They're Creepy and They're Kooky

The Addams Family - A Musical at WICA was about the most fun you can have in a theater.
Sketching at live performances is becoming one of my favorite kinds of sketching. I don't try to apply color on site anymore. I just do lots and lots of ink drawings on cheap paper and add color at home to my favorites.

Wednesday and Morticia

An Addams family ghost bride and Gomez

Grandma!

Uncle Fester and some ghosts. 

Lurch

Addams family ancestor

Good God(s)

Barb's Hindu god (I think) was all decked out for the holidays and just begging to be sketched.

Another of Barb's gods, in the form of a party animal named Boo, also decked out for the holidays in elegant white tie and tail. The place is positively crawling with gods.
 

It was another great sketcher's holiday celebration. Thanks, again, Barb!

Lovie Bridal Gown

 It's a lucky bride who has a costume designer for a mom! Months and months of hard work, hand beading and love went into this exquisite creation.

This is a bridesmaid's dress altered by Brenda Lovie and further altered by me when I accidentally added an extra layer of folds. Someone said when you draw people you always draw yourself. And I'm extra long, so maybe that explains it.

Our Paula Pugh and Brenda Lovie at Happy Hour

Thanks again for inviting us into your studio, Brenda. We love, love, love it!

Barbara Barry - Hostess with the Mostest!

What a perfect place to sketch SPARKLE for my Every Day in December sketch prompt - the annual holiday gathering at Barbara Barry's house in the woods in Clinton! It was a twofer day!!! And, as usual, t

here was sparkle, glitter, shimmer and shine in every corner. And she taught us all how to fold beautiful origami cranes! Sublime. This sketch is proof positive, however, that I am a solitary sketcher. I COULD NOT finish this sketch, until I had removed myself from the conviviality of friends, the groaning tables of scrumptious food, the warmth of the fire, the laughter, the music and the fun. What a fine, fine sketching time!!

Poinsettias and 'Shrooms at Cynthia's House - it must be Christmas!!!

Making wreaths with Paula and the Sketchers

My nose is still running from the cold, crispy air in the barn at Paula Pugh's house in Langley last Friday. Everyone had a great time and many lovely wreaths left the barn and headed to houses to brighten the scenery. I sketched, but even I got one, because dear Paula made one for me ( a candle!!) The only thing missing from the revelry was caroling, but believe me, you don't want me doing that! Sketching is much better. Happy Hour at Sherryl's was one of the best EVAH! Next week is Christmas Party! Let's see what we can do with that!

We sketched at Brenda Lovie's studio last week - it was so nice to have a warm and bright location for a winter sketch outing. Brenda had multiple projects going on with tight deadlines, yet she so graciously allowed us to hang out with her while she worked.  I spent a good part of the afternoon in her ceramics studio with her miniature porcelain figurines.  Each one is full of delicate surprises and details that mimic her "full size" fabric creations. It was such a fascination to see how she uses very different materials and scale, yet stays true to her artistic vision.

   

Back to the Birds

Sketching at Hookbill Aviary Friday afternoon was such a joyful experience, as always! We all spend so much time talking to the birds, feeding them, laughing at their antics, running around pretending to be pirates with birds on our shoulders, there's hardly time to sketch. Every time I go, I think, "Why aren't I coming here every week?", if only for the endorphins.

The flamboyantly colorful birds always get all the attention. I decided to focus on Bomber because he was a little drab and maybe a little lonely.  I don't know how he got his name.

The love birds were cuddled up grooming one another. So adorable. The other guy was on my left arm as I tried to sketch him with my right hand.

Tried using colored pencil on the macaw. Not crazy about the results. I've got a lot to learn about working with colored pencils.

Pirates!

Hookbill Aviary

Sketching at the aviary is always a great experience - the birds make sure we feel welcome with a VERY loud greeting (probably really about Sue's bag of bananas and Claudia's bag of unsalted peanuts). Natalie danced with a beautiful pink bird and Sherryl's green feathered friend sat on her shoulder and watched her paint for a really long time. 

It was balmy and cozy inside while the sky dumped rain outside. Such a fun day with the dancing, chatting and laughing birds. Plus, a terrific opportunity to use some bright colors!

Sketcher Halloween Night Out

A few of us went to sketch Boo La La Burlesque for Halloween at WICA last Friday night. We met Draculala, Dirty Diana, Fuchsia Fox, Disco Pony and more. So much fun!

 

 

 

 

Ever notice how much Dracula has in common with old, caped Elvis? This is the sort of insight you gain while sketching.

 At the after party in Zech Hall, we all sketched Phil, the piano player. After the after party was over, we headed to Mo's, and were joined by Colin in pink bunny pajamas (or something).

 

And I wish I could figure out how to eradicate the blue shadows in my scanned images!

Hat Monster and Happy Hour

The annual Uncommon Threads sale put on by the Whidbey Weavers Guild was a feast of color, textures and pattern. Extraordinarily beautiful and sensual. Everything begged to be touched. We must go back again next year.

I call my sketch "Reflection of a Hat Monster". Enough said.

Happy Hour at the Greenbank Grille was a hit with the sketchers.  $4/glass for 14 Hands wines and beer on tap. Can't beat that. Here's the bartender. Sort of.

I added color to both of these at home. I must say I think they both looked better before color.

People on the Bus

Sherryl, Claudia and I boarded the number 1 bus at Bayview Park N Ride. And who do we find sitting in the front row grinning at us? Our beloved "you aren't drawing me, are you?" friend Robin Kinney Robbins, that's who! We were just tickled by the surprise. How Robin to just pop up on a bus out of the blue.  And of course I drew her! She's adorable. Then onward to Freeland to pick up Faye and a stop at Greenbank Farm Pie Cafe for coffee and a snack.

She who hates to be sketched.

On the ride back home, there were just tons of interesting characters to sketch.

He seemed to enjoy chatting to anyone who would listen.

He was carrying a pumpkin shaped like a big orange butt.

One of those hats with dangling pom poms. Cute.

Happy young woman with Downs Syndrome

 

 
  

Another great sketching birthday adventure for me. Thanks to everyone who came along for the ride!