Pat's Garden, Then and Now

in August of 2015, the sketchers met to draw member Pat's new house, with its promise of gardens to come. She invited us to image what her plantings might look like. Now here it is, three years later, just before the fourth of July holiday, and her garden area has gone from sparse but full of potential, to bursting with colorful fulfillment. 

"THREE TEAPOTS OUTSIDE FREELAND, WA" . . .

. . .  and INSIDE the Senior Thrift Store. Or Island Thrift. Or whatever it is called now. At any rate, the place is wonderfully restored since the fire in their attic, and the upstairs is full of new little cubby rooms and nooks and crannies filled with kitschy stuff. I took these colorful ceramic teapots off their shelf in the "tea room" and hauled them out to the furniture section, set them up as a still life arrangement on a table, sat in a comfortable chair, and sketched the day away. And listened to the birds and water sounds coming from a nearby "painting". And to a random guy who sat down at the old upright piano and proceeded to play jazz, and ragtime, and classical and rock. It was a terrific visit to a favorite sketch venue. 

SKETCHING AT MARY AND BIG JOE'S NEW HOUSE

Mary Cahoy and giant puppy Big Joe have moved into their new house, and it is STUNNING! Her bedroom and bathrooms alone make it worth the price of admission! And if I had this view I would never, ever, EVER, get anything done. The Olympic mountains in the background, the BIG SKY, the eagles, the blueberry fields and forests, Gordon's Restaurant, and Nichol's Boat Works (with the construction of that seagoing "push" tug and its fascinating superstructure tower). To say nothing of the whole view of the bay at the bottom of Holmes Harbor. Can't wait to crash her fireworks party on July 3rd!!

VALENTINE!

Feb. "F's" - FEBRUARY FOURTEENTH - Enjoying a Valentine Fabrication Party last FRIDAY at Whidbey Island Sketcher FAYE’S House - FABULOUS FRIENDS FOREVER with a FONDNESS for SKETCHING!!! (And FOOD, wine and FRIVOLITY, of course.) And the fruits of my labors with all the materials every brought for the Make a Valentine Day. Such FUN.

Another FABULOUS sketching day!

Once again, being a member of the Whidbey Island Sketchers tribe afforded me an opportunity to be a guest in another absolutely STUNNING Island home I probably would otherwise never have had. We were invited to sketch in the incredible Clay home in Greenbank, a feast for the eyes in every direction. The high-bank scenery view over the inlet, the gardens, the architecture and furnishings - there was so much to see that I almost couldn’t settle on one thing. But I found a comfortable spot to sit, and bingo! - right in from of me was this lovely old clock, tucked in a corner of the stone fireplace. "Cogsworth the Clock"! Too good to pass up!

SKETCHING AT JUDITH'S HOUSE

A beautiful day for sketching in the gardens and on the decks of sketcher Judith Van Arnam's house. My eye was caught both by the flash of Opera Rose geraniums welcoming us at the front door, and by the heron weathervane soaring high atop the house against the Cobalt Blue sky. 

Sketching at PICKLES DELI in Clinton

Not only did we get to sketch inside the newly revamped and remodeled Pickle's Deli in Clinton, but we got to have a terrific lunch, at the same time. My favorite - The Reuben. And a HUGE cup of cream of broccoli soup. All while enjoying the company of the Flying Pickle Girl!

Sketching at Bob Bowling Rustics in Bayview

I was outside for the afternoon today in the bright (but very shy sunshine, with only a tiny spit or two of raindrops), beneath a circling pair of skree-skreeing bald eagles, at Bob Bowling Rustics in Bayview with the Whidbey Island Sketchers. There was literally something to sketch everywhere you looked. And, in the very center of the "front yard", one of Bob's Rustic Garden Sheds, surrounded on all sides by raised beds bursting with colorful vegetables and flowers. Here are lettuces and herbs and red stemmed Swiss Chard.
https://www.facebook.com/Bob-Bowling-Rustics-118649761489938/?pnref=lhc

@ Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens in Greenbank

It was a "Three for One" day for me yesterday at Meerkerk Gardens in Greenbank on Whidbey Island.
#1 - sketching and laughing and enjoying shared company again with my Whidbey Island Sketcher Buddies on our weekly Friday sketch/meet (after two weeks "off" in DC), deep in the woods in spangled sunshine among fragrant rhodies and azaleas in all their blooming glory.
#2 - catching up on Every Day in May with #11, "Bucket" (a bucket of rhodies) and
#3 - EDiM #12, "Leaves"
Voilá!! A Bucket of Rhodies and Leaves, surrounded by Whidbey Island Sketchers!!

Bayview Farm and Garden

Had the hardest time finding JUST the right spot to Sketch the newly remodeled and expanded Bayview Farm and Garden. Finally settled into my chair in the shade in front of the Flower House Cafe, with a mug of chai tea, facing the main entrance of the Garden Store. I'll have to come back to sketch flowers - there were so many! After sketching we gathered at the Taproom Brew Pub for refreshments - Ginger Hard Cider and a plate of crab cakes. Yep. A fine day, indeed, in a very fine location. 

Sketching at Casey's Crafts

April Fool's Day for the Sketchers group, but without any pranks. In fact, just great sketching in Casey's Crafts store at the invitation of owner Laurie Davenport. Easy sketching, as everywhere we looked there were beautiful and clever spring displays from which to choose. Here is mine, and all the rest, crazy Laurie getting the best photo angle, and a shot of all the April Fools!

