Tradewinds @ Jiffy, Eugene, OR,

“Outside” sketching (with the heat blowing on us): Bill, Ellen, Jim, Ken, Erik, Barb Sh., & Jane behind the camera. Wonderful sun on us.

Inside sketching: Marsha, Katie, Bev, Jude (& Daisy later).

          Ellen is new to the group. When asked if she usually works with pencil/graphite, she replied, “No. I’m a potter!” Great job, however.

          Bill had the perfect pre-stamped page to sketch a music conductor (wow, look at those hands!), then back to his favorite: portraits.

        Jim’s imagination took off on his fence stamped page! He showed us a trick to painting without dragging your hand through wet paint.

        Jane said, “I’m done!” “Oh, no you’re not,” said Ken. “Give me that thing.” And he proceeded to add trees in the negative space. Wow.

          “Here, you work on mine,” Ken said to Jane. So she added the logo and name to his chair sketch while he worked on hers. Fun time.

       It takes a lot of pressure to get the rich wax crayon coverage Erik likes. Why does he keep doing it? Because he’s terrific at it!

          Barb Sh wanted to use a dip pen, and found this gizmo to hold her ink bottle. Subjects: Erik & Ken. “Yep, that’s me,” Ken said.

         Marsha brought a doll in a Japanese kimono which she’d had for a long time, cautious about trying to do a drawing of it – ta dah!

        Bev drew the potted succulent on the table, the the Japanese doll from a different angle with her head turned. Delightful pages!

        Katie keeps adding little vignettes to her page of frames. The one today was the delicious scone she had. Next the store logo?

        Jude was mesmerized by the wine bottles in the shelf display.  The questions: do them all? what about the bottoms? Pure whimsy wins!

        Daisy started out doing a “blind” drawing (not looking at her page), then another looking, a loose watercolor, and the store logo. Yes!

Jane’s place, Eugene, OR

It’s become an annual event – bring your sketchbook and put stamps or spray swatches or patterns on pages ahead of your sketching! Here’s a view of the stamping table with the sprayers in the mirror.

         Ken was the master demonstrator with the compressed air sprayer using Copic markers for pigment. Yes, we’re all fascinated!

        Most of the rubber stamps were background texture, with some patterned stamps to add for page decoration. Oh, what to do!

      Daisy brought some stamps, too, and the curiosity  stamping was on!

        Jane closed her book after spraying a stencil using a Tsukineko spray bottle – oops, easy to get too wet, as Erik saw, too. Penny did better.

       Penny also tried the pressurized sprayer, as did Barb So after tips from Ken.  Tricky to get the right distance & keep the stencil on.

        There was a whole lot of action going on – Hugh & Sandy did teamwork on one, then Lona did one on a postcard. How clever.

       Marnie had a previous sketch done which she decided was just right for stamp action – nice design going there! Hugh tried that, too.

        Jim and Lona took their stamped/sprayed pages and utilized them for background and framing for  a sketch – so unusual and fresh.

          Then Sandy discovered a new use of marking pens and stencil – wow! Barb Sh showed Erik her dimensional paper journal, and Penny J reverted to (gasp!) plain old sketching. What a morning.

We had been assured that Tradewinds was going to be open on January 1st, but when folks arrived they found it wasn’t so. Did that stop them from sketching? No! “Begin the year as you wish to continue,” Marsha said!

     Daisy and Marsha headed for Market of Choice. Daisy wants everyone to note that she started the year eating vegetables: spinach and kale pastry! Marsha faced “fear of the blank page” with admirable accomplishment – sketch what’s in front of you! Great!

      When Jude and her friend Wanda showed up, they solved the problem by going to Hideaway Bakery, and sketched an antique store item Wanda brought with her. Nicely done!

Sketchers like these are clearly resilient and determined. Way to go!

