At "LIving Green"

Sketching today in the brilliant sunshine under blue skies in Langley. I arrived early at Living Green Cafe and Natural Foods, so I could grab some lunch. After enjoying a yummy bowl of steamed dragon rice, carrots, cabbage and sprouts, smothered in creamy Thai peanut sauce, I settled down with a mug of chai to sketch the iconic old building emblazoned with "Langley" in huge letters for all to see. Plum trees in bloom and a warm breeze off the water made it a nearly perfect day.

 

Sketching in the Sun on Orcas

                     
We sat on the deck at the Orcas Hotel eating and sketching.

                                         
Views of the water from Orcas.

I love this handmade paper in the sketchbook Sherryl gave me!  I had been eyeing hers for months.  Thanks, Sherryl!!  And, thanks to WISk for joining the Anacortes Sketchers for this Orcas fieldtrip.  What a perfect day!!

Spring Day on Orcas Island

A beautiful spring day from the deck of the Orcas Village Hotel. 

Things I Saw on Orcas Island

We went to Orcas Island with the Anacortes Sketchers on Monday. The sun was out. The weather was balmy. They sky was blue. The views were spectacular. And I drew bunnies and crows in the yard at the Orcas Hotel. Go figure.

Grazing . . .

grazing . . .

grazing . . .

Takin' a load off

Gettiin' a drink

Waitin' for the ferry

Lookin' fabulous in black and white!

Catchin' a few Z's on the ferry.

Orcas Island and Glass Flower

Last week snow and sleet, this week Sunshine and flowers.  This particular flower is from our last expedition to The Schack Center in Everett where we watched Eight men throw huge pieces of hot glass to rocking music played loudly.  The whole scene was lots of fun and it was good practice to sketch quick motions of the ever moving men.
This week we traveled with the Anacortes Sketchers to Orcas Island where we settled in around the Orcas Hotel and watched the ferry come and go while we recorded our environment with paper, pen and paint.  It was a long, but fun day traveling on my favorite Ferry route, eating and drinking with friends and even the crazy last minute visit to the new Yogurt shop in Oak Harbor.

Graceful Madrona and Orcas Hotel

Glass Flower from the Schack Center

Ferry Landing from the Big Rock near the Hotel.

After the Snow!

After yesterday's snow...

                               Spring was still here in the sunshine on our front porch!

Ref and Ruffles

Jet City Roller Derby

Definitely a challenge!!!  More audience sketching than skater sketching for me.

And more Mexico for me too!  Phyllis describes it so well!   We  both loved the fan palm, it looked like a royal throne!

What can I say?

Mini bananas and papaya for breakfast!

Bougainvillea and the pool.....

Back From Mexico

So I'm back from Mexico. Faye and I blissed out in the warmth, did at least a sketch a day, did our daily water aerobics, talked, ate, drank margaritas, read, and were just simply there. We talked about how sketches help you remember a place so much better than photos. Looking at these sketches takes me back. I can feel it and smell it and even hear the birds. The top one is the view from the dining table on the terrace, the bottom one is the terrace for the master bedroom.

Jet City Roller Derby

Okay, I know this is a lot to post. But. Honestly. You had to have been there. None of these are particularly good....but all together they sort of convey the feeling of the event. LOTS going on. Loud announcer. People cheering. I never did figure out what the roller derby is all about, I was too busy trying to capture something. My eyes and butt are still tired. (The seats were the only negative about the event). Those girls were magnificent. I was so proud of them it brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my lips. Mary and I wanted to get out there with them! Sheryll was taking photos I can hardly wait to see. And all of this visual and cultural feast preceded by a fabulous feast of a dinner for 12 of us at that wonderful restaurant Sheryll recommended in Everett. What was it's name? I am so grateful for the WISK!

Return from Paradise

My last sketch from Mexico, the view from sitting on the living room sofa. What a magical time!
Thank you Phyllis!

Langley Fine Fabrics and Antiques.

This is Cynthia's masterpiece from a few weeks ago at the Langley Fine Fabrics and Antiques.

Natalie's Fish

The Schack Art Center in Everett.  What a fabulous space for artists.  Great energy!
Thanks Natalie for organizing our sketching group.  Loved our ferry rides.  I was inspired by your fish swimming on the wall.

Mary Lawson

Whidbey Gardening Workshop

Spent yesterday at the annual Whidbey Gardening Workshop put on by Island County Master Gardeners. Tough to stay inside at a workshop on a beautiful warm, sunny day. 

I left inspired, instructed and ready to hit my garden today for the first time since Fall.  But today it's raining.  Hey!  What's with that Mother Nature?

The Schack Art Center

The Schack Art Center in Everett has it all! Student art, classes, glass blowing, spacious display space and gift shop. So when When The Whidbey Island Surface Design group set up a show there the Sketchers took a field trip. Fabulouse show!

Bev McQuary Studio

I've never seen lampwork glass beads made before.  The rods of glass in a Folgers can made my day.
Thank you Bev for sharing your studio and the demos of making your beautiful glass beads.

Lampwork Glass Beads Studio

Visiting a Whidbey Bead Maker

What a treat to visit Bev McQuary's studio yesterday and watch her make some of her beautiful lampwork beads during the Whidbey Working Artists Spring Studio Tour. 



Glass rods and tools for bead making
 

 

Bev at work firing a glass bead 

Some of Bev's beautiful earrings on sale during the open studio tour.