EDiF2018 - PNW “F” #11 - FASHION

PNW Fashion - Flannel, Fleece and Ear Flaps

EDiF2018 - PNW “F” #10 - FARMING

Wheat harvest in the Palouse country of Eastern Washington.

EDiF2018 - PNW “F” #9 - FELIS CONCOLOR

The Pacific Northwest has a complicated relationship with wolves, coyotes and cougars. On the one hand, the wild “dogs” (coyotes and wolves) and “cats” (cougars), help to keep the deer, elk, and rabbit population under control. On the other hand, they tend to eat calves, sheep and pet cats and dogs. Tough call, no matter which side of the ecological fence you come down on.
Felis Concolor: common name, Cougar, Puma, Catamount
Fells catus Domesticus: common names - You Little Beezum; Sadie, Sadie Bearded Lady; and Maeow Thai See Nom Thon.

EDiF2018 - PNW "F" #8 - FRIENDS Canadienne

When I was about 10, my family went to the Seattle Arena to attend a Royal Canadian Military Tattoo. It was the most monumental experience of my young life. Handsome Mounties in scarlet coats on gleaming black horses performing intricate drills, the flash of brilliant colored kilts, the skirl of bagpipes and the pounding of drums. It was electric. I never recovered.
That moment was the beginning of my love for all things Anglo and Canuck. I love the mountains, the trains, the prairies, Toronto and Vancouver. My first great lust was for a handsome BC horse wrangler at a fish camp north of Kamloops (though I survived that experience intact, damn polite Canadians).
So here are just two of the things I love about Canada - the RCMP, and the British Columbia Pipers (who I see a lot in Vancouver). But there’s also Red Rose tea, Mackintosh Caramels, Caramilk Chocolate and Nanaimo Bars to consider. Luckily, all of these have found their way south.
In fact, all my life, in Washington and Michigan, I have enjoyed living next door to Canada. Today it is just 100 miles and 2 hours up the road from me at Blaine, where the gleaming white Peace Arch straddles the border. As the motto on the arch says, we are “children of a common mother”.

EDiF2018 - PNW "F" #6 - The FREMONT TROLL

Seattleites are, and always have been, a little weird. No place in the city are they weirder, perhaps, than in the Fremont District. Every year people come here from far and wide to celebrate the Summer Solstice with an amazing parade of revelers in elaborate costumes (think Mardi Gras or Carnevale). 
They enjoy crazy performers, elaborate art cars, and taking off their clothes. They then paint their bodies in gaudy colors and ride their bicycles naked down the parade route.
Visitors come for the fun there, and also to see the most famous and beloved resident of the District, The FREMONT TROLL, the giant who lives under the end of the Aurora Bridge at Troll Avenue and 36th St. The interactive sculpture, made of rebar and concrete in 1990 by Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter and Ross Whitehead, is 18 feet tall, weighs 13,000 pounds and clutches in his hand a hapless VW Beetle from California, who perhaps did not pay his troll toll. Visitors are encouraged to climb him, and take a poke at his one good eye (a hubcap).

EDiF2018 - PNW "F" #05 - FLIPPERS, FINS AND FLUKES

Every Day in February 2018 - "All Effs" - (for me, Washington and the Pacific Northwest, brought to you by the Letter F)  "FLIPPERS, FINS AND FLUKES", Pinnipeds and Cetaceans

Here are some of the Pacific Northwest's marine mammals, Pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and Cetaceans (porpoises, orcas and whales) found from Alaska, all the way down the coast.
The Grey Whales migrate from Mexico each year, stopping on their way to Alaska to fuel up on Ghost shrimp and other goodies in the waters of the Salish sea, practically outside my front door (well, just down the road in Langley). The fast black and white beauties are the Dall's Porpoises and, of course, the magnificent transient Orcas. This Orca would probably love to get its teeth into the Steller Sea Lions, or, gasp, oh no, the baby Harbor Seal pup on the beach. (BTW, DON'T DISTURB THE PUP. It's mama is nearby and it is just fine.)

EDiF2018 - PNW "F" # 4 - FOOTBALL

Here, apropos of nothing, really, other than today is Super Bowl Sunday and I feel compelled to at least acknowledge that in SOME way, are three Washington Football teams - the Seahawks, U of W Huskies and WSU Cougars - and one Futbol Club (the Sounders).