Public House, Springfield, OR

    It’s hard get a photo of us all, because people keep coming and going (getting coffee, coming from an appointment, etc.). 1st – Jude, Marsha, Ken, Katie, Daisy, Hugh, Jim, & Laura. 2nd –  Laura, Bev, Bill, Jim, Daisy, Katie, Marsha, Helga, Sandy, Hugh, Ken, Jude.  Below are samples of sketches by all of us, in alphabetical order by first name (because the editor is too rushed to figure out the story otherwise):

        Bev not only does a sweet sketch, she frames it with what’s around – a trellis, and the table! Then on to the stained glass windows- oh boy.

     Bill has a fascination for faces, and what interesting ones he collects!

        Daisy’s getting very adept at drawing and laying in color with colored pencils, but she’s also wondering what she can do to “go darker.”

         Helga starts with the main arch of the wall, then expands it into detail and definition. You can tell that the door is set back from the arch!

        Here you can see Hugh’s clever setup for his water soluble wax crayons – he goes directly to them with water brush, then to paper!

          It’s no surprise that Jane started with the botanical. Then she added a penciled outline of a couple of chairs, & the name of the place above.

        Jim did a quick outline in pencil of the building façade & people in front of it, then watercolor – look for what he doesn’t do…

        Jude was looking at a different wall, caught the lights; worried about the angle of the roofed pier, but Jane said the shadows will make it ok.

          Katie started out with a continuous line drawing – oops, no room for the rest of the flower! But it all turned out just terrific anyway!

      Ken said he just found this old watercolor set so decided to use it! Then he brought out his recent ceramics to show us the glazing.

          Laura started out with one head (Jude), added another person (Sandy), then another (Ken) and the building background – what fun!

        Marsha sent these pics in – sometimes people across from you are just too tempting not to draw! Here’s Jim, Daisy, and Jane. Oblivious.

          And here are some of Marsha’s sketches – didn’t she do them well!

        Sandy was sitting across from her sweetie, Hugh. She says she thinks this is the best she’s ever done of him, and she’s done lots! Yep.

     And Satoko’s back from Japan! She’s so quick – a sketch of the flowers before her, and another of a nearby sketcher (Helga). Way to go!

Public House, Springfield, OR

Much to our surprise, the building didn’t open until 11, but the courtyard was both covered and heated! Great light. We liked it.

         Jane sketched flowers on the table, the sign above them, the colored window logo, & one of the sketchers. Had lunch, $1 off next time!

        Sandy’s a lap painter – first the flower arrangement, then an peeled orange. She & Bill found they both had been organization consultants.

           Bill confessed to sketching people while he was in meetings, and that he had to write down their names so he’d recognize them again.

            Erik was drawing people, too – Hugh, right across from him. As the tradition goes, you show the person your sketch of them, & they sign.

     Meanwhile, Hugh was far far away in Canyon de Chelly. What a wonderful rendition! He’s using water brush on pigment crayons.

      Jude also sketched the flowers on the table, using water soluble colored pencils. She has a lovely delicate touch. Elegant flowers!

      When Laura leaned back in her chair, she discovered she could see the old church steeple (a challenge!). Then she did what was around her.

         It’s always so fun to see what Bev will find to include on her pages, with a nice design strategy having the flowers reach across the page.

        Lealan came a little late, but wasted no time in getting the marker pens working to capture the vibrancy of the flowers on the table.

        Remember Lona’s red page last week? It’s the background for her Christmas mouse! Red edges on the next page? No problem for her!

5th St. Market, Eugene, OR

Nearly all – Erik, Hugh, Lealan, Daisy, Nancy, Marsha, Jim, Marny, Helga, Barb So., & Serge. Ken, Lona, Jude, Bev & Jane were there, too.

      Daisy & Ken at one end of the room, Serge and Marsha at the other end. Sometimes we’re focused on our task, sometimes we share tips.

     Here Hugh shares the effect of wax crayons on black paper, then Lealan explains how she uses Tombow markers to layer color.

        Erik often sketches images from the photo files in his memory, but today he sketched what was in front of him – a tea bag! WOWZA.

     Jude came by to share a sketch – what’s next? Go darker! She also brought some snowberries, which Bev enjoyed sketching.

