Oakway Mall Courtyard, Eugene, OR

       Erik & Hugh check in with each other, then the rest get started: Daisy, Barb So, Marsha, Sandy, Bev, Barb Sh, Lona, Erik, & Penny.

        Barb Sh is eager to show Daisy & Sandy her latest comic strip version of her last Italy trip – Erik enjoyed it, too. Here’s a peek!

           Daisy started a color chart of her watercolor pencils, then drew an example of how Barb Sh did her book, and finally a sketch on top.

       Hugh stayed focused the whole time – he really captured the scene.

        Lona did a close-up of the same pot, then took on the chairs – yikes!

        Bev may be the fastest sketcher of us all – not just these two, but the two below, too!

       It’s so interesting to see how Marsha’s sketches develop – she even got some color down this time – lovely!

         Tricia was tempted by the black-eyed Susans, too, but just had to get a closer look – how do you DO that mass of flowers! Oh, like this.

    Penny didn’t get to stay long, but we got a look at her finished rooster from 5th St. Market, & the beginning of today’s sketch.

      The masses of flowers and pots were just too much for Barb So, I guess, so she resorted to sketching her foot in her sandals!

    Barb Sh was off in another land, reliving a recent cruise.

        Meanwhile, Sandy was chortling about artistic license as she put together her sketch of the store door and sign.

And what was Jane doing? Her gratitude sketch for the day.

Oakway Mall Courtyard, Eugene, OR

        At first it looked like just some of the same old players – Lona and Erik captured by Sandy’s camera – what a lovely day for sketching!

       Then Tomomi came with her children to sketch with us – here’s her son showing his sketching prowess – well done!

      Tomomi’s daughter chose to sketch some of the colorful flowers, and here’s Tomomi with her own sketch of lantern & hanging baskets.

We always enjoy having new sketchers with us (& especially kids).

Jane’s place, Eugene, OR

     We had quite a gathering on the decks at Jane’s house – Vikki Wetle, Marsha, Penny, Vikki’s friend Katie, & Barb So on the east deck; Lona, Danita, Sandy, Hugh (& Jane) on the west deck. What a day!

    Danita brought scones, much to the pleasure seen here with Hugh & Sandy. The scones quickly made their way to the other deck, too.

      Danita took on the landscape, first with a watercolor layer, then later with defining ink lines. What a difference some ink makes!

       Hugh moved from his initial architecture lines of black on white to a white on black version, and then on the the flowers (from Marsha, and the peaches (from Vikki).

        Sandy (aka, the bird lady) just couldn’t wait to put paintbrush to her sketchbook to capture the blue heron that was in the newspaper.

     Lona was attracted to the tray of peaches from Vikki’s orchard.

         Vikki drove down from her ranch in Amity, bringing freshly picked peaches and figs (& her friend Katie, too, who sketched the figs).

        Helga sketched the whole table in front of her along with boxes of scones & a bowl of figs. She likes using pencil because…corrections!

      Marsha had a sketch in mind from a photo, but finally gave in to sketch the bowl of figs. (They were disappearing pretty fast).

        Penny found the figs irresistible, too – look how her sketch develops.

        Here’s Katie sketching the figs, while Judith selects one to sketch along with Katie’s collapsible water container.

        Barb S-N sketched the figs, too, as well as a blue glass cup – lovely!

       I think Barb So smelled the peaches, because she migrated to the other deck (along with Penny) to sketch with Lona.

    Penny immediately sketched the peaches. Jane did, too, after everyone left (& after she ate one of the peaches). Nice time!

5th St. Market, downstairs courtyard, Eugene, OR
Temperature predicted to get to 108 degrees!

   Here we are, escaping the heat in the lower courtyard. It was NICE.

       Marsha and Barb So. were under the patio overhang, and Barb So’s sketch gives you the first look at the rooster on top of the fountain.

       Marsha choose to sketch the plants & setting (but no rooster!)

Back in the corner were some newcomers: Lona, daughter Lisa, and granddaughter Addi. It was fun having a young sketcher –  we encouraged her to try a waterbrush, and she discovered watercolor!

        Lona was alternately sketching with pen, and adding watercolor pencil with waterbrush. “I love color!” she exclaimed. Yep.

On around the courtyard were Helga, Daisy, Bev, & Marsha. Above Marsha’s head you can see the rooster posing on top of the fountain.

        Helga was fascinated with the hanging plants, as was Jane, who after a irksome effort to sketch Erik & Hugh resorted to table items.

        Daisy was enthralled with the rooster – great perspective!

        Bev enjoyed sound of  the water fountain while she was sketching the flowers above her.

     Beyond Bev we see that Lealan slipped in to sketch…Bev and Marsha across the courtyard from her!

Rounding out the group are Penny, Sandy, Ken, Erik & Hugh.

    And what does Penny pick to draw? The rooster, of course!

         Sandy quickly moved into adding color to her version of the bird.

       And speaking of color – here’s Ken’s sketch of the rooster – wow!

Erik contemplates his croissant pastry & chats with Hugh.

     Good thing Erik has such a great visual memory, because that pastry disappeared very fast before he could sketch it.

      Hugh took on the challenge of the rear view of the rooster; now who’s being roisterous?

Cortesia Sanctuary, Eugene, OR

An apt quote welcomes us: “The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, one is nearer to God’s heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth.”

         Tricia adds to that welcome – there are 22 acres to explore, lots of garden, a labyrinth, a path to look across the valley to the lake.

Helga, Marsha, Tricia, Penny & Jane gather at the table to sample the blueberries Penny brought to share from her garden.

   Helga is pleased with her sketch of a challenging chair on the deck, but Jane can’t settle on just one thing, so does a collection!

Tricia & Satoko find a quiet shaded place to sketch the garden.

Penny and Barb So. are just up the path with sculpture & flowers.

       Here are Penny’s and Barb So’s preliminary sketches – lookin’ good!

    The bird house gets Marsha’s attention, but Helga found a swing!

     What a wonderful place for sketching!

     Penny plays with a brush pen, and Tricia says “I want to get loose!”

So Tricia takes direction from Satoko, a master of wet-on-wet paints.

     Satoko’s painting quickly evolves, and Tricia is proud of her start!

     Penny looks at her first adventure with a brush pen, while Jane examines her use of a Copic marking pen sketch of nearby trees.

We loved sketching at Cortesia! It’s become an annual retreat.