Which to do first?

So, the question of "which comes first" (NOT the chicken or the egg) but the INK or the WATERCOLOR, came up again in a group to which I belong.

My answer - "This is exactly what happens (to ME, at least), when I start with ink first. My work leaves the roundhouse as a nice ink sketch and takes off, but when it pulls into the station it has gone way past sketch, roared past painting, and arrives with bell and whistle as a full blown illustration. And, for me, it NEVER fails to do this. If I want a nice, fast, easy, loose sketch, I stick with areas of watercolor FIRST, then ink."

I started this at the Christmas party table at Cynthia's house yesterday. These are a trio of her holiday decorative matroyskas from her tree and her shelves (and, of course, some of her mushrooms). I did all the ink work there, and then finished at home. The nice, loose, fresh one is from last year, started watercolor first.

I rest my case.

Christmas Still Life with Liesel

First time sketching the newest Whidbey Island Sketcher. Liesel fits right in with our fun loving group and we adore her already!

Thanks a bunch, Cynthia, for sharing your joyous and outrageously bedecked home with us once again. A great time was had by all.

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!!!

Christmas Cheer

What can I say?  Barb puts on a wonderful sketching/Christmas Party.  Merry Christmas everyone!

WISk Knows How to Celebrate!

We arrived in droves. We came laden with fabulous food, delicious wine, paints, pens, pencils, sketch books and hearts filled with Holiday Cheer. We ate (boy did we eat), we imbibed, we laughed and we sketched. Barb's spacious home, filled to the gills with wonderful art and festooned for the Holidays, was doing what it does best.....holding a group of people who were enjoying themselves. The Christmas Gnomes looked on and chuckled. We feasted in nearly every possible way. Thanks, Barb, for opening your home. And thanks, dear Sketchers, for enriching my life in unimaginable ways. We rock!!!

Where Santa Lives (when he's not at the North Pole)

Thanks, Barbara!! It was fabulous, and you are MAH-VELOUS!!!

Colonial welcome=Pineapple

When I lived in Virginia, pineapple symbols were considered a sign of welcome.  So, I naturally gravitated toward these beautiful candlesticks of Cynthia's.  They are in the shape of the pineapple with metal leaves forming the overall shape to represent the diamond pattern of the pineapple.  I am tempted to add a bit of gold watercolor, but everyone said STOP!  SO, I STOPPED!  Hmph!

Welcome to the Christmas Holiday

Christmas Party at Phyllis'

It was another one of those rainy days, but we were sketching with a Christmas feeling at Phyllis & Robert's home.  We were all snugged up tight on their big couch and in the dining area with lots of food and wine and plenty of Christmas spirit.

A cozy afternoon celebrating Christmas and sketching

Even the puppets and statues celebrated!

Sketcher's Christmas Party

Wow!! What could be more fun than a sketcher's Christmas Party? We wedged 17 of us into my little condo, had more food than we could eat, more wine than we could drink (really), and almost more energy than the place could hold. Everyone made wonderful sketches while talking, eating and drinking. Amazing. We are multidextrous. AND to top it all off our surprise model was Santa himself. That jolly old elf.

Christmas Party at Mary Lawson's

Sheryl is on the phone listening intently.

Sue is drawing the lovely fireplace.

Great, relaxing day. Thank you, Mary!