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.

Al Anderson house

July 30, 2017, almost ready! Back door entry.

June 7, 2015, under repair! Side view from Langley cemetery.

It's been a couple of years since they started remodeling this historic old farmhouse. I painted the 2015 sketch while sitting in the nearby cemetery.

My dog and I watch the changes happening while walking in the morning. The early morning light makes the old trees have dramatic shadows on the grass in the Spring; the late afternoon light puts a spotlight on the new green house color.   Amazingly, the front door faces North and is small and unattractive and I never noticed because it faces the Pea Patch and flower gardens, which grew up years after the house was built.
There are many apple trees on the property and three cows that love apples.  My idea of fun is to collect apples in the Fall and bring them to feed the cows.  It takes getting over being squeamish to put it directly in their mouth!  They have very long black tongues!

This house will become a vrbo, for rent.  The upgrades in the kitchen are modern but look compatible with the rest of the house.  It is cozy, sunny, and reminiscent of the era in which it was built; whoever stays there will enjoy the atmosphere and the neighborhood.

Gouache, can you pronounce it?

“Gouache (/gu:’a:,( gwa:)/; French: (gwa), body color, opaque watercolor, or gauche, is one type of watermedia, paint consisting of pigment, water, a binding agent (usually dextrin or gum arabic), and sometimes additional inert material.  Gouache is designed to be used with opaque methods of painting.”  wikipedia

When painting a watercolor, one values using the white of the paper, or going from light to darker.

Gouache is sneaky and it takes lots of gray before you find the value needed to make the painting speak.

I monitored a class last week at WIFAS, instructor was Mike Hernandez, Artist, instructor, Plein Air painter, Art Director, Production designer DreamWorks Pictures.  I’d like to add patient, relaxed instructor who also paints beautifully in oil and on the computer.  You can find Mike on Facebook and see some of his beautiful paintings.

We painted small 5x7 and 4x5 on special board by Cottonwood Arts, or in my case Canson board.  Its and acid free cardboard-like surface that can be popped into a mat easily.  Mike recommends not putting these paintings under glass.  

The images are low key; a gray day is celebrated for its moody effects.  Today, I plan on trying to paint a little brighter.  Here are a few images from last weekend and yesterday, painting on the cliff across from Camano Island in the mist.

Pat

McLeod Cabin 3x5

From Sea Wall park Langley looking Northwest?

Camano from Edgecliff Dr.

Sea Wall Park looking South

Camano Island, Picture is a little slanty 8-(

Gouache, can you pronounce it?

“Gouache (/gu:’a:,( gwa:)/; French: (gwa), body color, opaque watercolor, or gauche, is one type of watermedia, paint consisting of pigment, water, a binding agent (usually dextrin or gum arabic), and sometimes additional inert material.  Gouache is designed to be used with opaque methods of painting.”  wikipedia

When painting a watercolor, one values using the white of the paper, or going from light to darker.

Gouache is sneaky and it takes lots of gray before you find the value needed to make the painting speak.

I monitored a class last week at WIFAS, instructor was Mike Hernandez, Artist, instructor, Plein Air painter, Art Director, Production designer DreamWorks Pictures.  I’d like to add patient, relaxed instructor who also paints beautifully in oil and on the computer.  You can find Mike on Facebook and see some of his beautiful paintings.

We painted small 5x7 and 4x5 on special board by Cottonwood Arts, or in my case Canson board.  Its and acid free cardboard-like surface that can be popped into a mat easily.  Mike recommends not putting these paintings under glass.  

The images are low key; a gray day is celebrated for its moody effects.  Today, I plan on trying to paint a little brighter.  Here are a few images from last weekend and yesterday, painting on the cliff across from Camano Island in the mist.

Pat

McLeod Cabin 3x5

From Sea Wall park Langley looking Northwest?

Camano from Edgecliff Dr.

