Cortesia Sanctuary, Eugene, OR

We just couldn’t give up this inspirational spot!

       Tricia never stops tending the garden, and her efforts show off!

       Barb So found a quiet spot to sketch her hat & nearby flower basket.

       Danita was despairing of her wet on wet technique which requires drying between layers, but look what a nice effect she got!

      Helga, Marsha, and Katie found a shady spot on the deck, and here’s the beginning of Marsha’s sketch looking over the deck to the trees.

        Helga tried her hand at the glass centerpiece, and learned a trick from her friends: rolling a kneaded eraser lightens pencil marks!

      Katie showed her work from last week, then tried a watercolor first approach to compare with her usual ink first strategy.  Hmmm….

     Inspired by Tricia’s usual two page spread, Jane started a new landscape orientation sketchbook with a two page view about her.

        And here’s Tricia working on that two page spread – she always puts  in some text to add to the visual experience – Nice!

      Sharon began her sketch with a light pencil sketch, then started adding interesting layers of color – and who’s that in the sketch?

      It’s Ken! Searching through his collection of tools he ends up using a brush pen with brown paint, and then goes even darker, of course.

Nearby were Sandy and Hugh, back from walking the Camino in Spain, and the Pieterpad in The Netherlands. Welcome back!

Tricia started the sharing part of the morning telling us about the watercolor pouring workshop with Winnie Givott – fascinating!

Then Sandy and Hugh shared their sketchbooks from their recent hiking adventures in Europe. They each wore out one pair of shoes!

      From Sandy’s daily journal with illustrations.

Marsha helps Sandy show one side of her accordion style sketchbook – one side was for the Camino, the other the Pieterpad.

      Hugh started showing Ken his daily journal (mostly words, some images), then showed us all his accordion sketchbook of the walks.

This is Hugh’s Pieterpad side, with images overlapping the folds.

       About that time Lealan emerged from the woods (terrific sketch), and we took a break for a potluck picnic (which was superb!).

Cortesia Sanctuary, Eugene, OR

       Tricia invited us to her wonderful place outside Eugene – what a treat to have garden and woods and sweet spots to sketch!

      Several of us settled right down on the deck to begin sketching.

      Tricia started by showing folks around her wonderful space, then settled down to show her “GREEN” painting, and do a new one.

      Jane started with a table ornament, then added a cup, and then finished at home by adding glimpses of treasures at the Sanctuary.

      Helga chose a flower box on the deck with an interesting trellis. She even attempted to get the wood grain in the flower box – super.

          Marsha began her sketch of flowers on the deck with a light pencil sketch, then inked it and added colored pencil. Nice job!

        Katie took one look at the tall trees, the tall peace posts in the labyrinth, the tall flowers, and made rectangle “windows” for them.

      Bev fell in love with Tricia’s ancient cat – what charming sketches!

     We caught a view of Lealan & Ken below the decks – talking art? No, exchanging downsizing ideas! But Bev got in a sweet sketch of them.

      Then Ken was off to the woods, doing first a brush pen impression, and then a far-away view of the valley and  hills beyond.

     Meanwhile, Laura had found a hidden garden, and filled he page with  treasures from it. What a sweet place, a sweet sketch.

We knew Satoko was around somewhere. Here she’s showing Tricia the watercolor she did of the area, so full of light, color and life!

Penny’s Farm near Mt. Pisgah, Eugene, OR

   What a lovely day to be at Penny’s Farm, so much to sketch, too. Left is the view from the deck & the host, right are Laura, Daisy, & Katie.

   Here’s Penny herself, color coordinated with her hanging flowers, and then her sketch of Marsha who was sketching out in the garden.

    Here’s what Marsha was sketching, ink then colored pencils – nice!

       Katie did a loose watercolor, then went to an ink contour drawing. Laura did a terrific job capturing the back garden gate.

     Daisy started with the sugar peas, then used a multi-colored pencil to sketch the deck scene on the page, too – delightful effect.

       Jane picked the folding chair as her starting point, then kept adding items from the deck, and finally a closeup of the tree blossoms.

