Last Sketching at the Edgecliff

Young Man Watching

Spent a final evening at the Edgecliff sketching with Sue. We wish Tim, the co-owner, and Stephanie, the server, and all others who work there the best in their future endeavors. We will miss them. It was great to see the place bustling with people coming in for a last meal and/or drink at the bar. Quite a party rousing as we left. Here's a few of my sketches from our time there...

Happy People

Gent

People Talking

Guy Waiting

People at the Bar

Window on My Snow-Covered World

We still had lots of snow at my house on Thanksgiving day. I wanted to catch some of that winter wonderland feeling before it all melted. I had a bit of an accident with some red wine on the top sketch.

Late afternoon on Thanksgiving Day

Early afternoon on Thanksgiving Day through the front door.

Morning sun on snow in my backyard

After last night's snow fall, mother nature was asking forgiveness by bringing out the sun to shine on the sparkling clean pristine beautiful snow creating fun and interesting shadows on the snow. What a challenge to capture those shadows w/o making it look like a water scene. The colors in the snow can change with the position of the sun throughout the day.

Sketching Jay @ Useless Bay

Jay sketching me and I was sketching him at Useless Bay.  Here I go again with the mirror thing!  It is fun! - Pat

Ugliest Mushroom Ever!!!

Has anyone noticed these mysterious aliens along the side of the road on Whidbey? Several of these ugly species are growing larger each day along Wildes road shoulder. They are totally grey with darker shades of black and definitely look highly toxic!! Not recommended for mushroom soup. They are so unusual I couldn't resist an attempt to sketch them and share the results with everyone.

People at the Edgecliff

Stephanie

I'm so sad the Edgecliff is closing. Good mussels and burgers, and nice people. Here's some sketches from the bar...

Tim

People at the Bar

Only Two More Weeks for The Edgecliff

Tim, co-owner of The Edgecliff

We just learned a few days ago that the Edgecliff is closing November 28. It's very sad news for many reasons. But one of the reasons we'll miss the Edgecliff is that it has been a wonderful place to sketch. The owners and staff have always been very tolerant and supportive of our sketching in the bar. We always felt welcome at the Edgecliff. And the abundance of interesting and colorful characters passing through was inspiring.

As a sort of tribute and thank-you, Kris and I did a portrait of the owner and one of the servers, both of whom have always been interested in and supportive of our sketching.We'll miss you. And we'll miss those happy hour burgers. Best deal in town.

The lovely Stephanie, Edgecliff server

Lisa, new owner of The Braeburn

Patron who left before his sketch was complete

This guy got up and left, too!

The Edgecliff Bar

Getting Lippy

Kris finally had had enough of my drawings of her with clown lips. So yesterday she gave me a short lesson in drawing mouths. And voila! 15 minutes later I completed my first creditable drawing of Kris. This is the first drawing of Kris that I'm not embarrassed to post. What a good teacher! I should write a testimonial for her website. I could even provide a ton of scary "before lip lesson" images. Exhibits A and B

So, hopefully, my mouth-fearing days  are over. Onward to the next challenge! (Drawing a face with just watercolor only - no inkline)

Ebey Bowl is the Bomb!

Need I say more? Okay, what a fun place for all ages! We will be back, most likely sooner than later. Here's my sketch...

Ebey Bowl

I thought the old-fashioned coke machine said how much fun you will have at Ebey Bowl

I Love Ebey Bowl

Only a month after the long longed-for re-opening of Ebey Bowl, the Whidbey Island Sketchers spent the afternoon there sketching, bowling, and just having an absolute ball!

Gene was among those who laced up the bowling shoes and bowled a game or two before settling down to sketch.  Sherryl immediately hit a strike on her first shot - undoubtedly her best work ever. 

What a treasure, our bowling alley on the prairie. 

On the Sounder train

Thursday, Pat, Diana, Deboarh and I took the 7:15 Sounder train to Seattle for an early a.m. breakfast and then walked to SAM for the 10:00 Picasso show. Along the way on the train, Diana and I did some sketching while Pat ate one of those large yellow sour fruits that makes your whole face pucker up. It was a long day of fun, adventure, sketching, a genuine tea ceremony in International District and a sleepy comfortable return train ride to Mukilteo.

Belgium Trip

Finally got some sketches uploaded from my recent trip to Belgium. As you can see, this trip was all about eating, drinking and the wonderful people I met along the way. Here are some of my favorites.



Dinner at Bleu de Tois, Brussels



Jef at the table where we spent many happy hours

Baby Juste on the table at the waffle party on All Saints Day

Karen & Juste at the waffle party

A la Morte Subite, in Brussels, where we stopped for a beer, a snack and a sketch

Eating, drinking, talking, laughing, sketching with friends around Jef's welcoming table

Jef at home

Out Jef's window, Leuven

Karen & Juste at Jef's

Dining at 'T Zwart Schaap, Leuven

All Saints Day/Waffle Party

Emily, a would-be brewer from Republic,WA we met on the tour and subsequent feast at Brasserie a Vapeur

Brasserie a Vapeur, the last remaining steam-powered brewery in the world

Mukilteo Coffee in the woods

 
Here is my submission for a days work.  I made a beeline for the great outdoors with Gene and came up with this double sketch.  On the way out the dirt road (Crawford) I saw this farm with afternoon sun and had to stop. Pat

From Coffee to Happy Hour

One more sketch during Happy Hour

Post-sketching sketch & gab at The Edgecliff after Mukilteo Coffee Roasters closed.  Another fun afternoon-into-happy hour sketching with the Whidbey Island Sketchers.

Closing Time @ Mukilteo Coffee

Edgecliff Happy Hour

I guess I was just about sketched out after 2 weeks of sketching on vacation in Belgium. I only got one sketch done yesterday that was fit to share.

My second sketch was another of my infamous freak show sketches of Kris. In retrospect, I should have submitted a montage of every sketch I've ever done of Kris for our "Spooky" October sketch challenge. I think a lip drawing lesson is in my future. I'm always relieved when someone gets up and leaves before I have to draw their mouth, which the lady in the first sketch above was kind enough to do.

Fun at Mukilteo Coffee

It was an enjoyeable day of sketching with my comrades at Mukilteo Coffee and the Edgecliff. So much fun and great conversation I hardly got anything done. But heck, everyone has been busy with work or on fabulous trips, there was much to catch up on. Stay tuned for Sue's sketches from Belgium! Here's my blah ones....

Lisbeth and customers at the Edgecliff.

My reflection in the window.

Practicing with Portraits

I've been doing a lot of portraits from photos lately.  Trying out new techniques, different brushes and line weights.  Experimenting with subtle color and bold color.  Laying down color first, mixing it up with different pen colors.  Here's a sampling.  Entire series can be seen in my "Portrait Party" flickr set.