South Whidbey Commons

Sketching - My Drug of Choice

After a few days of remodel stress, shopping stress and indecision overload, I hit the wall. I needed to go sketching in the worst way. Kris and I made an evening of it at Prima Bistro and Mo's. We were all set to do an outdoor sketch of Christmas lights in downtown Langley after Mo's closed at 11, but it was pouring down rain.

Prima diner

Prima patrons sharing a bottle of red.

Half of the Jurriaans party of 4, dining at Prima.

Mo's crowd

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.

Beat Poetry Night at Ott & Murphy's

Sketched some hep cool cats at Ott & Murphy's "Beat & Jive" poetry Saturday night with David Ossman on beat and David Gregor on jive. Wasn't sure if I was in Langley in 2011 or Greenwich Village in 1961. Trippy!

The scene.

David Ossman lays some Ginsburg and Kerouac on the crowd.

WISk Party at Studio 106

Celebrating our 2nd anniversary with some holiday good cheer at Studio 106 . . .

Holly Centerpiece

Unsuspecting visitors to the studio WILL be sketched! I'm amassing quite a collection of sketcher-husband portraits. Soon I'll be able to do a show!

Gar with holiday splashes

Studio Sketching

Whidbey Island Sketchers celebrated our 2nd anniversay with a little holiday get together at Studio 106 in Langley.  Great friends, great gab, great sketching.  What it's all about.  Cheers!

Inside the artist's studio

See Faye Work

After scheduled sketching at Useless Bay Coffee, we repaired to Studio 106 where Faye worked and I sketched all afternoon.

Faye setting up for Saturday's Open Studio

Fay at the easel, working on a still life and not happy with it.

Ms. Belov stopped by the studio for a visit.

Robert is always a pleasure to sketch with his wonderful headgear and beard!

Play That Funky Music White Boy

Who knew you could have so much fun in Langley? Three sketchers hit the town on Halloween looking for something scary to draw and stumbled upon a fabulous party at Ott & Murphy's Wine Bar. Tim Donovan rocked the house. At one point I noticed someone across the room sketching us as we were sketching them -an off-island sketcher. 

Tim Donovan

David Ossman, etal at Ott & Murphy's

Tim Donovan performing at Ott & Murphy's

Sketcher gone wild

Halloween at Mo's, where things were much tamer.

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.

 

  

Whidbey Island Winery and Mo's

Whidbey Island Winery

Yesterday's sketching was a real treat - a wonderful afternoon spent with new and old friends, a sketchbook, a glass of Whidbey Island White and even a little sunshine! We also had a watercolor demo by Phyllis which led to Mary's big breakthrough. She promised to post it as her first contribution to the blog - stay tuned!

Dahlias and nasturtiums:Whidbey Island Winery

Mos': Mr. Adams works a puzzle

Mo's: A lively conversation about flying

Color and Contrast

I'm posting this image for Sherryl. Sorry for taking a week! She created it in Langley, but the exact location is unknown to me. I've watched Sherry sketch since WISk's beginnings. I see this sketch as a merging of her different intents and interests in abstracts, a more realistic drawing approach and love for the dye-like qualities of intense watercolors. It's beautiful. I enjoy the play of complex, patterned areas with the open, unpainted and simply drawn areas. And of course the value contrasts, intense colors and washes. No mud or burnt umber here! (Not to diss burnt umber)

Sketching on Second Street

You can't beat a sunny September afternoon strolling around Langley sketching with friends. This time of year, every warm, sunny day in the Northwest is precious and not to be squandered. We made the most of it.

P.S. Suisse Bakery in Langley Village

South Whidbey Commons Garden

Mo's

An Afternoon in Langley

What a fabulous warm, sunny afternoon along 2nd Street in Langley.  Afraid my sketches weren't my best work, but what they lack in quality, the weather and gab with fellow sketchers more than made up for. 

Great line-up of glass garden art at Callahan's Firehouse Glass Studio

Langley Village

South Whidbey Commons

I enjoyed a warm bowl of soup and a couple of hours of sketching at South Whidbey Commons.

SW Commons

This is for Lois.  Her scanner is not cooperating, so I have scanned her sketches and am posting for her.

Bookmark

Annette Hanna's South Whidbey Commons Sketches

Sue & Kris sketching

In front of the Commons

Artist, Annette Hanna, spends her summers on Whidbey and occasionally joins us for weekly sketching. These are her delightful sketches at South Whidbey Commons.

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!

Serendipity Strikes Again

Eddie McGehee: "The Songs, Stories and Images of the Great Depression"

So there I was, 8:30 Friday night, on my way to the car to head home when I heard music and laughter coming from South Whidbey Commons. Eddie McGehee was playing songs and telling stories about the Great Depression. The place was packed and everyone was singing along. Eddie is a sketcher's dream - the hat, beard, overalls, guitar, flowing white hair. I just happened to have my art bag with me, so I had to try to get a sketch.  I didn't see much of the show, but enough to see that Eddie is a real crowd-pleaser. It looked like a really fun and educational show.

The lovely and talented Simone, a fellow artist

I had to work fast and sketch standing up to see over the crowd and I noticed a cute little girl standing on a chair next to me looking over my shoulder. She told me, "You draw good!"  She had been making her own pictures and showed me her fabulous crayon drawings. Recognizing a kindred spirit and connoisseur of fine art, I offered to draw her picture after the show ended. No time for color -- they were closing up, so I did added watercolor later at home. What a fun way to end the evening!

2nd Street Market & Commons Garden

A sunny, breezy friday afternoon in Langley.  Enjoyed sketching in the garden at the Commons...

... and had a great view to sketch the 2nd Street Market.

A Sketch and a little Watercolor of The Commons

Did this sketch while sitting with everybody in front of the Commons building in the warm sunshine.  Funny, each time I have sketched here it has been beautiful.  Guess the only way to bring on good weather is to come here with my paints!

The landscaping in front of the Commons is so lush and beautiful right now that I wanted to try to somehow get it and the building all in the same view.  Hard. This little composite view watercolor was the result.