an afternoon in Jane's Treehouse in Clinton

Jane's Grandma's antique Kitchen Queen cabinet, hand-painted with Scandinavian designs. Among roosters, marionettes and angels, among other things. 

Back to Christmas and the Fun Band

I've been made aware that I haven't been posting.....so I'm catching up! The Senior Center Fun Band morning was so much fun! These sketches are really quickies because those people were really moving! It seemed really early to be out dancing....but once I adjusted to the idea I really got into the swing of it. Lovely morning.

My Favorite Things...

Show me a table and chairs or an old woodstove and I will gladly sketch it! The South Whidbey History Museum was made to order for me! What a bounty of sketcher riches! I'd gladly go back and sketch there anytime. As usual I loved being among my sketcher tribesfolk with everyone industrially capturing the essence of the environment. Such bliss! For the stove I chose just two colors, payne's gray and a yellow gold. I really like the result.

Moe's Pub on a chilly day

South Whidbey Historical Museum

Thank you Bob Waterman for opening the Historical Museum just for the sketchers!

If you are a South Whidbey person and have not visited, it's open weekends during the 

winter, or by appointment. Warm and cozy, full of collectables and photos!

312 Second Street, Langley. http://www.southwhidbeyhistory.org/SWHS/Museum.html

Look for the boy playing the harmonica outside!

Yes, she does look rather spacey....but then she's been sitting there a long time. 

I wonder how old she really is?

Tools and gadgets of every kind. 

Sketchers Sketching

I sat in my car in order to draw the exterior of the South Whidbey Historical Museum yesterday, but ended up drawing Mike sketching, instead. The sight of Mike bundled up against the cold, sitting outside on his folding chair with his drawing board on his lap has become an iconic image for Whidbey Island Sketchers - sort of like our flag planted outside the sketching venue. So much more interesting to me than a building. But of course that is exactly what Mike is drawing - a building. 

Mike drawing Mo's

The sketchers across the table from me at Village Pizzeria

Bad Doll

I can't help it. She looks deranged to me - like some horror movie doll who comes to life when the museum is closed and goes on a murderous rampage. Chucky's little sister?

Watercolor Class

Kris Wiltse will be offering a watercolor class in February. Here is a description and the particulars...

Watercolor Basics

 Watercolor! There's nothing like watching it explode and intermingle on paper. It's a direct, spontaneous, jewel-like medium with a mind of it's own. With taming any wild paint it boils down to working with and understanding it's assets. And watercolor has many. In this class I'll cover through talks, demos and assignments: tools and materials, loading the brush, brush techniques/mark making, pigment characteristics, color theory and wash techniques such as wet on dry, wet in wet, glazing and mixing color on paper (merging) vs. palette mixing. Come learn the basics of this exciting medium and explore it in a comfortable, supportive and private setting on Whidbey Island.



Class days and times:
Tuesdays, 10am-12ish, February 4, 11, 18 and 25
Cost: $75
Place: Private studio

Email me to secure your spot: kwiltse@whidbey.com

To see more of my work, visit my website

It'll be fun!

An Ivars B-Day!

Many thanks to all my sketch friends for making my birthday a happy one. And for launching my ornament collection! It was a marvelous, fun day! Love you all!
Here's my sketches....

Oops! An exaggerated nose!

Thank You Gayla, for the lovely flowers and ornament frame!

I splurged on Creme Brulee.

Patrons

A man at the bar.

Langley Methodist Church

It was peaceful sketching...

Birds at Bar

It feels as if the sea birds outside of Ivar's would be happy to join us inside for a french fry or two. Watching the sea life and bar life was a cozy way to celebrate Kris's birthday. Again good company and good food.

The top watercolor was inspired by Mike Todoroff. The bottom watercolor was a seagull hanging out on the rail.

IVAR'S ACRES OF CLAMS

From my corner window in the back dining room, a perfect view of the incoming/outgoing ferries, and all the DUCKS! Hundreds of DUCKS!!

Happy Birthday Kris

Today we celebrated Kris's birthday at Ivars.  There were about a dozen sketchers all around the restaurant sketching various scenes.  Kris received a number of Christmas ornaments to replace some she had stolen.  Christmas party at Kris's next year, or at least to admire the tree.
The is the last of my scallop lunch.  I really like the plate and it is the first time I have tried rendering a fork with shadow.  I really like the addition of the Boathouse bar sign above and the fork is not bad!

Grilled scallops & tofu

Jesus is calling

While sitting in the Langley United Methodist Church sketching the stained glass window with the graceful flowing design of color, one can almost hear that old song "Jesus is calling to you and to me".  Im not positive that is the exact title of the song, but you get the idea.  Here is my tiny rendition of the window.

Stained Glass Window, Langley United Methodist

Langley United Methodist

It was a frosty breezy day, it was.  Fingers froze to the bone!  Had to dance on the sidewalk to keep myself alive while painting dried.  But … I've never heard so little from the Sketchers.  Put them in a peaceful sanctuary, and they become … peaceful!  Well, actually, I've noticed if you put them in a pasture of Llamas and Alpacas, they become pretty quiet and studious.  Respectful of the animals as well.  Anyway, another beautiful afternoon in the company of Whidbey Island Sketchers!  Thank you, Langley United Methodist.

The Senior Center

I suppose I should say, "better late than never!"  Really, there's no excuse for taking a month to post this sketch.  After all, it was a complete hoot to go to the Senior Center to sketch and I totally fell in love with the folks playing the music.  I think I captured the spirit of it here.  Thank you, seniors!  You made my day!

SKETCHING IN CHURCH

. . . at Langley United Methodist on Third St and Anthes. Lovely afternoon sketching in the stained glass sunlight under the organ pipes. Then fellowship and cameraderie with Paula at her wonderful home. It was all good. All good. 

                Prayed for inspiration and found it at the feet of the Shepherd (of course). And in the mystery of the meaning of the objects on the altar table - shell, bells, singing bowl, hourglass, and an assortment of paper cranes. I just KNEW there was a story there, but I couldn't divine it and, in the end, simply had to settle for the visual poetry of the piece. Then, glimpsed through a window, 

a coterie of crows, caught in silhouette.

Church Sketching

Unusually quiet sketching while in the sanctuary at Langley United Methodist Church.

A peaceful abode.

There are places where hearing the clock ticking is the most restful sound.  Marian and Phil's home is like that, a step back in time with appreciation for handcrafted items and a loving touch on furniture, decoration, even the placement of the refrigerator.  Enjoy these chairs and don't mind the crooked lamp.

mostly from a photo

What can I say, I was sitting sideways on the couch ;-)

SO Much Here to Sketch

We were invited back by Marian and Phil to sketch inside their amazing Victorian home in Clinton. We sketched outside last summer and could hardly wait to accept the Lanahan's invitation to come back again when the house was decorated for the Holidays. It is always hard in such a "target rich environment" to find just the right subject to sketch, but as soon as I spied the blue enamel kitchen woodstove in the corner of the breakfast nook I knew I had my sketch. Loaded with blue spatterware, old kitchen utensils, tin chocolate and cookie molds, enamel coffeepots and pans of fruit, the Quick Meal stove was charming from top to bottom.