Painting at Langley Village Court

It was a challenge painting the rich colors in the flowers and pot.
 

The birds and colorful plants and pots in LVC reminds me of small villages in Europe.

The Swiss bakery in Langley Village Court has yummy pastries for the tummy.

Langley Village Garden

Langley Village is a beautiful place to sketch. Albeit somewhat cold this spring day, as evidenced by my drawing of the Langley Village couple below.

Here they sat soaking up what little sun shown through the clouds. 

This Wisteria trunk was very interesting, yet once I started drawing got lost in the complexity.

Langley Village

It was a chilly morning for sketching so I warmed up with a sinfully delicious cinnamon twist from the Langley Village Bakery. Then quickly sketched this mature wisteria before the fragile tulips blew away.

April's Monthly Sketch Challenge

Have a look at our Monthly Sketch Challenge page to see submissions for this month's theme, "April Showers". Here's to clearing skies in May. 

Around Penn Cove

3 Sisters Cattle Company on north side of the cove.  Went to paint the cows but fell in love with the chickens. 

Coupeville Farmers Market.

So much is in bloom all around the cove.

More people, more fun at Whidbey Pies

Bob and Jean at work

And Sue and Lisbeth

Pie is Great

Here's Pierr Morgan's wonderful sketch she created at Whidbey Pies Cafe. She emailed me saying "I really enjoyed meeting all of you Sketchers Wednesday. That was sweet. So was the pie."  We really enjoyed meeting you too and are delighted you are on board, Pierr!

One of Our Own at Art in the Café

Art in the Café welcomes Whidbey Island Sketcher Diana Carter to the Island Angel Chocolates Shop in the month of May.  Diana and Island Angel Chocolates invite you to an artist’s reception on Saturday evening, May 1 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at 138 2nd Street, Langley. The Artist’s Reception is in conjunction with the monthly Langley Art Walk.

After retiring in 2008, Diana and moved to Whidbey Island to begin to live her dream. “How could one not paint with so much inspiration? Whidbey is truly a painter’s paradise. I have met many wonderful people during the last year and have been painting practically non-stop. I hope you enjoy the work I have chosen to show,” says Diana.

Beautiful Textures

Lois Mathews sketched some wonderful, contrasting objects this week. 

Here are agates and lichen - lovely contrasting textures. 

This is a decade leaf Lois found on the ground during winter - beautiful textures still.

Whidbey Kasprisin and Whidbey Pies Cafe sketches

Here's a couple of pics I've been working on in the past couple of weeks. Jeanne loves the new younger look.

A Yummy Morning at Whidbey Pies Cafe

Thanks to Jeanne and the staff at Whidbey Pies Cafe.  We had a ball sketching (and eating pie) there today. 

Enjoyed watching the Master Gardeners at work across the pond...

... and the ducks just outside the café window...

... and spying on the cook in the back of the café.

Oh, and did I mention the yummy pie?  Yes I think I did.

Kris Wiltse's Classes

Our own Kris Wiltse will be teaching Painting with Watercolors and Sketching on Location this spring and summer at South Whidbey Parks and Recreation.

Painting with Watercolors. It's easy!

No other medium compares to the jewel-like qualities of watercolor in all its variations in color and granulation characteristics. Not to mention the absolute thrill of watching colors disperse, bloom and explode on paper!  Watercolor is not the difficult medium it's rumored to be. I'll bust the myth with demos and exercises that lubricate your creativity. You'll learn about color, various wash and brush techniques, composition, values, explore paint characteristics, brushes, tools and paper. Come learn about this amazing medium and leave with the skills to create lovely pictures that will not only surprise you, but inspire you to make many more!