Sea Wall Park looking South

Camano Island, Picture is a little slanty 8-(

Edgecliff Restaurant in Langley

Last week, I skipped the trip up to Regency Senior Living in Oak Harbor;
(I needed to stay closer to home and keep packing boxes).
Langley was busy getting set up for Chochookam, so I found a place in front of the Edgecliff Restaurant.
It turned out to be an interesting afternoon.  I met people walking past the restaurant and learned that one of them was someone who made a bid on our recently sold house.
It was fun chatting with him and I know the place that he and his wife purchased.  It will be perfect for them!
Small world, Langley style!

A.L. Anderson and Langley Marina

 I read in the South Whidbey Record that a fire destroyed this house 50 years ago.  It was on the night that the ? current occupants were being married.  It appears that a new roof is being installed.  The owners of this large and historic property let their new neighbors from the Highlands use part of the property for a pea patch. The next door property of Langley Woodsman's cemetery,where I sat to paint this sketch, was donated by the Anderson family.
BTW we call it the Al Anderson house but the newspaper said it was the home of A.L. Anderson!

Just as I was getting ready to leave the Marina, I moved the car near the Schell's house because the light on the Nichols Bros pier was so pretty.  I had to move fast and did the initial sketch with my one inch brush to capture the mellow colors .          

Playing around

The weather has been stifling for the Northwest.  We are staying cool by closing up the house, going near the water and generally laying low.
We love to go to the movies, but our theater is not air-conditioned.  So we sit at home watching Netflix or some semi interesting TV program.   This week I sketched from a photo just for fun.  I even started sketching it upside down.  This image is from the Whidbey Island Garden Tour after party a few years ago, arranged by flower arranging magician Kay Lagerquist.

The magic of flower arranging by Kay.

On Monday, while sitting at the Langley Marina I sketched the Schell's new home.  Love the stacked box look and the feeling Pam probably has of being up high in a birdhouse view the water and Marina.

Schell home

Fall is here!

We are sketching inside shops and homes.  Contact the Sketchers if you'd like sketches in your home or garden.
These two sketches were done in the past two weeks.  One inside and the other outside.  I bet you can guess which is witch!  Halloween is almost here; think witches and goblins, hot chocolate and tea.  Here are two shops where you can find inspiration for snuggling up with something delicious.  Both of these shops are on the newly revised Second street in Langley, WA!

Sweet Mona's Chocolate shop

Star Store basics for your teapot, tea, candles and health needs.

Djangofest 2014

Its officially fall when the Django Reinhart musicians arrive in town to serenade us with Concerts and street music.
I love sitting in Langley watching and sketching people during the festival.  The Doghouse is open for beer and wine, friends hang out and chat while sketching and listening to the music.

Husband and wife made me think of the Blues Brothers and whats up with the gal whose back was turned on the musicians?

This is our new gathering place on Second Street in front of Callahans Fire house.  I love the new planters!

Mary and Sherryl sketching someone I can't see!

From inside the Doghouse looking out!

Arts Alive

What a beautiful day we had for art demonstrations in Langley yesterday!  It was called, Arts Alive! All kinds of art media was demonstrated downtown,  printmaking, sculpture, Portrait, Still Life, so much that I can't remember it all.

My husband drove by, but couldn't find a parking place.  He said it looked like I had groupies watching me paint the Good Cheer, and GHL buildings (it was the shadows).  Afterwards, I headed to Useless Bay Coffee for shade and sketching.

I managed to do a quick still life, then headed to the Antique Shop on First and Anthes where this wagon full of pumpkins caught my eye!  I'll have to check them out one morning for better light. They are quite delightful because the wheelbarrow is pink! and the Orange Pumpkins glow with fat orange zinnias repeating the pumpkin shape.

Pumpkin wagon at the Antique Store

Still Life at UBC Coffee

The Big Dig

Life goes on in Langley, around sand, large machines and lots of beeping!  Whidbey Telecom was digging yesterday, laying the groundwork for telecommunication.  Barney says thats why I don't have Whidbey TV in my neighborhood yet.  Maybe by summer Barney?