EDiF2018 - PNW "F" #3 - FLIGHT

Every Day in February - "F" #3 - FLIGHT
Seattle, Washington, is the home of the Boeing Aircraft Company. Right across Puget Sound from me is Everett, and Paine Field, where Boeing makes very large aircraft in the largest building in the world (almost 100 acres). This huge plant is where 747, 767, 777, and 787 airplanes are assembled. Fuselages for the planes are made in Wichita, Kansas, and brought back to Everett for assembly and finishing. The aircraft bodies are flown inside the 747 Dreamlifter, one of the largest aircraft in the world. Each wing is a football field long.
I have, on a couple of occasions, looked out my south facing window just in time to see one of these behemoths lumber across the sky in front of me on its way to land at Paine field. I don’t understand how something so huge can fly. Yes I understand thrust, propulsion and lift. But FLIGHT, for something of this size, just doesn’t seem possible.

EDiF2018 - PNW "F" # 02 - FAIRS

The newest Every Day Challenge - "ALL Effs - Washington and the Pacific Northwest, brought to you by the Letter F
Our home state is First Place in our hearts for FAIRS. On Whidbey Island it is our own Island County Fair, at the Fairgrounds just outside Langley. A 4 (Four) - H Fair, it draws young contestants from all over the county to show off their prize winning animals, their horsemanship, their agricultural skills and their beautiful crafts. It may be small, but it is the biggest thing in our hearts during the summer.
On a grander scale is the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, in the spring. It is the real deal, with three permanent roller coasters. One of them, the huge “Classic”, is the last remaining on-site fairgrounds wooden coaster. A trip to “The Fair” is not complete without curly French Fries, a warm Fisher’s Scone with strawberry jam, Fresh squeezed lemonade, and a Pickle on a Stick (ok, that’s not an F, coz if it were it would be a Fickle on a Stickle).
Drawn from my old, bad photos and some nice new ones I found on the internet.

EDiF2018 - PNW"F" # 01 - FRUIT

Well, I am (once again) starting off one of these everyday challenges LATE, but eager, nonetheless. My personal take on this months list of prompts is going to be "WASHINGTON AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST; BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTER "EFF". Since I am starting late I am going to cheat STRAIGHT OFF, by using a sketch from a year or so ago. Because there are no sketcher police. And because I like the sketch, and because I can.

Here is "F #1 - FRUITS from the Pacific Northwest

EVERY DAY IN FEBRUARY, the new Challenge

Starting a new Every Day Drawing/Painting/Sketching challenge through the Danny Gregory/Sketchbook Skool people. It's been a while, so this will be good for me. Only 28 days. I wonder if I will do them all this time. And finish. 

Every piece must begin from a word starting with the letter "F" (for February. Get it?) I am, in addition, choosing to make all my entries pertain to aspects of living in the Pacific Northwest, since I do again. 

When I get this done I am going to have it printed as a little 30 page booklet. Unless that costs a fortune, then no. 

Every Day in February, 2016

I am headed down the rabbit hole once again. It is the start of a new month, and the start of a new adventure with the “Every Day” group. This month's moderator picked “Around the World in 29 Days” as the theme for our prompts. Our merry band of artists from all over the world is starting out in 4 groups to “travel” to a new country each day-- to draw, paint and sketch whatever we “see” that interests us our virtual journey. 

Here is what our moderator posted as the guidelines for our Every Day in February challenge for 2016:

Welcome members! You’ve just won a free trip around the world for one month – and you don’t even have to leave your couch! ;) Each day you will be visiting a different country on your itinerary and then posting a sketch of a highlight from your trip. Do a bit of research on your country of the day, maybe even watch a video or two on YouTube if you have the time, and then sketch! You may choose to sketch anything – native or famous people, famous buildings or landmarks, cuisine, landscapes, animals, moments in history, fun facts, etc.! The possibilities are absolutely endless!! Feel free to share any neat tidbits you’ve learned about the country within your post, too!

These are my responses to the prompt!

Every Day in February 2016, #20 - traveling to POLAND

EDiF #20 – Poland
The Medieval buildings along the Old Salt Market Square in the city of Wroclaw, on the River Oder, in the Silesian Lowlands of Poland, are a color hunter's dream. These brilliantly colored facades rival the colors of one of Poland's most famous crafts, the intricately designed, waxed and dyed Pisanki (Pysanky) eggs.

