.  Think it helps my lines! 

Upstairs Bath in Black & White

My mentor, Kris, said I should do some studies in ink and gray wash. I think this means I need to work on value. So these are the first two. After ten or twenty of these, I may graduate to using two-color washes.  The door frame to my bathroom really isn't that narrow or that crooked - it's just poor draftsmanship. :-)

La Casitia Bar

Here's a couple sketches of a Tequila Sunrise and the bar from our last trip to La Casita. What a fun evening! La Casita is the best!






In addition, I just filled and put to rest a sketchbook. Whoo hoo!

Lunar New Year -- at home

Ok, one thing that's not so good about living on an island is missing stuff like Chinese New Year on the streets of a city.  Alas.  So I pulled out my decorations from days living in San Francisco and other cities and sketched a still life. 

Closest we'll come to a dragon dance around here! 

Happy Hour at La Casita

Edgar, the manager of La Casita, is one gracious and charming host. I caught him working at the bar - three times. Looks like he's enjoying a drink with himselves! :-)

Bottles hanging from the ceiling above a poster of bottles in the corner of the bar. You would think bottles would hold still, but you'd be wrong. They move. You start out drawing one side of the bottle and a few minutes later it's showing you its other side.

I eat at La Casita all the time and often do quick sketches while waiting for the food or the check. This was the first time I pulled out the watercolors.

Whidbey sketcher's watercolors on display

We're so proud of Whidbey Island Sketcher, Faye Castle, whose work is part of a show, "From Here to There" at Brackenwood Gallery through March 1. 

Faye's plein air watercolor sketches in the show are from her journeys around Whidbey Island and San Miguel de Allende Mexico. 

Cheers to you, Faye, from all your Whidbey Island Sketchers buddies.  Congratulations and we can't wait to see the show!

Brackenwood Fine Arts Gallery is in downtown Langley, WA.  Winter hours are Thursday through Monday, 11 to 5.

So much material, so little sketching.....

....from a quick lunch at the

Trump Tower atrium in

Manhatten

Elizabeth George at the All Island Book Club Meeting

Elizabeth George was the keynote speaker at the All Island Book Club Meeting. I tried to capture her playful intelligence in this 10 second sketch. So many faces so little time.

Wednesday Sketching - Freeland Library & Lighthouse Cafe

 
Man at the Lighthouse Cafe


Looking out the window - a quiet morning inside the library leaves time for daydreaming.


The closest I got to anyone reading a book at the Freeland library was this man writing on paper. Everyone else was using the computers.

Margaritaville, aka La Casita

Okay. Not my best, but kind of fun and Valentines-y

Freeland Library then Cake

The library is a great place to draw people and stuff. Books, computers, people writing and doing stuff. It's also quiet and one can focus on sketching.



Then after an hour we all got hungry and went to the Lighthouse for a sandwich, coffee and Carrot Cake. Here's Sue getting upset and making threatening gestures to make us stop looking at her.

From computers to coffee in Freeland

Started at Freeland Library today.  Oddly, it was hard to capture anyone looking at books -- everyone in my sight line was on a computer.  Other sketchers had more luck.

Then went over to Whidbey's Lighthouse Café in search of lunch and people doing something besides working on computers.  Success! 

Sunday Afternoon in Langley

Florian Grainer's documentary, "Under the Salish Sea" must be really be something.  It was sold out (again) an hour before showtime.  So I got out my watercolors and sketched some people standing in front of the Clyde after the lines dispersed. Got my butt wet sitting on the bench across the street for this drawing.

Then we headed over to Mike's to drown our sorrows in hot fudge sundaes. Couple of teenages intensely engaged in something at the counter. Dan got tired of waiting and left me there to draw for an hour.

This little kid was playing chess with his dad. He had to stand up and walk around the table to reach his pieces when it was his move. Adorable. I couldn't bring myself to ruin the sketch by trying to draw his face. Less is more, eh?