6 WEEK CLASS, Fridays, May 21 — June 25
10am — 12pm
$170

Sketching on Location

Have you ever been struck by a place or situation and wanted to be able to draw it then and there? Sketching on location is a wonderful way to journal and document your life and experiences. Your sketchbook is a place for personal expression - it's your perspective, your style, uniquely you. It's an evolving work of art. In this class you'll learn the basics of drawing; the various tools and media, values, form, line, composition, perspective and quick sketching techniques. You'll also enhance your appreciation for the world around you while developing your own voice and self confidence. We'll be sketching most our time at various locations such as cafes, historic landmarks and scenic places of interest.

 For more information visit: http://drawingsfromlife.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html or email kwiltse@whidbey.com. To register visit: http://www.swparks.org/registration_faq.html

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Sketching the Fiddler

When the Whidbey Island Sketchers went to Port Townsend recently, we ran into a colorful street musician.  Sherryl snapped a couple of pictures before moving on.  We just couldn't resist revisiting the photos and giving ourselves a mid-month "mini sketch challenge" to remember this lively fiddler. 

Faye applied her lovely watercolor washes to our subject.

Lois used colored pencil on paper, achieving beautiful tones.

Lisbeth couldn't be bothered to try to paint his plaid shirt so used "artistic license" to paint a plain shirt instead!

Sherryl's deep and intense style captured our character in a mighty way.

And Sue managed to apply watercolor to communicate all the movement and whimsy of our favorite street fiddler. 

Betty Azar's new to sketching but we think she did a very dandy job capturing our funny fiddler friend. 



What fun!

Basil Cafe Doodles

Just some doodles while sitting on the sunny deck at Basil Cafe at Bayview Corner, enjoying a glass of Pinot Grigio.

Sketching from Alabama to Whidbey

I've been in Mobile, AL visiting family for two weeks and have some sketches to share from my trip.

We visited a coffee shop there and sketched one afternoon.

Mom

Marsha

 I guess I was sort of homesick so I did the little wash of Third St. in Langley.

Finally, on Wednesday we sketched at Bayview Garden Center where we sat in the sun and drew flowers and other lovely signs of spring!

Bayview Farm and Garden Inspiration

While Kris went directly to the Buddha, I found inspiration in the flow of this garden sculpture. Having only a short time for sketching, I laid out the shapes in pencil first and filled in the color after I got home.

OM

A lovely, peaceful day for our sketch group to be drawing outside at Bayview Farm and Garden. Got in this lovely Buddha.

The fountain and rose arbor in front of the Basil Cafe at Bayview Corner.

Inside/Outside by Lois

Lois captured fellow sketchers and the scene at Useless Bay Coffee.

And though chilly, managed to get out and sketch the beautiful blooming tulips this week.

Losing the Lines: Prima to La Casita

This is one of the many interesting views of Prima Bistro's decor.

My latest assignment from Kris is to sketch without using pen, i.e., to force myself to use values to define the image, rather than line. I'm having a hard time with it. As you can see, I got defiant and used the pen here .

Having gotten the rebellion out of my system, I tried my best to render the view into La Casita's kitchen without ink line. But I'm still dying to add ink to define some of those messy amorphous edges.

 Again, no line used on these flowers in a wall sconce in La Casita's bar.

I think I've figured out why I'm so resistant to giving up ink line. Line says "this is only a sketch, not an amateurish painting." Plus, I just like making marks with pen. I feel more in control and competent. But I know that getting kicked out my comfort zone once in a while is a good thing. That's how you grow. I just like to complain about it a lot.

South Whidbey Restaurant Trifecta

It was a three restaurant sketching day for some of us this Wednesday. We sampled the fare at some of our favorite South Whidbey cafes, restaurants and bars, searching for warmth, sustenance and inspiration.


 I struggled with perspective on this chilly morning at Useless Bay Coffee.


There are some wonderful views of Saratoga Passage from Prima Bistro's window tables.


This flower arrangement is on the wall at La Casita. Our third sketching spot of the day.

April, outdoors and indoors!

The tulips in front of Useless Bay Coffee are spectacular!

It was really cold and windy....April!

We moved on to La Casita, with just as much color,

And....it was warm!