Painting in the Alley for Artists in Action at the WAG

Yeah, that moment afterwards, at home, when you could have stepped back for the long view of your watercolor, but didn't. And should probably have stopped, but didn't. 
With apologies to Georgia Mansur for techniques learned, but apparently forgotten, and steps missed or misinterpreted. But, for try #3 on the learning curve, i'm not completely embarrassed, I guess. And I didn't hold it under the hose or drown it in the bathtub, so there is that. Try #4 getting underway today, when I should be weeding, instead. 
Photo of me by Tom Hanify of Whidbey Art Gallery.
Photo of the painting by me, of me.

GEORGIA MANSUR workshop in Seattle at DANIEL SMITH ART SUPPLIES

Woo hoo! Two major win/win victories today. First, I drove all the way down into Seattle and back, without incident of any kind, including not getting lost. Major score!
I did this to take a class at the Daniel Smith Mother Ship store with Georgia Mansur, a fabulous water color instructor from Australia!! It was an absolute blast, and I had a very successful experience. 
This resulted in my second win-win of the day - completed TWO paintings, both of which were on half sheets of watercolor paper. Half sheets! For me, that is tantamount to climbing Mount Everest. And those two paintings were done in the time it would normally tale me to do one 1/4 sheet painting.
It was an absolutely great workshop, I learned a ton, tried a bunch of new techniques, and made great new friends. Totally pleased with what I accomplished and the way the whole day went. (Gary Paul Schallock note wild and loose application of paint!! Kathleen McDonald and no black lines!!)
More when (and if) I "complete" the exercises. But, for now, here are the results of the day.

And here are examples of Georgia's work for reference. 

HERE ARE TWO FOR THE WAG 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Saturday, the 27th, is the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Whidbey Art Gallery. I finished two more pieces for my wall. The first piece is an old sketch I did a couple of years ago, before the gallery got its facelift. Here it is still wearing its old, kitschy, bright and colorful sign for ART, up on the front of the building. I revamped, reworked, and punched up the sketch with brighter colors, to match the sign. I like the sketch better now, just like I liked the old, funky sign better. But that's just me.
The second image is of a watercolor/pen and ink painting done from a photo of the old letters, made by former WAG member Shirley Ashenbrenner and given by her to Susan Jensen to use in the backyard of her Air BNB.
The letters come with bunnies, for the viewing pleasure of her guests.

"Whidbey Art Gallery in Summer", WC Pen/Ink, 11x14 framed, $125, at the Gallery

"Backyard ART, with Bunnies", WC Pen/Ink, 13x16 framed, $250, at the Gallery

"Whidbey Art Gallery"

I skipped Sketchers today so I could finish this sketch for Tom Hanify for WAG (Whidbey Art Gallery). I don't why he needed a sketch of the interior, but mine is not to question why, mine is but to do or die (doncha know) 

So this is my sketching output for the day. 

On A QUARTER SHEET of 140# WC paper, for heavens's sake. YUGE!! 

But I forgot one of the reasons I don't work this big - one cannot scan one's finished work if one only has an 8 1/2 x 11 1/2 glass on one's scanner (and if one sucks at photographing one's artwork!)

Though quarter sheet is the direction to which I want to head, I may have to rethink the business of imaging. 

BIG THINGS HAPPENING FOR ME NEXT WEEK!!

I will be joining FAYE CASTLE, BARBARA BARRY and GARY SCHALLOCK 
at STUDIO 106 in Langley!

I am so excited to get to work near and with these outstanding local artists. 

I know just being around them is going to push my potential, 

helping me become the artist I want to be. 

I will still remain a working member of the Whidbey Art Gallery in Langley, 

so I am going to be very busy producing art this summer!

I am shooting for studio time Mondays and Wednesdays, 

and maybe Friday mornings before Sketchers.

If you are in the neighborhood and I am there, stop in and say "hi!"

THE WHIDBEY ART GALLERY

Sketch done to be used in advertising the Gallery's 25th Year Celebration, and other "stuff". This is just a portion of the work I intended to do on the piece. I plan to keep going with it, giving it a full "Tommy Kane" treatment. More on this later. 

Much later . . .

ISLAND COUNTY FD "PRET A PORTER"

Back to Sketching after many weeks "off". WI Sketchers met at Freeland Fire Station #31 to sketch the impressive (BIG) fire equipment and the facility. Here is the Island County Pret a Porter (ready to wear) - rubbah boots, helmets and gloves.