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.

5th St. Market (lower level), Eugene, OR

Here are most of us: Tricia; Penelope, Barb So., Erik; behind the column is Bev with Penny & Lealan, and far right is Daisy (with Jane).

Penelope, Barb So., & Erik were busy from the time they sat down!

       Erik was working on a wheat field he’d seen, while Barb So sketched what was right in front of her on the table.

       Penelope would like us to think that she got the blueberry Danish purely for sketching reasons. It sure vanished fast after the sketch!

Bev, Penny, & Lealan had a nice selection of being in the sun or not.

      Here you can see how Bev’s sketch developed – ink then color.

       Lealan goes right to color – markers, that is. She says she likes the effect in the one done at Diamond Lake, more like what she wants.

        Suddenly I noticed that all three were sketching in their laps, just like Penelope & Barb So.   Penny was sketching flower baskets above us.

     Daisy was sketching in her lap, too, determined to make that rooster sculpture in the fountain pop off the page – ta dah!

Jane didn’t have Penelope’s control over her subject before she finished her sketch. (YUM!) Next she laid down paint before ink.

    Satoko joined Tricia (both sketching in their laps!). Satoko’s attention was caught by the rooster in the fountain, too.

Tricia started with the flowers on the balcony above us, and ended with a colorful rendition of “Swifty” the market rooster icon.

Farmers Market, Eugene, OR

Here we are, most of us gathered under a red umbrella at the market, from left to right: Judith & Justin in the sun; Helga, Marsha, Bev, Lealan, Sandy, & Hugh taking cover from the sun.

      Hugh concocted his own sketching tripod, which gives him a stable base for his sketchbook, and he got  into sketching right away.

      The light coming through the red umbrella gives his sketch a rosy glow! But he sure nailed the booth across from him in his sketch.

Lealan did her shopping first and generously contributed a still life, much to Sandy’s and Jane’s pleasure.

 
Here’s Sandy’s sketch of the beets & carrots – her paper really was white as you can see in her final sketch.

   Jane had a different viewpoint for her sketch of the veggies.

And Lealan looked right over the top of the veggie still life to include Jane in the picture!

Here are Marsha and Bev busy sketching – in the pink, so to speak!

       Marsha did her preliminary sketch with pencil, which doesn’t show up so well here. So come back another time to see it inked!

         Bev was the busiest of us all, and got three sketches done!

     Helga added to her market sketch from last time, and Daisy captured a whole booth with color and detail.

      Judith’s son Justin was visiting from Japan, and came sketching with her. Judith took on the challenge of those baffling square umbrellas.

      It turns out that Justin is an old hand at watercolor sketching. It’s always such a pleasure when we can include visiting family! Keep coming back, Justin!

Farmers Market, Park Blocks, Eugene, OR

     The day started off kind of drizzly, so Lealan, Penny, Barb Sh, Erik, & Jane (behind the camera) started off at the Palace Bakery. Yum.

      Then we segued over to the market – first Tricia, Helga, Penny, & Jane  at the tables (with Daisy & Lealan sketching in other parts of the market), but it wasn’t long before Ken joined us, too.

  The lamppost with flowers and the market sign caught Daisy’s eye, then all the goodies to purchase (all in her hand made sketchbook).

   Lealan went for the full ambience of the market before succumbing to the delicious available fruit to take home to visitors. So she said.

Penny and Helga were fascinated with the market umbrellas.

      Here are those lovely rounded umbrella tops by Penny and Helga.

       Jane’s eye was caught by the pointed umbrella tops.

   Our group expanded to include Satoko & Marilyn. Then the booth across the way with hanging hats became Satoko’s focus.

   See how quickly that sketch took shape! She doesn’t even hesitate.

     Ken loves working with a brush pen, perfect for tree branches!

Oh, look who’s here! Penelope! Let the wild rumpus begin!

        First she gets those watercolor saturated, then the loose watercolor begins, but oh! Up she jumps to sketch in the band performers, too!

         Tricia is determined to do only loose watercolor – but the guy has no face! Problem solved. Sketch the back of him – no noses involved.

Tricia’s final sketch has lines for lettering (& a tiny bit for the pastry wrapper). Success!

Owen Rose Garden, Eugene, OR

  Back and front views of the early birds in the garden: Sharon, Renee Nelson (so good to see you!), and Barbara So.

      Erik, Renee, Patti, and in the next shot: Patti, Sharon, Helga.

   What a lovely setting! Patti, Erik, Helga, Barb So, and Sharon. Then Satoko stopped by with her friend Keiko fro Japan, much to the pleasure of Erik & Patti. And Jane, too, of course.

     And speaking of Jane, here she is, and here’s what she’s sketching – the white roses hanging from the arbor over the table.

      Look at how Patti’s value study evolves – first a light sketch, then adding darks. Ken would say, “Go darker!” and she does! Then white.

        Erik’s sketch is a lesson in layers – look at that sketch build!

     It’s always interesting to see how sketches evolve – here is Barb So.

     Look at Sharon’s sketch come to vibrant life – lovely!

    Helga joined us, too, and Barb So chats with Lealan (who was fascinated with the mowing patterns in the lawn!).

       We lost track of Heather – she was over by the famous old Tartarian Cherry tree – love her impressionistic version of the view!