        Bev is so adept at capturing images around her – holiday decor, people an nearby tables, and the intricate decor above Café Glendi!

        Jane is a newbie at using black paper, so she was conscientious about labeling the tools she used, & loved the simple effect for snowberries.

        Lealan says that well after a year of exclusive use of Tombow markers , she thinks she’s about figured them out – next? Using water?

          Daisy has been carrying her sketchbook with her when she goes to holiday events. Question – how to make things pop? Negative space!

        Ken is always experimenting – here with pages he’s put frames on or washes of color for background. Then a former student stopped by!

       Lona brought a copy of her book for Ken to see (to his enjoyment), then did multi-layers of red watercolor for her next background.

        Marny was intrigued by the photo of the interweaving pods, used a page to test colors and shades, then a colored background – success!

        Jim’s sketchbook is a collection of  vignettes – often images from the cafés he frequents (including a metal wall – wow!) or from magazines.

        Helga had some color & hue tests on a page, then sketched the soffit of a nearby café and gave it perspective by adding a person – yeah!

          Barb did a delightful watercolor sketch of her coffee and muffin, and then included Marsha in a red chair on the other side of the table.

        Serge departed from his usual black & white ink sketching to do some sketches in loose watercolor, then added ink. Fascinating effect.

        Marsha made a test grid of her colored pencils so she could compare brands. Her favorite on black paper? Faber Castell. Nice pigment.

        Nancy, Marsha’s sister visiting from Maine, fit right in with the group, doing watercolor sketches of people around her, including Erik!

      Hugh shared one of his angled page sketches, then applied the idea to what was in front of him. He’s using waterbrush to crayon, then page.

It was a great sketching day together!

5th St. Market, Eugene, OR

Laura, Jude, Jim, Bev, Marsha, Barb So, Erik & Hugh.

          Lona, Katie, Daisy; Barb So, Barb Sh, Marsha, Jude, Jim; Marny, Helga.

         Barb So showed us her 3D sketchbook, then added a sketch of Barb So and Erik across the room. We all may show up in her book soon!

         Barb So put washes of watercolor on her page before hand, and then began populating the page with what she saw around her. So fun!

            Bev started out with the ceiling light, moved onto the hanging holiday lights, adding color and moving on to sketch a reindeer decoration.

           Daisy dutifully sketched her treats before tackling on the wall ahead.

        Erik & Marsha were the earliest here, so chatted before sketching. Here’s the beginning of Erik’s sketch of walking the dog (I can relate).

          Laura was curious about Hugh’s technique on black paper. Didn’t he do a stunning job sketching his Danish! Interesting effects on black.

           Like Bev, Jane tried sketching the ceiling lamps and decorative lights hanging down – but how do you make them sparkle on white paper?

        Jim’s eye was caught by the ceramic wall tiles and beyond, and then he started sketching an intriguing historical building from a magazine.

           Jude had a great time sketching holiday decor on her black paper – using toned paper is quite interesting, and more people are curious.

          Katie found the tree branch that Lona brought in to be a challenge worth doing, and didn’t it turn out excellently! Nice work.

          Laura really enjoyed sketching the slightly wonky Christmas tree on display in the corner – she sure captured the whimsy of it!

       Lona also brought some Christmas tree ornaments, and couldn’t resist sketching this little Christmas mouse – what a clever little guy.

         Marny started the Christmas tree sketch by doing the lights & ornaments first, then the ribbon, and the foliage last. It worked!

          Here’s how Marsha’s view of the Christmas tree developed, and she’s heeding Ken’s advice: go darker! This is going to be spectacular.

Mes Amis Café, Eugene, OR

    We were surprised to walk into such a busy place, but people were kind to move on and give us a long table to crowd around.

        Jude brought her own models – wonderful colored pencil sketch of the persimmon and pomegranate. It’s nice to have her with us.

        Katie was working on a wedding gift using the design from their wedding announcement as inspiration – watercolor perfect for this!

           Marsha was intent on capturing her latte and the flowers beyond. She’s enjoying trying out her water soluble colored pencils, too.

