Sketching in DC #2 - at the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Luce Foundation Center for American Art

Met up with NYC Sketcher and Facebook friend Julie Kessler for an afternoon workshop in the fourth floor gallery of the Luce Center at the SAAM. The assignment was to pick from the collections, examples of noses and mouths to draw. I was, as usual, more interested in the architecture and embellishments, so I sort of went with that, and added my study of a nose and mouth after. It worked.

SKETCHING IN DC #1 - With the DC Sketchers

I met up with the Christian Tribastone and other members of the DC Sketchers for the District portion of the World SketchCrawl #53, on October 22. We met up at the US Capitol Visitor Center, then shotgunned off to find our subjects for the day. I knew exactly what I wanted to sketch - the Olmsted Summer House, tucked into the Capitol's west grounds. But, as with all the best laid plans of mice and men, access to it was closed, because of preparations for the inaugural. The only way I could sketch was standing up, leaning against a tree for support, with my gear sort of propped on the top of some fencing. Not good. I put up with it, in the 30 mph winds that were blowing, for about an hour. Then I took photos, and quit. 
I moved on down the walk to a spot with a great wall upon which to sit, and bushes to act as desk and easel. Here I spent the rest of the day working on this view of the Capitol Building. 
All in all, it was a great way to spend a sketching day, with far away friends I enjoy. 

At home, in the evening, working from my photos, I finished the sketch of the Summer house I started on site. Much more comfortable a finish to the day!

Willapa Acres, Long Beach and Oysterville weekend with the Whidbey Island Sketchers

I traveled (for hours and hours!) down to Long Beach, WA, for a Sketching weekend with Pat Brookes, Phyllis Ray, Faye Castle, Paula Pugh, Jean Mason, Mary Cahoy and Claudia Fuller. It was absolutely fantastic!!! On the plus side - incredible setting in the woods overlooking the bay, cozy cabins with pretty darned good beds and tons of books, the ADORABLE Malinois dog, Nala, outdoor candlelit dining room, a hot Aikido black belt master practicing in the dojo, great food, much laughter, a trip to Oysterville and Long Beach and TWO terrific bakeries, and . . . . wine. On e negative side, no running water in our cabins, so composting honeypot potties on the porch, and what felt like non-stop rain. I had just one heck of a good time. And I did two sketches (even though I was pulled away to other fun things!

"OWL" cabin where I bunked in with roomie Mary Cahoy.

Just some of the eclectic room decor in the "Main Lodge", surrounding the blazing wood stove, and the comfy recliner chairs. And, of course, sleeping, snoring, Nala. 

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Every Day in September 2016 - Habitats and Environments in WASHINGTON STATE!!

This is "Every Day in September" for 2016. I found it a GREAT opportunity to explore and re-discover my birth-state, since moving back here to live from Michigan six years ago. Washington, interestingly enough, has the unique distinction of having examples of all of the world's natural Biomes except one - Tropical.

Here are the instructions and guidelines for EDiS2016 from our moderator:

Below you’ll find this years prompt list. The theme is habitat/environment and the flora and fauna thereof. This will include anything that lives (but not humans ), that are indigenous to the habitat/environment in question. From the smallest microbe to the biggest whale....and anything inbetween, plus plant, trees etc. This is a chance to discover a little more about the world we live in. So power up Google and let your creative juices flow.....

Every Day in September 2016, #30 - Environments and Habitats - WASHINGTON STATE

Well, here it is - my last post in 2016's Every Day in September. 

The very last painting of the very last day of September. And I did it! Thirty 7”x10” paintings, one for each day. This last one is just a map of the places I have visited. I have learned, remembered and rediscovered so much in the process of doing them. I am going to post-bind them and put them between nice hardboard covers with their little narratives – a lovely chapbook love letter to my birth state, to which I have come home. And where, it appears, I am blooming where I am planted.

Every Day in September 2016, #30 - Environments/Habitats - WINTER Where you live

EDiS #30 - The last of my old Whidbey Island Mandalas. This is Winter where I live. Here winter can be kind of grey, but when it is not, it is spectacular. The mountains stand in crisp, white relief against the deep, blue sky; the tall evergreen trees sometimes (but not often, here on our temperate, little island!) wear capelets of snow; the cold, night skies let us (finally!) see the stars, holly berries provide us with color, the rivers freeze, the glaciers thicken, and we might get a yearly return visit from ghostly snow owls. 

Every Day in September 2016, #29 - Environments and Habitats - ALPINE

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #29 - “Alpine”
Here, on alert, is one of my favorite Washingtonian critters, the Olympic Marmot, in one of my favorite Washington locations, Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula. This is where the Marmot, the official state mammal, lives burrowed in colonies all over the rolling mountain meadows, whistling. There is not a lot to do up on Hurricane Ridge, unless you LIKE climbing up grassy, wildflower covered slopes to stand on top of a peak among peaks, breathing in sweet, clear mountain air and waiting to hear an eagle's cry or a marmots whistle. Or maybe listening to the soughing wind through forest or watching Olympic mountain mists gathering at the tree line below you. Not much to do up there, but, I'll tell you, I'd drive all day up the hairpin, winding two-lane just to get to the top and have a picnic lunch, take it all in, and drive back down. And I have. Many times.