I'm baack!

My brain has been on idle for the past six months.  I'm still out there creating art, but the business of posting got lost in the shuffle.
So, here are a few things I have done since my last post.  (Bless me Father for I have....not blogged) ;-)
What I did do recently was fly to California to participate in a plein air oil painting class with Carol Marine.  About a dozen hardy women and one lovely man took a class in and around Carmel and Pacific Grove.  I am so happy I did this, it tested my mettle.  I didn't embarrass myself (too much) by tripping over the tripod.  I did discover that trucking off by yourself with two suitcases and a backpack will not be happening again.  My forays into plein air will be here in the Northwest where I can drive my car and paint my favorite parts of Whidbey Island all without being too far from my wheels.  Things I learned, I hope: Blocking in to examine the value and design of the scene you want to paint.  Red cellophane helps to see the lack of values.  Details come later and as Sergei Bongart said, "don't paint the fleas before the dog"  This is harder than you might think!  I'm still trying to work on the block in work we did in the field and if anything comes from it, you will see it here.
Meanwhile, I took my sketchbook instead of oils up the hill to see China Cove and the bird sanctuary at Pt. Lobos and this is what I am posting along with a couple of current sketches.

Durandii Clematis

Durandii Clematis

This particular Clematis is not a natural climber (clinger) and needs to be supported or allowed to wander over and through bushes.  Its very pretty draped over the Rhododendron and our red Barberry.  I cut these flowers on Wednesday and they are still going strong.  The petals are stiff and don't wilt like other Clematis.  I would call this plant a winner!  I found the blue vase and children's silver cup at Good Cheer Two in Clinton.  The spoons have been hanging around waiting to be included in another painting.
The still life sketch was to distract me from the pain of recuperating from Dental Surgery.  Boy, that was a lot of Lidocaine!

Vintage & Handmade

Fun times sketching cute kids clothing today at our newly reorganized Community Thrift Store in Freeland.  I also sketched some old handmade quilts and the other day saw a lady walk out with a really nice old red, white and blue Texas star (? ) that she bought for $100; it had a $200 price tag.  Bargain!!!
After that we picked up a glass of wine at Blooms Winery and hung out at the new Pop up shop in the Bayview Cash Store, called Handmade on Whidbey.  There are many wonderful artists selling their work there during the Christmas season.  This is run by the ever energetic Vicky Brown of The Little Brown Farm where she makes goat cheese extraordinaire.

Pretend this overlaps

Blue dress looks like it was made in the Fifties.

Beautiful Squash for sale and serving boards

Vintage quilts

Sears Kenmore

This lovely beauty that is at least 60 years old, was sketched by me on Friday at the Community Thrift Store.  I used to shop at Senior Thrift many years ago before they built the beautiful giant thrift store in Freeland and renamed it Community Thrift.  It's a terrific place to find bargains of all sorts.  Sometimes it depends on whether you want something bad enough because they have a habit of over pricing some items.
Take this lovely, well kept Washing machine for example, it is priced at $385.  I guess if you have a reason to keep preserving it for a few dozen more years or you are going to use it in a play or have a themed home, or maybe if you are Sears and have lost a sample of this particular model.....hmm.
We Sketchers were trading horror stories of kids and wringer washers; my brothers' broken arm, Sherryl's broken wrist; it makes me glad I never had to use one.  My brother is two years younger than me though, I wonder why he was using it?  Whatever the reason, this is actually pretty in pink and I loved the shadow from the Rocker in the window too. Pat