Mid-Winter Sketching in the Desert

As luck would have it, I was in Arizona for work and family visit the whole week Puget Sound got walloped with snow.  Here are travel sketches from Wickenburg and Scottsdale. 



Seen around Wickenburg, AZ



Smokey's cowboy boots.  Saguaro against background of the blanket on my bed.



Cactus downtown Wickenburg.  Our Lady of Guadalupe from blanket pattern.

Watercolor Saguaro



Saguaro skeleton at The Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale.

Sketching at Fern Ridge Alpaca Farm

Old 1800 log cabin on Fern Ridge Alpaca Farm

This alpaca couldn't resist the fir branch on the other side of the gate.

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.

An afternoon of painting

Spent this winter Sunday afternoon - all afternoon - painting,sketching, experimenting with different media and techniques.  Here are the results from today. 

2.  watercolor, Neocolor II water soluable wax pastels

1.  watercolor only

3.  pen, watercolor (and artistic license)

4.  pen and watercolor

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

Happy New Year 2012

Such a busy holiday season this year that we enjoyed a quiet New Year's Eve sipping bubbly at home and watching the Seattle fireworks on TV.  Happy New Year to all my sketcher friends & here's to many days of sketching together in 2012.  Cheers!


Dreaming of travel to come in 2012.

New Year's at the Needle on TV