Musical sketching!!!

Aaaarrrrrgggghhh!!!! I have a pen in my kit with a great nib, but crappy ink that NEVER dries and ALWAYS smudges. But do I remember that? no And do I use it anyway? yes And does it smudge? Why, yes, yes it does. poop
But, had just a stellar day Friday sketching at Paula Pugh's fabulous Whidbey Island home above Saratoga Straits. She invited us to enjoy the weekly gathering of her "Stilton Quartet" - two violins (including hers), one viola, and one cello. 15 of us Sketchers were more than eager to accept!! Music, sketching and happy hour afterwards; in the woods overlooking the water and mountains - Pacific Northwest life at its most sublime!!

Bunnies Galore

Had a satisfying, heartwarming, fulfilling day of art, sunshine and . . . bunnies. Who could ask for more? Started the day at the fairgrounds under warm, sunny skies in a spot with a perfect view of the gazebo, a peek-a-boo view through to Saratoga Passage and Camano, and herds of munching bunnies.

"THERE'S A SPIDER IN MY BEER!"

Happy hour after sketching at the fourth tee of the golf course today. We tried the NEWLY EXPANDED Taproom Brew Pub at Bayview Corners (where the Star Store annex used to be). The pub has recently expanded into the vacant adjoining restaurant space and offers GREAT food, as well as exciting beer selections (well, exciting for other people. I HATE beer. I tried some hard cider. It was OK). This GIANT fuzzy and leather spider occupied his own table, and (I guess) was waiting to be served a dish of flies and bugs with his brew.

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Sketching Golfers Teeing Off

from the deck of the beautiful home of the Trevor Arnolds in Useless Bay Colony. Despite the breeze, it was a lovely day (once we got ourselves sheltered in the lee!). Lots and lots of golfers finishing up at the third hole, and teeing off from the fourth. Made the famous sketcher's mistake of trying to capture too much, but it does convey the flavor of the scene.

FANTASTIC Skagit Valley Weekend in Bow/Edison

I rode up to the Skagit Valley with Susan to join the Whidbey Island Sketchers for fun and art. We garage-saled (well, Susan did - I read my book), we hit Starbucks, we navigated to Edison to meet the gang and have lunch at Tweets, we shopped at the fabulous "Make Art - Not War" Tri-D art store in Mount Vernon, had dinner at the Food Co-Op, scooted up the road to see "Insurgent" (FOUR!!!), then crept our way back to Mount Vernon in the dark and pouring rain to our funky little B&B. In the morning it was Big Breakfast time at the Calico Cupboard, then an expensive stop (for Susan's pastels, not for me!) at Dakota Art, then a cruise back through the valley to LaConner (where we opted to NOT join the tourista crowds for shopping). Then we made our way over the bridges, down the island, passing hundreds of cars headed to the fields. Funny, how cold we have that much fun in the Skagit and never sketch a daffodil, never see a tulip field?

KALAKALA

I met with the WISkers yesterday at Kalakala Co. Mercantile, a new place on the Second Street plaza in Langley to gather for coffee, tea, or a bowl of ramen noodles from a beautiful hand-thrown bowl, while seated at a hanging table, on a reindeer pelt, or (when the sun comes out again) at a sculptural table on the patio. I think they also plan it to be a craft beer garden. Kalakala is the brainchild of successful film animator and advertisers Drew Christie and Amanda Moore. It was certainly the "place to be" on Friday! Here is Drew whittlin' one of his many wooden spoons. The interior is tastefully done in very chic, soothing neutrals and white, which are lovely, but which upset my color sensibilities. So I, of course, (utilizing my artistic license) redecorated.

IVAR'S ACRES OF CLAMS

From my corner window in the back dining room, a perfect view of the incoming/outgoing ferries, and all the DUCKS! Hundreds of DUCKS!!

SKETCHING IN CHURCH

. . . at Langley United Methodist on Third St and Anthes. Lovely afternoon sketching in the stained glass sunlight under the organ pipes. Then fellowship and cameraderie with Paula at her wonderful home. It was all good. All good. 

                Prayed for inspiration and found it at the feet of the Shepherd (of course). And in the mystery of the meaning of the objects on the altar table - shell, bells, singing bowl, hourglass, and an assortment of paper cranes. I just KNEW there was a story there, but I couldn't divine it and, in the end, simply had to settle for the visual poetry of the piece. Then, glimpsed through a window, 

a coterie of crows, caught in silhouette.

CHRISTMAS PARTY @ BARBARA BARRY'S HOUSE

I opened the pocket in my Sketcher's kit yesterday and instead of my watercolors, my Caran D'Ache Neocolor II's fell out. I took that as a sign and used them for this sketch. Very different feel. Very different vibe. Lesson learned - you can't ink OVER them. They sure do get bright when water is applied, though. Wowza.

 The 12 feet of tree Barbara brought indoors from the 20 foot tree she cut down!

 The "Queen of Rhinestone Bling" (or are they REAL diamonds????)

 The groaning board.

 Oh no!! Egg down!! Egg down!!!

 A lovely statue. 

 Sketchers doin' what we do.

 The art critic.

 Santa!

 And a few of his ladies.

See you next year, Jolly old Elf (or Jolly old Dave, as the case may be.)