 Come visit the artists at Whidbey Art Gallery, during the week.  You can stand inside and have a ringside seat at all the action. Sketchers will be sketching at the Gallery on the 21st of this month.

The Lovers

Inmates

Sketching at the Bird Sanctuary this past week was an interesting and wonderful experience.  Slightly overwhelming also!  The birds get really chatty and screechy in the afternoon while having cocktails.
You know how it is!  Someone always has to be louder than the other person.
The red/purple female bird is so colorful and sweet.  I'm a little wary of the macaws with those big beaks.
The two lovers below must have been smoking something, because they kept making goo goo eyes at each other!

The Lovers

The Summer Whirlwind

As usual, summer in the Northwest is a blur of activity.  My favorite is still sketching outside at the Markets, on the street, or even when working in the Gallery.  I bring in flowers and sketch them when the gallery is slow.

Some activities from this past week not related to sketching are Kayaking!  Finally, I got on the water with a new group of women, who are so experienced.  We launched off Robinson Rd on Mutiny Bay last week very early in the morning.  The middle of the day was spent painting with Cary in her studio, then I finished up the day hauling in crab with Sherryl at 5pm.  Whew!  Not a typical Northwest day, but you get the idea.
The scenes below are from Second Street market on Friday and some daisies I brought into the gallery while working.

Dasies

Lillies at UBC

Second Street Market 1

From UBCoffee Company Garden where the Lillys grow.

Back in the Saddle

We have been traveling to visit family, but I took the trusty sketchbook along and had some quiet times in the local coffee shop.  We celebrated the Superbowl at a lovely home with friends and all the kids were enthralled with my sketches.  I hope I inspired a few of them to do some sketching!
Since returning, I've added a sketch of the Langley Fabric and Antiques store and our trip to Judith's Studio last Friday.

Judith's love seat with sun stripes

Langley Fabric & Antique Langley WA

Set up at Judiths Studio

My view of the TV at Superbowl

A beautiful light pattern

Word and Pictures

One of my favorite publications is Palette magazine.  It is published by Christopher Schink and William Lawrence with Cheap Joes Art Stuff.  I receive this six times a year and stop everything when it arrives. There are no advertisements, just art, lessons and inspiration.
This month's inspiration comes in the form of words, wise words.  For instance, what are you thinking when you start a painting; your mood, what would you like to express?  If you were writing about this image or idea, what would you say (Gerald Brommer).
Myra Levy has a technique, called 5&5.  When she begins a new painting, she brainstorms five adjectives or phrases that describes the feeling she wants to express and five adjectives  that describe what she doesn't want to fall into.
I am just trying to remember to write down what attracted me to this particular landscape and the mood it conveyed to me, with the hope that I can convey that to you?
This Madrona tree is so large and usually glowing with the afternoon sun.  I hope to capture it another day when the sun is shining. This was painted on a gray overcast afternoon.
John Alsip is a friend that has left Langley with so many memories of his art that the Sketchers decided to start an art record of his work.

Prewitt's Madrona tree

John Alsip garden lamps

Serendipity

Last week I was missing Sketchers, because I had scheduled a desperately needed haircut!  The appointment was right in the middle of our meet, so I had to choose, go early and sketch at the Cash Store or stick around in Langley and try to rush something.
I left and sat in my car at the most gloriously lit scene of sunlight falling on the side of the Cash Store where my hairdresser is located and a small art shop.  Here are the results.  The second one has been dressed up with gouache because I wasn't satisfied with the trees in the background (oh why did I bother even adding them).  Insanity!  Also the clever shelter is confusing because you are seeing the underside.
Bonus.  This was sketched to show Kate how her foam was used to build up the sitting area in the couch.

This is my Finnish Couch with a bunch of pillows.

The shelter and umbrella

The first thing I saw was this!