Farms Theme of May Challenge

"Island farms or pastures" was the theme for May's sketch challenge.  Some sketchers focused on beautiful old farm buildings while others tried their hands at livestock (that is, until they galloped away). 

Check out all the sketchers' submissions on our Monthly Sketch Challenge page. 

Island Coffeehouse and Books

I used my waterbrush to add color to the pencil sketch I did in the Island Coffeehouse garden a couple weeks ago. I find I can now control the water and color more easily.

Trip to Long Beach

About 14 artists went to Long Beach for three days.  It rained, so we painted inside or under cover.  I painted the Lighthouse from the museum window and had a glass of wine while painting the still life on the bar at The Depot restaurant.

Little Shed

Sitting out of the rain in the greenhouse, this shed was my subject.

Color at Bayview on a gray wet day in May

The Bayview Nursey is the place to be surrounded amongst the beautiful bright colored plants on a gray wet day. I tried to capture some of this color today.

First painting of the giant begonias was failure so tried again at home to paint it from memory. Better results the second time, I think.

The entrance to the nursery was very challenging with all the different plants and activity and all the different shades of green. I tried to paint wetness from the rain on the bricks. Needs more practice.

Wendy's First Post

So many beautiful things at Bayview Farm and Garden this morning. A very rainy morning so I sketched inside. Fun! This is my first post as a Whidbey Island Sketcher.

Garden Colors on a Gray Day

Late May cold, gray day.  No better place to sketch than Bayview Farm and Garden - color everywhere!

Looking out to the greenhouse through the garden store door. 

Laburnum Arbor - Bayview Farm & Garden

The laburnum (aka golden chain tree) arbor at Bayview Farm & Garden is in full glory right now. It's a magnificent sight.

I sketched it on a rainy day. Check it out on a sunny day.

Sketching while in America

Bill and I spent 9 hours in Seattle today, a great place for sketching all kinds of subjects during some slack time. Even waiting in the Mukilteo ferry line can keep me busy with sketching during the long wait to get on the boat. Believe it or not, it was pouring down rain around 4:00 and on the island is was dry as a desert.

Three local urban characters enjoying each others jokes and company waiting for the bus on Eastlake.

The Silver Cloud Inn on Eastlake had a taxi waiting in front.

The ferry line was long and so decided to sketch the old air force fueling office on the waterfront

Wine on Whidbey

It was a glorious late Spring weekend on Whidbey and people seemed to come from far and wide to enjoy it. 

On Saturday several Canadian visitors converged on the deck of the historic Captain Whidbey Inn where my husband and I enjoyed a nice glass of wine while I sketched.

Today we played tourist and enjoyed the Whidbey Island Vintners Spring Wine Tour, ending up at Prima Bistro in Langley for small plates and a final glass of wine while I sketched and gabbed with friends.  Cheers to another wonderful weekend on Whidbey Island!

Some more sketching on Whidbey

These wild lupines grow right next to Double Bluff Road. They're presently in full bloom and beautiful on a sunny morning.

The Whidbey Island Sketchers sketched at the Coupeville Library two weeks ago.  South side of library.

This pink dozer sits on a landscaper's property along highway 525 north of Freeland. This sketch was done from a photo, giving more time to complete and consequently making it tighter than the other sketches. The large trucks moving on the property create lots of dust which makes it uncomfortable to sit and sketch.

Library and the Edgecliff

The library workshop was so fun! And there were so many enthusiastic people wanting to learn and draw. A number of children too. Thank you JoAnn and Jay!

I did a small sketch of the flower still life at the end of class.









Sue and I headed to the Edgecliff for "unwinding." An interesting bunch last evening. Got in a few sketches. What a pleasure.

Unwinding at the Edgecliff

Kris and I headed for the Edgecliff to unwind after a grueling 2 hours of doing our presentation at the Freeland Library. :-) After we were sufficiently unwound, we did some sketching.

This group of ladies was at the next table - out on the town with Mom. Mom had on a cool shirt with butterflies and songbirds. Sooo Mom.

Folks sitting at the bar and a glimpse of the Monkey Puzzle tree out the window.

The fireplace mantel and and a peek into the dining room.

Island Coffeehouse & Books

It was a wonderful day of sketching Wednesday at Island Coffeehouse & Books.The cafe had just opened after months of renovations and it looks fabulous! This is the lovely side garden just outside the new "garden room".

I wanted to try the same subject again with more spontaneity. The first sketch was carefully drawn with pencil before adding color. This time I laid down color fast and loose and then added ink.

We were awestruck when a dozen kids sat down in a row and began singing Beatles songs in the nearly empty cafe courtyard. Their teacher was providing accompaniment on guitar.We think they were a music class from the Middle School. Sherryl just looked at me and said, "Aren't we lucky?" I knew exactly what she meant - we are so blessed to live here. I only got their outline before they had to get back to school. 

Shortly after the kids left, it started raining and we moved inside. I got one last sketch of the wisteria through the window.

Playing with Noodler's Ink at Island Coffeehouse in Langley

Sue and Sherryl sketching in the delightful garden area of the newly redone Island Coffeehouse in Langley.

After the rain came, we moved inside. Cozy, and full of books to explore, good coffee, soup and goodies!

Tia Sketches at Island Coffeehouse

New sketcher, Tia Kuhl, sketched the wonderful wisteria in front of the coffeehouse.

Portland Sketches

We shared the lunch bar with these at a pasta deli on Hawthorn Street in Portland. So much to explore there....

And of course, time at Powell's.

Kris Wiltse's Watercolor Class Starts Friday

There's still time to register for Kris Wiltse's class at South Whidbey Parks & Rec: http://drawingsfromlife.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html

Beach Walk Collection

I decided these sea items found on the beach this week during a walk would be fun to paint in watercolors. The walk was great in addition of searching for interesting objects to paint.

"The Art of Sketching" - Freeland Library - Saturday, May 22

The Art of Sketching
Saturday, May 22, 1pm - 3pm
Freeland Library

Whidbey Island Sketchers has been invited to lead this month's "Made By Hand" activity at the Freeland Library. Members of the group will be on hand to share our love of sketching through demonstrations, coaching, basic drawing exercises and discussion. And of course, we'll be doing lots of sketching. Should be fun - sketching always is! All ages welcome. And it's free.

Coupeville Sights

We started at the new library, went to Mosquito Fleet Chili for lunch, and then back to the library.  Fun sketching in Coupeville and such a warm welcome from Coupeville Library staff.  Thanks all!

Cool scooter parked near the library.

Then on to Mosquito Fleet where I sketched the sights out a window - lovely little boat docked at the wharf - after eating salmon & asparagus quiche (yum).

And... after lunch, back to the library to sketch.  I captured one of our Whidbey Island Sketchers through a window (much artistic license invoked).

Sketching Along the California Coast

Just back from a road trip sketching up and down the California coast.

On the left is front facade and interior detail from Carmel Mission. 

Here is a beautiful door and window off the mission's entry yard.  

Loved sketching in the Huntington Library and Botanical Garden's rose garden on the loveliest of sunny Southern California days.

Mission San Juan Bautista chapel door.

Mission San Juan Bautista bell tower.