Windjammer Park and Flyers

Oak Harbor's Windjammer Park delivered on it's name today. Yep, it was windy. Regardless, a fun time was had by the sketchers. After one attempt drawing the windmill we opted for more comfortable conditions at Flyers, an Oak Harbor sports bar. More fun of course! Here's my sketches...

Catherine

Meerkerk Garden Gumdrops

The gumdrop shaped trees in the rock garden at Meerkerk are an interesting arrangement to paint at any angle. This garden is all about round vertical and horizontal forms. Fun to watch the light define it over the hours. This sketch isn't complete, but that may be a good thing!

Greenbank Grille

A fun day with my sketching pals at the Greenbank Store and Grille. I'm delighted to see them open again. My Portobello Mushroom Burger was great! Here's my sketches in order of completion...

A still life

Facing the bar and a couple sketchers.

The rooftop. A summer deck?

A dinner serenade by Nathaniel Talbot.

Another sketch of Nathaniel.

Nosh and Sketch

nosh |nä sh | informalnounfood : filling the freezer with all kinds of nosh we bought at the Star Store.• a small item of food : "We have plenty of noshes and nibbles" said the waiter.• a light meal; a snack : in between noshes we sketched people at Prima Bistro and Mo's.verb [ intrans. ]eat food enthusiastically or greedily : there are several restaurants in Langley, so you can nosh to your heart's content | [ trans. ] there I sat, noshing my favorite food as I splashed paint on the table cloth.• eat between meals : today's grazing is different from what we used to call noshing or snacking. But noshing sounds better.ORIGIN early 20th cent. (denoting a snack bar): Yiddish.

First stop, Prima Bistro.

A local fixture at Prima

Then a portrait of Kelly at Mo's.

A pre-med student also studying spanish.

A profile at Mo's

Merry Belated B-day Christmas!

For Lisbeth and all! 

KW Mug for SG

With love...

The Beat Lives On

Had a great evening sketching at Ott and Murphy in Langley.  David Ossman performed poetry readings of Ginsburg and Kerouac while David Gregor accompanied on guitar. I was truly inspired and can't wait for another performance!

Mr. Bennett bathed in mood lighting. 

David Gregor playing guitar, though it's hidden.

WiFire Apparitions

My first ghost sighting at Whidbey Telecom's WiFire Coffee Shop... 

Happy Halloween!

Wanings at Whidbey Island Winery

I count us lucky. The weather gods blessed us with one of our last nice days for sketching outdoors. We spent it at Whidbey Island Winery's beautiful park setting. There were peeks of sun and warmth, and with friends and wine, it made for a perfect day.
Besides the nice weather, the light is waning too. I think my Whidbey Island Winery sketch reflects it. I did a silly thing and chose a dark spot under a madrona to focus on.
Here are my sketches for the day...

After the winery Sue and I headed to Mo's for a few more sketches and a burger. I gravitated to the gentleman on the left because of his great profile. Unusual and handsome.

On the right... At times I get tired of drawing the backs of people. Oh well. It becomes more about the medium, light and composition.

 

  

A Peaceful Afternoon

Thank you, Sue, for sharing your lovely garden with us. And the delicious munchies. And thanks to Mary and Sherryl for their yummy crab dip. I think I ate most of it. Last but not least, sharing it all with great company. I was filled with ahhhhs.
Here's a couple sketches I did on the deck. To the right is the talented Michelle, our newest member. She sat still for awhile which made her an easy target. I look forward to many sketchings with her.







Below is an experimental sketch done on watercolor canvas board. No absorbency whatsoever, so I'm not sure I like it. Hard to do any glazing because the bottom layers pick up so easily. Great for making changes if one's unhappy with parts or all of it. I was interested in giving it a spin as an alternative to the expense of framing watercolor paintings. Surfaces that accept watercolor are available on mounted wood frames similar to oil panels. Once painted, they can be coated with acrylic to protect the surface from dust.

Evening Concert at Whidbey Island Winery

I had the great fortune of hearing Levi Burkle (guitar) and James Hinkley (cello) play at Whidbey Island Winery. They sure make beautiful music as a duo. As well as independently. They're both great musicians. And the Winery's setting made it even more heavenly. Grape vines, tree canopies, grassy lawns and people picnicking, each with a glass of wine, all made for some good sketch subjects. Here's a few...

Waiting for the concert.

James and Levi

Sketched with eyes closed.

Sea of Sinks

A nice sunny day for sketching at Island Recycle. These sinks were placed in an interesting arrangement so I gave it a shot.

Later did this sketch of Phyllis. The only one to date which looks remotely like her. I think the best of the day.

Mother and Daughter

I thoroughly enjoyed sketching these two beauties, Stephanie and Alyscia. They were patient and held their poses like professionals. We knew Stephanie was a pro at Mo's. She's our favorite wait person.

This sketch was done in my Moleskine pocket accordion, a small sketchbook that expands. It's limited to 5" high but the width is left up to the imagination. The paper has a waxy surface that's resistant to watercolor giving drawings a look I've come to appreciate.













The first pose was quite long allowing me to experiment with different papers, watercolor and line-brushwork. I think this is Punjab paper. It's a nicely bound watercolor sketchbook I've had for many years. The paper is very rough with deckled edges and takes watercolor beautifully. I used a large squirrel hair mop, loading it with a couple colors then applied the paint broadside.

Stephanie taking a sleep-break during this warm afternoon.

Thank you for sitting, Stepanie and Alyscia!

Splattering at the South Whidbey Commons

Good coffee and food, music, readings, local characters, comfortable seating and host to community groups has made the South Whidbey Commons one of Langley's crown jewels. It's friendly and friendly to we sketchers. Here's to the success of the Commons, ting!
I'm feeling quite rusty these days since sketching has taken a backseat to other endeavors. That's my excuse for this funky sloppy sketch. When all else fails throw paint at it. But I do like the splatters. Takes a little practice to get the brush load, aim and number of splats just right.

No splats here! A sketch of the warm and hospitable Mary, a Whidbey Island Sketcher. Thanks for having us to your beautiful yard garden!

Prima Bistro then Mo's Portrait Party

My first sketch of the evening is of Prima Bistro as Deja Blooze played some great tunes. I tried to capture the warmth and activity of the place. Next time we'll sit in front of the band.

The backside of one third of Deja Blooze at Prima Bistro

Later Sue and I migrated to Mo's for a little portrait party. First sitter was the charming and delightful Corey of Useless Bay Coffee fame. Turns out he's a sketcher too. A talented young man so we hope to recruit him into WISk.

Corey Sketching at Mo's

Then the amicable and proud James visiting from Tucson. James finds the Island's inhabitants friendly and approachable, much like himself. He was lucky and walked away with a sketch!

James Patiently Posing

Ott and Murphy's and Mo's

A fun Sunday afternoon and evening of sketching with Sue. First at Ott and Murphy's wine tasting room in Langley then a walk down the street to Mo's for more sketching and Shepherd's Pie. Here's a couple sketches...

Ott and Murphy's rugs. As much drawing as I've been doing lately, it was a struggle to see things right that day. I felt dyslexic so concentrated on capturing the sense of light.



























Sue blocked my view so I made due. Of the number of sketches I did at Mo's this is the only one I halfway liked. The last was better but I gave it to the young man who was in the sketch.