          Jan was just glad to be there, and Tutti was glad she was, too. This sketch is from Roger Mitchell, Yukon tent camping with wife!

     And where was Ken? At Hidden Springs in Ashland, Oregon, but still sketching (of course).

Owen Rose Garden, June 19, 2018

There’s a blue cast to the shadows, and a brilliant blue sky with roses blooming all around us. We spread out, and people kept coming.

   First arrivals Penny J., Erik, and Marsha were soon joined by Bev.

      Around the corner, Katie and Bev, then Marnie, and Pat! Where have you been Pat (around another corner), show us your sketch!

      Jane took a brush pen to sketch the Tartarian Cherry – darks, leaf clusters turned into cotton balls, color?, losing the whites, ack!

      Marnie was having far more success with her selected sketch of the garden flowers – lovely to see it unfold.

      First from Katie’s sketch class in Sitka, Alaska, then beginning a garden sketch here, and into the full sunlight, yay!

        Trish launched into her typical loose watercolor sketch, fretted about needing to add details, and started right in on another.

           Penny J fretted about perspective, then took on the arched rose trellis in front of her – more to come on this sketch, I think.

        Bev started sketching a rose bush in full bloom, which caught the eye of a passerby who begged her to sell it to her! Then on to the next.

          Marsha had sketched on a pre-decorated page, then took on the challenge of the bench & flowers beyond her. Such lovely detail.

      All the while Erik had started and finished a sketch of a crow, then began a new sketch…keep checking back to see what this will be.

    Look who’s here! Ken! You make it! I think they call him Fast Draw, because look what he did just standing there! Wow.

Lone Pine Farms, Junction City, OR

      Another produce outlet, along with goats and a kindergarten field trip. Yes, we had a lot to choose from for sketching!

     One of the highlights of our time together is sharing and learning from one another. We really cherish those times!

        Satoko is looking at the booklet of sketches Barb Sh put together after her recent cruise, and Barb Sh is adding more sketches.

       Satoko took the landscape view of Lone Pine Farms – so much to see.

     Marsha had a different angle on the nearer landscape, including the table in front of her! I think she’s going to add color, so check back!

     Barb So did a second sketch of the elephant planter from Cathy’s, then did today’s sketch on a pre-stamped/spattered page – perfect to hint at the windy day blowing dust and pollen around!

     Penny M finished her bird watercolor sketch before she turned to  the kindergarten kids’ scavenger hunt by the goats & the tractor.

      Bev sketched the lily pond, Daisy some treats just purchased, and Jane some produce from the market. What wonderful items!

      Marnie did an outstanding job of sketching the cluster of tomatoes.

     Lealan got to sample a bakery item from the store (yum!), while her friend Penny J got started on the farm scene in front of her.

     Then Lealan turned around to sketch the kindergarten kids and their chaperones eating lunch before their scavenger hunt. Fun for all!

Thistledown Farm, Junction City, OR

Behind the produce building, there is a wonderful courtyard, with hot houses to the left, and farm animals across the covered bridge.

       Marsha and Lealan, Bev, and Ken – lots to sketch, oh boy!

      Ken was sketching the covered bridge, then got into the poppies.

        Barb Sh was eager to share her sketches from a recent river trip with her sister (also a sketcher) in Europe – what an adventure!

        Marsha loved doing the poppies, enjoying the wonderful lines of the flower pods. What a glorious day to be sketching them.

       Bev was sorry she didn’t have her watercolors, but she made the markers work, and even used chalks in her last sketch! Way to go.

      Speaking of markers, Lealan said she thinks she’s getting the hang of them, and looking at this, I’d certainly agree with her!

      Jane said she was really feeling scattered, but she did a bunch of little sketches, using the last one for her daily gratitude sketch.

       Daisy found interesting things to draw inside the hot houses, but ended up in the courtyard with…the poppies, of course!

Meanwhile, Erik was recapturing a memory he had of the sun in the morning mist – “Does it work?”, he said. Wow, does it ever!

Cathy’s backyard, Eugene, OR

         Cathy & Ken greeted us at the door, treated us to scones, fruit, and coffee, making us feel very welcome. What a double pleasure.