Every Day in February 2016, #19 - traveling to PORTUGAL

EDiF #19 – Portugal
This scene was made for me. In July, in the streets of Agueda, Portugal, Sextafeira Designers install hundreds of colorful umbrellas high above the streets of Agueda, during the Agitagueda Art Festival. The umbrellas provide splashes of brilliant color, offer shade to the strolling festival goers below, or, in the case of inclement weather, protection from the raindrops!

Every Day in February 2016, #18 - traveling to OSAKA, Japan

EDiF #18 – Oman (substituting Osaka)
I really REALLY missed being able to “go” to Japan. So I decided to make another side trip and substitute “Osaka” for “Oman” (even though I could be drawing horses!) Maybe I will come back to Oman later. But for now I am here, in Japan, the site of one of my favorite epic novels – James Clavell's “SHOGUN”.

Every Day in February, 2016, #17 - traveling to NEPAL

EDiF #17 – Nepal
Man, I am learning some stuff this month!!! This bit of information falls under the heading of things which pass my cultural understanding, and upon which I have no right to pass judgement. I present it as simply an example of one of the world's rich and colorful traditions, to be appreciated as such. This is a sketchbook painting of Matina Shakya. She was born in 2005 in Kathmandu, Nepal. On July 10, 2008, when she was three, she was selected from the eligible girls within her community by a council of Buddhist and Hindu priests to leave her family and be taken to the great palace Kumari Bahai in Kathmandu. After passing a rigorous screening process, she was enthroned as the Living Goddess Kumari Devi, cared for and living in the palace in semi seclusion, only appearing outside the temple for special festivals and ceremonies.
A Kumari's reign as Living Goddess lasts until she reaches puberty, when she is returned to her home and family and the search for a new goddess begins. There are several Kumaris throughout the country of Nepal. It is a position of highest honor, both for her and her family, and for the community. Matina was the Kumari of Kathmandu until 2014.

Every Day in February, 2016, #16 - traveling to MEXICO

EDiF #16 – Mexico
A trip down Mexico way, looking for local color, and finding it is ALL color, all the time down there. Color overload! So, I am making just a quick stop, with a little shopping for a few tacky, touristy souvenirs – a serape, a cactus in a painted clay pot, a piňata, some bright paper flowers, and a “Visit Mexico” bumper sticker. Oh, and I found an old photo from probably 1953, of me wearing the embroidered red felt jacket my crafty little Mama made. The little girl has loose pigtail braids and the donkey has a braided tail. I wish I still had it!!! I wouldn't fit, but I would build a colorful quilt around it. Olé!!

EVERY DAY IN FEBRUARY, 2016, #15 - traveling to LIECHTENSTEIN

EDiF #15 - Liechtenstein
So I traveled to Liechtenstein, and found, a trio of Liechten-STEINS.

Every Day in February, 2016, #14 - traveling to KENYA

EDiF #14 – Kenya
NANTS INGONYAMA BAKITHI BA-BA 
SITHI HU INGONYAMA
“Here comes a lion, Papa. 
We hail the Lion.”
I never see images of the glorious sunrises or sunsets on the Serengeti without hearing the ringing anthem by Sir Elton John and Tim Rice which opens the musical “The Lion King”. Kenya, and its neighbor Tanzania, share this amazing place, and all the creatures within it. I didn't even have to give a thought to “will there be color?” It is one of God's true masterpieces. All I can do is make an attempt to get an impression of it down on paper. Though I'll probably never get to travel to see it, I may (sooner rather than later, I hope), travel to see “The Lion King” on stage again!

Every Day in February, 2016, #13 - traveling to JORDAN

EDiF # 13 – Jordan
Standing under the towering facade of the entrance to the ancient monastery at Petra and all I could see around me were muted, monochromatic tones of pink, yellow, ocher and red – the colors of desert sandstone. I was disappointed. What of my quest for the vibrant colors of the world? Then a caravan of camels hove into view through the shimmer of mirage light. With a tinkling of bells and a creaking of leather harnesses, the line of them swayed into view in the dust, bawling and mewling, layered with intricately tooled saddles and woven blankets in myriad hues, a living, moving, picture book. Ah! Saved by color, once again!