Sketching at Maple Ridge

     

With the Sketchers, Friday afternoon, for a visit to Maple Ridge Retirement Community for their happy hour with saxophone music. I was early so I asked Andrea, the Langley Yoga Instructor who volunteers with the residents, if I could sketcher her amazing hair, with its multicolored dreads. She agreed to sit, which prompted one of the other residents to request her own portrait sketch. I agreed, only because I so badly need the practice of capturing faces. Also, from way across the room (so I don't really know if I "got" her or not) I sketched Kim's mama, who is a resident. 
All in all, a good sketching day - stretching my abilities. 

Kim's Mama

The sax player

Andrea, the Yoga Teacher

Maple Ridge

  
 Dotty and Audrey

Sweet afternoon at Maple Ridge

What a heart warming afternoon at Maple Ridge.

 This is Johnny Walker.  What a sweetheart!

Odd picture of Dotty, but somehow it captures her.  Audrey got a good laugh out of it. 

Judith's Maple Ridge Sketches

Be still my heart! I am head over heels for these two sketches Judith did at Maple Ridge. Judith has challenged herself to learn to draw people in 2015. Just look where she is on January 9th! I can't wait to see where she goes from here.

Maple Ridge Happy Hour

As we progress through life - getting old, you wonder; what's next?  Deciding to shrink your living space, or move to an Elder Care facility is a really tough decision.  Maple Ridge is a beautiful facility that has a variety of living spaces. I think of Miss Marple and wonder who is the most observant missing nothing and creating mysteries about her neighbors, who complains the most, or eats all the food.  I bet the staff could write a book....
I seem to sketch people without wrinkles, like Audrey and Dottie, but the side view done with just ink seems to show the real persons age.   Audrey seems to enjoy everyone and sees each day as another adventure; Dottie is confused but still her strong determined self.
Spencer has a head with character!  I'd love to know more about his life.  Women always fall for the cute guy, who inevitably turns out to be roly poly in his old age.  Spencer makes me think Vladimir Horowitz (famous pianist); he has strong features that probably looked awkward when he was young but gives him character now that he is old.  Yack, Yack.  I guess I would be Miss Marple! Always curious.  Pat

Audrey K. 93

Dottie 89

Guy with walker & Spencer

Sketching at Maple Ridge

Maple Ridge

Its always such a pleasure to be invited to join the friendly

 folks at Maple Ridge and get to know a few of them.

Danny Ward making music during our sketch visit to Maple Ridge!

Jim greeted us in the library 

                                                               Sketchers in the midst!

                                                         Dottie at our table

Dottie at Maple Ridge

You've got to love Dottie.   She had a good laugh when I showed her my drawing!  Hope to see you again soon Dottie…..New friends.  

Maple Ridge

Sketching at Maple Ridge is always a wonderful experience. Everyone has an interesting story to tell. I adore it all - the characters, the laughter, the stories, the reactions to our sketches, the happy hour with live music. Thank you, Maple Ridge. We must go more often.

The irrepressible Dottie shares her thought on art.

In the lobby

Audrey, I didn't do you justice - those cheekbones!

Millie, originally from Manhattan, Kansas.
 She was an English teacher, but wanted to be a
journalist. Just wasn't an option for women in
 those days.

Jim was so elegant, mannerly and friendly. And an excellent model. He used to be an engineer.

Danny Ward on sax. His mom used to live at Maple Ridge.

Danny Ward was the entertainment at the Friday
 afternoon social hour this week.

Maple Ridge

Thank you, Maple Ridge, for inviting us to your Friday afternoon of visiting residents, listening to live saxophone music, enjoying beverages, and hanging out with fellow sketchers in such a love-filled place.  Everybody was uber welcoming and friendly.  Thank you, Helen, for allowing me to sketch you, for leaving your beautiful red glasses on, and for our delightful chat about your life and travels.   I also enjoyed visiting your apartment and seeing the pencil sketch done of you in Paris!!!!  What a delightful treat to meet you.

Oh, and Danny Ward!  What joy your beautiful smooth sax numbers brought to the afternoon.  It added so much significance for you to share with us that your Mom had lived at Maple Ridge.  My condolences on her recent passing.  Love and hats off to you both.

This was my second sketching visit to Maple Ridge and I can't wait for the next time.  Very heart warming.

Hats Are Harder Than They Look

I have several pages of attempts to capture that hat in the 3 seconds between head moves.  A slight move of the head and everything changes. Very tricky business.

Russell Klepper laid down some Country and Blue Grass tunes for the Happy Hour crowd at Maple Ridge Friday night.  He rocks.

Maple Ridge

What a lively place to sketch! There's something for everyone at Maple Ridge -- art, spinning, games, music, dancing or just gathering with friendly people.

Lucky and Dixie

A VERY pleasant afternoon at Maple Ridge in the company of lots of nice folks having all sorts of fun.  I met Lucky and Dixie, who were playing a game called "Kings in the Corner" as if their lives depended on it!  What a hoot!!

Happy Hour at Maple Ridge

The sketchers had a ball at Maple Ridge Assisted Living Community yesterday! We're looking forward to going back again and again. Such a great place to sketch during the cold, rainy season! A big thanks to Summer for inviting us.

Dancers at Happy Hour

Tim Donovan entertains the Happy Hour crowd at Maple Ridge.

Fern