Django Fest

Useless Bay Coffee was a wonderful location to enjoy the sounds of Django djammin' musicians.

Django Fest in Langley

We had a ball sketching all the impromptu jam sessions we could find around Langley. I had so much fun, I might have to go back again tomorrow for a second helping.

At Useless Bay Wines

At Useless Bay Coffee

In the Backroom at South Whidbey Commons

Jammin' Around Town

Django Fest is in Langley and that means fabulous sketching opportunities as musicians hit cafes all around town to jam.  Sketching stops today at Useless Bay Coffee garden and over wine at Useless Bay Wines tasting room.  What a blast!

First Sketch from Morocco

Phyllis sent me her first sketch from Morocco. They are staying in a villa in Marrakech. She writes:

This is one of several sitting areas in our 3 floors and a roof terrace riad. It's hot, the birds are singing, supper is nearly ready, we've heard one call to prayer and will go out into this very beautiful city when it cools down. The sketching opportunities are endless and gorgeous.

I'm so jealous!

Summer Colors

This patch of orange was probably too compelling...at the beautiful Smith Garden near Lagoon Point.

We are so fortunate to have these amazing places available to us for sketching!

    

      On a recent camping trip, we stopped to do a little sketch of late sky and the sand dunes at

      Cape Disappointment State Park on Long Beach. The Blowing sand made it a very short 

      sketch, just some spots of sand  filled color. Still sand on the page and in my little paintbox.

 Tide lands looking south from Oysterville on the Willapa Bay side of Long Beach. Afternoon.

And the same spot with a little more foreground. My quest

to simplify.... light a little later , some fog coming in.

Mom's Garden

Sketching at Mom's in Springfield, Illinois. She's all about the flowers and the creatures that visit her backyard garden.

Pink Petunias

Red Impatiens

 A Mighty Oak

Bird Bath

Redbud Tree?

Tiny roses on the kitchen table

Layers of color

We recently had the opportunity to sketch in a beautifully designed drought tolerant garden that was full of color, this late in the season.  Thank you Deb for allowing us to take over your space, enjoy the weather and do our best to represent the beautiful view you and Rob have.  Here are a couple of my sketches.

Beautiful layers

River of grass

In a "Secret Garden" in Greenbank

 The Whidbey Island Sketchers met at Deborah's beautiful "Secret Garden", full of summer perennials, high on a bluff above the sparkling waters of Admiralty Inlet, on Smuggler's Cove Road in Greenbank today. See all the pictures HERE. This is the sketch I completed today. LOTS of new things - new medium (Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks), new surface (the paper in the book I made in Sandra and Meredith's bookbinding studio workshop) and new pens (Micron).

RoseHip Garden

Two different views of the same scene.  Rosehip Red door is the back door, where I tried wet into wet painting on so so paper.  Not so good and required some doctoring up with gouache to make it even viewable.  Scene two; Rosehip porch entry with a bench outside. This time the paper is 140lb and took the paint in the most wonderful way.
So here you go:  For further comments, see my blog.... tomorrow!

Rosehip porch

I like this because of the shadow & red door.  Paper 8-(!

Late Summer Garden

A stunning day to sketch at the beautiful and bountiful Rosehip Farm outside Coupeville. 

Sunflowers every where

This is a wonderful place to sketch. So many plants, animals, and other farm related items.
Thank you U- Pick Beans.

Retro Lovelies

I've been on a bit of a retro + neon kick lately.  Nothing to do with Whidbey; everything to do with fun!

Tuesday Morning in Coupeville

Sketching around Coupeville while waiting for Dan.

Front Porch of Caffeine Effect - odd name for a cafe.

Buff Backpack Guy

Langley Night Life

Young Riley plays for tips at Langley's Friday Market

Boot Night: Moggie, Karen and Linda put on their boots and go out on the town.

A couple of the hardworking pizza makers at Village Pizzeria

Cows, Turkeys and Sunflowers

Not to mention, beans, chickens, ducks, a goat and did I mention beans - lots and lotsa beans. All this at a community garden on the side of the road. Just one of the many pleasures of living in a semi-rural community.

These girls posed for 2 sketches. This was my favorite sketch of the day.

Another great model!

He was strutting around, striking poses, displaying all his plumage and best moves. I think he was courting me.

Thousands of glorious volunteer sunflowers growing through the gardens. Lea says they came in with the compost.