Bentwood and Lavender

Visiting the Kang Lavender farm last week was reminiscent of the kind of summer I had as a youngster.  Sitting, enjoying beautiful weather with friends and letting the talk flow around you.  The fields of Lavender are so colorful, it was warm and quiet and a light breeze kept us cool.

My friend Sooja arranged this sketching location and acted as hostess, making a Lavender drink and cookies to keep us happy.  We were entranced with this beautiful setting, the barn, and the garden.  I fell in love with, as usual the most complicated thing in sight, which was the Bentwood Rocker.  All because it was painted RED.  Don't you think all bentwood rockers should be painted?

A gift from our host MC.

The rocker, floated in and out of the sun.

Kang's Lavender Farm

There was a slight breeze and dappled light under a tree at the pristine lavender and grape farm. That was enough to put me in a playful mood on that hot afternoon. I started playing with the fun shapes of shadow falling on my paper. The dog, Aggie, was also in a playful mood as she ran off with Mary's painting towel.

Kang's Lavender Farm

So it seems I repeat myself when I post after sketching. It was, yet again, another absolutely amazing and perfect afternoon. Who knew there was such a beautiful lavender farm just a short distance from Millman Rd? We were hosted with ice water, cookies, cold watermelon, and bundles of lavender. It brought back strong memories of my mother's last days. She loved lavender and there is a lavender farm near their home. I bought armloads of lavender and spread it all over the floor in her room. When we walked we released lavender fragrance. Thank you to the Kang's for a peaceful, sweet afternoon.

Pink

One of my favorite colors!  Fuschia, Rose Red, but definitely in the Pink family.  Judith had a bouquet of beautiful pale pink peonies on her table.  Barb had a new Orchid that spoke Fuschia to me; unfortunately, I had permanent rose in my palette when Opera would have been perfect.  Oh well, close enough!

Barb's orchid

Judith's peony

Mindblowing Art

Whidbey Island constantly amazes me.  We have so much natural beauty all around us and artists galore.  Then, one day you go to a Gallery hidden in the woods, with a Tower and magical, spiritual beings, carved from cedar, cut from metal, with parts that show the outer and then the inner face of life and death.  These life size beings surprised and awed our group so much so that we couldn't talk normally.  It was if we were in a church.  We were welcomed with cookies and coffee and told to enjoy and explore, but we were afraid to touch so many of the pieces.  I just finally explored the blog of Jerry Wennstrom, In the hands of Alchemy.  Check it out and be prepared to meet a genius, the next time I go and I hope it is soon, I will be more adventurous.  Pat

I loved the shape of this woman balancing on the back of a turtle.  I didn't have enough space to protray the turtle!

I learned on the web that this face opens to another and another face underneath!

Double Bluff Beach

Double Bluff Beach is not far from our home but it's far from ordinary.   It is always changing, because Useless Bay is shallow, and low tide moves the water's edge way way out so that the people look tiny, and high tide storms bring in new natural sculptures of floating logs.   We sketched on a day when the tide was halfway out--just perfect!

The View of Possession Beach from the Stansberry's Home.

You can see forever!

Swap Day at Barbara Barry's

Here are Sheryl and Judi enjoying making sketchbooks and listening to the birds in Barbara Barry's back yard.

An Afternoon in Jerry Wennstrom's Studio

I love Wennstrom's grouping of masks and constructions.   The masks seem to be observing our efforts to capture this wonderland.  

Whidbey Island Garden Tour

What a glorious day sketching the Axford's magnificent garden and home.  Thanks, Whidbey Island Garden Club!  

Tha Art of Jerry Wennstrom

It was such a privilege to be able to visit Jerry Wennstrom's incredible gallery yesterday. We were awestruck, disturbed and delighted at every turn. Sketching was secondary. I really have no words to describe the experience. Check it out here:

Ceiling lights

Fire

Water

Sketching in Stansberry's beautiful garden home

Where else could you see a Stump Gnome Home or a Backwoods Saloon in the trees? Wonderful!

The Stansberry's Garden

I had this luscious thick bumpy absorbent watercolor paper in a handmade book Phyllis gave me for Bali sketching.  I wanted to paint wet wild and loose today with that paper, and the Stansberry's garden offered poppies.  Oh, luscious poppies with crepe paper pedals ... your dark secret interior and your knobby buds.  Thank you Steve and Donna!

I was on a roll and when we got to Judith's for our after-sketching gathering she had luscious peonies from HER garden on the table.  I sat down and was mesmerized.  Thank you, Judith!

Stansberry Home

What can I say? It was an absolutely perfect afternoon at the Stansberry home. My pen was flying. I had a wonderful time. Thanks to the Stansberrys for allowing us to come and enjoy their home and gardens and magnificent views, and to Judith for the delightful gathering afterwards. 

Derelict Poster

To all of you Whidbey Sketchers who post promptly, apologies to posting etiquette. 

Might these smiling Buddhas help my case??

These lovely sculptures are  in Arayashiyama, an eastern section of Kyoto,

Japan. My husband and I discovered many happy figures throughout the city

on our recent visit.

We were thrilled to be there during Sakura! Luxurious cherry blossoms everywhere!

Back to Whidbey Island  and Paradise Found Alpaca Farm! More happy faces, mostly...

Sketchers were welcomed into Second Street Salon for an afternoon!

May Day in Judi's beautiful back yard!

More  May blooms at Meerkirk Rhodendren Park

I sat on the grass in the warm sun surrounded bu glorious color!

And  last week's Sketchers in the sun at Double Bluff Beach!

Sketchers Salon Day

Such a warm and lively vibe at the 2nd Street Salon last month. We had so much fun that most of us didn't complete our sketches that day.  Better late than never?  Maybe so late that it's time for another hair cut!

Thanks Bristol and crew for your fantastic creative skills and for letting us hang out with you all afternoon.

Driftwood at Double Bluff

It was hot, sunny and crowded with beach goers at Double Bluff Beach last Friday. I found a big beautiful pile of driftwood to draw, artfully arranged by someone, no doubt. It's easy  to get lost in a pile like this. I love all the colors, shapes, holes and textures I see in driftwood. And the idea that each piece of wood has a story and and a journey that we will never know.  I took me a long time to draw it, long enough to get a third degree burn on my back where I couldn't reach with the sunscreen.