      Bev is having fun taking a looser approach to sketching people, and look at that tree! She also incorporates pre-stamped pages.

Helga is getting masterful at using graphite pencils – nice models!

            Jane was looking outside for her sketch (& laughed that she’d never sit in that wonky chair!), then added the signs found indoors.

         Jim and Serge talked about wanting to get looser in their sketching (while some of us talked about wanting to get more accurate!).

      Well look who showed up! Ken, Hugh, & Laura. Here’s Ken’s sketch.

          Hugh’s mark making is becoming bolder – look how that sketch developed from a simple start. And then he’s on to the next sketch!

       Laura tackled the display case across the room, too, with an entirely different effect from Hugh’s, using pencil not markers. Very sweet.

RiverView Café, RiverBend, Springfield, OR

Here we are, back appreciating the big windows at the hospital cafe.     

        Lona, sitting across the room, didn’t need the window light because she had a photo to refer to – this is going to be a fun painting!

        Daisy, sitting next to Lona, finished her colored pencil chart, then sketched some of the sketch group! Recognize anyone?

        Helga (not in the sketch above) did the lamp outside, then gradually added the context of the autumn maple leaves, and the firs beyond.

        Jude (the blonde on the right in the sketch) was trying out her new Pentalic metallic colored pencils, finding patterns in the photo.

           Barb Sh was next (see Daisy across the room?) continuing her saga of adventures in her sketchbook. She’s a great sketchy traveler!

           Jane (between Jude & Barb) continued her lamp drawings from last week, then a chair (in pencil first!), and the bouquet on a table.

          Jim (next to Jane) sketched from a magazine photo.  “Been doing this long?” Out came the business cards – “Oh, a few years.”  Wow.

        Penny M (last in Daisy’s sketch) was sketching Helga at the table end, then one of the lights before doing watercolor. Lovely sketch.

          Erik (at the other end of the table) really captured the vivid experience of raking leaves, knowing there’s more yet to come!

        Satoko loosened up with a sketch of the trunk of the tree outside, began a sketch of Penny, and looked at Hugh’s sketches. Busy, busy!

        Hugh sketched the trees, too, & used a water brush on the crayons in the carrier he made (so clever). His completed prior sketch is great!

        Helga discovered Lealan in the corner sketching the trees outside. She also showed us her completed sketch from Friday – zowie!

River View Café, RiverBend, Springfield, OR

Fourteen of us (& another in spirit – see last entry), enjoying sketching together in the sunlight at the hospital cafe.

          Helga kept her eye on the condiment island at the cafe, all in pencil.

        Penny J had the same view, started in pen, went to markers.

        Barbara So spotted a floral arrangement, pencil then watercolor.

        Penny J and Lealan compared sketches done at the park using Tombow markers, then Lealan sketched a guy at a nearby table.

          Jude, sitting in the window, did a quick sketch of the trees outside, then the clouds caught her attention – watercolor pencils, nice!

        Daisy started on the bright autumn leafed tree, tackled the curving ceiling soffit and hanging light, then back to the good old tree – ha!

        Jim brought his own view from the ghost town of Bodie – pencil outline, watercolor, and then pen (which really makes it pop!).

Erik always has an image ready in the view of his mind – nice start.

          Hugh enjoys interpreting photos from his travels – we had a great discussion about whether to leave parts of it white. Hmmmm…..

        Marsha usually uses regular colored pencils, but this time ventured out with her watercolor pencils for a loose watercolor look. Lovely!

        Katie is having a blast with her pages of pre-framed vignettes. It’s always so interesting to see what images catch her eye in a place.

        Serge always does such exquisite detailed work in black & white using ink, it was a fun surprise to see his watercolor wash with ink!

        Jane just had to memorialize her first almond milk latte (it was fantastic!), then the blasted soffit & lamp (this was her 2nd try).

And meanwhile, this just in from Ken in Newport, but thinking of us and sketching, too – looks like he mostly used markers (his “go-to”).