Sketching at Double Bluff Beach

A "Two-fer" today - Sketching with the gang, and also turning in my homework for Miguel "Freekhand" Herranz's Urban Sketching Klass in Sketchbook Skool. His technique for Spiral Drawing (a very enjoyable technique, by the way) involves drawing out from a detailed central focal area, spiraling out to the edges. You can capture a lot of detail this way, without getting confused. It was a perfect fit for my day of drawing down at the beach with the Whidbey Island Sketchers. Double Bluff beach was having a very low tide and people were out it droves to enjoy it. At one glance up I counted around 45 people on the tide flats! 
I am always drawn to the driftwood "huts" that people assemble and leave on the beach, and wanted to draw the beach scene outside of one, from inside it. Sketcher buddies Barbara and Mary put together a driftwood seat inside for me so I could sit and draw. It was a perfectly wonderful 2 1/2 hours in the shade and sea breeze. You'll notice I did not say SUNSHINE, as the skies are still murky and smoke filled from the fires. But it was glorious, nonetheless.

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.

My kind of day at the beach

These are great rocks. I didn't do them justice. I'll have to go back again. I think they will be there for a while.

So many people having so much fun.

Double Bluff Beach

What a delightful way to spend a Summer day....sitting at Double Bluff Beach and sketching what's going on around. The two women in the first sketch were having a spirited discussion and were completely oblivious of the sketchers behind them. Often I like to just draw without the use of watercolor. I really like this two page drawing of looking back from the beach toward the land. And, of course, there sits Barb drawing some of the same scene.

Double Bluff Beach

Most of you missed a great afternoon at Double Bluff Beach. It's a happening place for sketching - lots of beach bodies in addition to the spectacular views and wonderful driftwood formations.

Barb in the foreground sketching beach bodies

Girl talk and sunbathing while the kids play.

Barb at Patron

Beverages on the deck chez Barb where activities included sketching, recipe testing and cranky cat brushing!