MINI PAINTINGS

Covid 19 threw us all for a loop.  Some hunkered down and ate more; my husband and went for hikes in the fresh air to various favorite locations on Whidbey. 

Gouache has been sneaking into my watercolor sketches here and there in the form of Chinese White or my favorite Holbein Jaune Brilliante which stays moist and is a slight flesh color.

Working from some favorite photos from Whidbey island and a trip to Northern California in January & February, I was inspired to paint mini paintings.  It is a peaceful feeling to sit quietly looking at a small image and try to capture what you felt when you were taking the photo!

The minis are 2 inches to 3 inches.  A few are a bit more rectangular, up to 2.25".   They are painted on #300 lb watercolor paper and sealed on the back to prevent warping.  They can be put on an easel, refrigerator, or, framed without glass.  If you would like to purchase any please contact me.  The smallest is $25, 3inch on an easel $50 and 3 inches in a frame $75.

Sketching Sunday

Hi there,

Near M Bar C, a beautiful sunny Sunday

    It's become my habit to carry sketching gear in the car and find somewhere to pull over and make a sketch. Especially important during chilly winter months.  Imagine my surprise when I found myself doing just that on those moody cool mornings on the way home from church.  Now it has become a habit and I try to find different places all the time.  These are from 2019.

The horses at M Bar C liked my music and stayed still long enough for me to sketch their shapes

Kennedy Lagoon

From Sills road home looking down on Maxwelton beach

It was fun to sit outside and get this on one of the last days of 2019

From the car - wonder what people think when I sit overlooking their drive.

a Cul de sac in Holmes Harbor

Holmes Harbor near Nichols Bros

Westport WA pond

Holmes Harbor again and the inevitable Heron (The other half of the Nichols Bros sketch.)

Double Bluff

Double Bluff is everyone's favorite walking spot.  We take our dogs for a run, watch for Rainier, judge how much the hill has slipped and hope children don't climb the bluff while we are watching.
It's also a draw at any time for the changing light.  I have sketched it a lot, but the most memorable was on a freezing February when the sun was around behind the bluff at about 2pm.  I decided to drive by because it was a "sunny day", freezing but sunny.  I took out my sketchbook and made a 20-minute sketch with watercolor noting the light reflections on the great puddle, then went home and made a larger painting.  That painting is in Watercolor and is at the bottom of this page.  The others are oil paintings.

The dog walk at Double Bluff or Pick up Stix

Sm 8x10 on canvas showing the bright light we get here.

From the bluffs on the way to the beach- oil - sold

Mt Rainier and the Fort.  Hottest day every and
early days of my oil painting career

16x20 framed Watercolor of Winter Sun reflection
 on the beach.