    Erik brought a sketchbook and samples of sketches submitted for publication by his uncle, who must a been a wonderful role model.

       Danita was busy in a corner of the yard capturing the charming bird feeder. Look how she builds her sketch, layer by layer.

       Jane was at the end of the table looking at the treats (Jan, Erik, and the food beyond), sketching Ken’s grandmothers elephant planter.

      Jan and Barb So were busy sketching – Barb chose the elephant planter, too, but says she wants to add color to it.

        Jan shared a sketch of Erik from one of her old sketchbooks, then did her usual direct ink or marker to the paper. Wow, exquisite work.

Marcia and Bev started out in the full sunshine, the Marcia headed for shade:

        Here are Bev’s sketches – what a wonderful yard to sketch in!

        Marnie cleverly made some color swatches to guide her choices.

      Katie seriously got into detail – this is going to be interesting when she adds color to it – what a charming rendition!

      Barb SN showed up, welcome back! I think she enjoyed sketching and painting in the sun. She has a lovely loose style.

       Lealan took the path less traveled by and discovered a Buddha head in the foliage. She says she thinks she’s getting the hang of markers!

       It was great to have Tricia back with us. I’ve missed her full page, capture the moment sketches, so lively and rich in color and detail.

         Satoko even got in some sketch time among the socializing. So good to have her back with us, too.

All in all, we had a terrific time sketching together at Cathy’s. Thanks!

5th St. Market, Eugene, OR

The sun through the red umbrellas really does a trip!

      Erik’s completed sketch, and Marsha’s intermediate outline (oh those angles and perspective – where’s Satoko?).

      Daisy and Marnie both chose to sketch nearby clothing on display.

Bev (our overachiever) got in a two page spread of clothes – wow!

         Ken’s work really was blue ink on white paper, portrait studies.

        Laura was frustrated with her umbrella, and Ken offered to show her some tips. Look for dark & light contrasts – see how it turned out!

     Jane was working on negative space with water soluble ink (ack!), and Lona was applying her signature bold colors to a simple design.

      Lealan’s marker pens made the most of the colorful courtyard!

5th St. Market, Eugene, OR

    We’d hoped to be outside, but the weather is being erratic, so we’re back at out favorite window inside 5th St. Market.

    Barb So took a photo of one of the outside planters to help her get details straight. It’s nice to have that as an assist.

      Bev captured two scenes our the windows, and then brought colors over from one page to the other so that they were integrated.

    Daisy succumbed to the giant croissant au chocolate, but had the wisdom to cut it in half and get busy sketching it! Good choice.

      Danita’s sketch demonstrates  developmental steps, going from pencil to watercolor, to ink, and paying attention to contrasts.

      Helga was sketching from a photo, and did a great job of getting depth with darks and lights. Where’d that roofline come from???

     Jane was feeling rattled by a phone call, but sketching what was in front of her without overthinking it brought her out of the dumps.

       Ken came later in the morning and sure made up for lost time!

        Fun to see Laura’s sketch burst into full color – she said she had some helpful advice from Daisy in getting the colors to pop. It worked!

      It’s always so interesting to see Lona build her sketches – pencil sketch lines, then loose watercolors bring it to life. (Love that pot!)

       And Marsha is becoming the queen of the colored pencils! She keeps  a light hand and a sharp point, bringing in colors that make it sing.

Tradewinds at Jiffy, Eugene, OR

It’s a bit hard to see through the plexiglass, but here we all are.

        Penny and Patti were sketching the huge tree across the street.

        Here’s Jane’s version of the tree, then a necklace sketch.

            Bev was trying out watercolor pencils, and got trees in, too.

    Erik got started on trees and shrubs, and Ken got busy on Erik!

     Barb Sh continued to build on a prior sketch page to include…wow!

       Here’s Marnie’s sketch of Marsha’s foot, Marsha’s finished sketch of the cemetery from last week, and Daisy’s sketch of teapot & cup.

        Katie’s sketch summed up our experience at Tradewinds – yummy.

And meanwhile, here’s what we received from the Larkins!