![]() Whidbey Island Sketchers met in Langley at Liesel's Studio 106 this last week. We sketched still life groupings and I got in a few sketches of the gals. Made some effort to work quickly, but next time it'll be a much more serious goal. Spontaneity is a pleasure. Great group of gals were frosting on the cake!
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Langley is truly magical during the holiday season, all decorated with garlands and lights. The word must be getting out because the place was hopping last night. A Thursday night, no less. I stopped in for a glass of wine and a bit of sketching at Ott and Murphy on 1st street. If you plan on going to Langley at any time OM is a must. Wines are delicious and the atmosphere relaxing and friendly. There weren't any people in my visual range so laid my eyes upon the poinsettia nearby. The sensation of applying paint to paper was immensely gratifying that evening. The immediacy, watching watercolor flow and react with other colors as it dried. I love the process! Sketched in 8"x10" Stillman and Birn, Beta, softcover. Really enjoying this paper. Sketched in 5.5"x8.5" Stillman and Birn, Beta, hardcover.
My first post on my new blog. I have another called "Drawings from Life." I've posted a lot of sketching and watercolor stuff on that blog. If you'd like to peruse it here's a link: http://drawingsfromlife.blogspot.com . The Whidbey Island Sketchers had a sketch day at the Island County Historical Society and Archives in Coupeville. I knew before I went to sketch there that the Maiden of Deception Pass would probably be my subject. She's a carved figure in the style of a totem painted in beautiful turquoise, green, pale pinks, white and black. The myth captured me when I had read it a few years back. Probably because it’s a kind-of mermaid story and I’ve always been attracted to mermaids. They live in the sea and who wouldn’t want to breath under water and see the wonders? She accidentally slips into the water and a merman takes her hand. She eventually marries him to provide food for her people. I included a link to the story at the end if you’re interested in reading it. ![]() My first sketch is a quick study of the maiden. Too pretty. She’s crude and I love that about the carving. Even though I'm not happy with her prettiness I like the sketch for how the watercolor went down. This is done in a small Stillman and Birn Beta hardbound sketchbook. Fairly thirsty stuff, but takes watercolors nicely. My second sketch I felt I bit off too much size wise. It became unwieldy and was taking too long to dry. But I really enjoyed the painting process; playing with color, marks, blobs and spatters. This was done in an A4 moleskin wc book which takes watercolor in a funky way. Doesn't like layers at all. But I've come to really like it. It forces me to work more direct. ![]() While waiting for paint to dry, I turned around for a quick sketch of this ceremonial robe. Didn’t get a chance to read about it cuz happy hour. I got priorities. Here's the link to the myth:
http://www.bladegallery.com/graphics/Maiden_of_Deception_Pass_Legend.pdf |
KRIS WILTSEArchives
February 2019
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