Sandy's Sketches From Schuh's Farms

Sandy's Sketches

September 2016

A Rainy Day Sketch from Sandy

Sandy's sketch from Shabby French Market

Sketch by Sandy

June 2016

Guemes Island at Sue Roberts' Studio

Approaching Guemes Island landing.

I am so glad that I decided to drive up early for our August 10th Anacortes Sketchers' outing! Missy kindly sent me a message about the rain, in case I wanted to wait until after lunch.

Our plan had been to walk on the 11:30am Guemes Island ferry (a 5 minute ride, sailing every half hour) and sketch on the beach while enjoying our own packed lunch. We had an appointment to visit artist Sue Roberts' studio after 1:00pm. I checked the weather and it looked like the rain would stop after 11:30, so I went early, as planned.

As you can see, it was still a bit overcast when I arrived at 11:15 am, but the rain had already stopped. Then I pulled over immediately after disembarking the ferry! Because here was a sweet little red "Gem" just waiting to be painted!

I thought this was the cutest, most colorful thing I would find on the island and set about sketching it immediately! (See my blog for more details, photos and early sketches)

Michele's sketch of the little red "Gem" at the ferry line shelter on Guemes.

Janice and Bonnie were outside on the patio at the General Store. After sharing our lunch, we took off to visit Sue in her studio. I was wrong about the colorfulness factor! This being my first time at Sue Roberts' Tower Arts Studio, I had no idea what wonders awaited me!

We got a tour of the studio from top to bottom and all around the grounds. Then we set to work.

So many choices of subject matter, both inside and out!

We tucked a couple of Sue's ceramic pieces in with all our afternoon sketches. Thanks to Annette for climbing to new heights for a great shot!

I stayed as late as I could to finish my sketches inspired by the afternoon at Sue's Tower Arts Studio. Color added at home.

Then, Sue gave us hot crab dip, chips, cool beverages and a homemade chocolate apple cake made just for us by Janice. Yum! Thank you, Sue, for an inspirational, fun and colorful summer retreat!

Bella, Bella, Bellisima!

Words cannot describe it! Anacortes Sketchers were invited to visit TerraBella in the countryside of Conway, WA, this afternoon. This delightful wedding venue has a garden and properties cared for by the equally delightful owners, Caroline and Loren. I took 79 actual photos and double that in mental images that I will never forget.

There is something charming through every vista and around every corner, including the owner, Caroline.

All this is enjoyed by the owners, of course, but intended as the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding. I imagine those married here this summer are pinching themselves to make sure they haven't just been dreaming.
I sketched an entire two page spread in the last pages of my panoramic sketchbook. To see them better, I scanned them into separate sections. (Visit my blog to see the way it looks in full spread.)

These are the separate compositions:

The Airstream sits behind the flower bed, door and windows open in the breeze.

Fresh linens drying in the summer sun.

Thank you so much, Caroline and Loren, for a most wonderful midsummer day's dream.

ASk at Tri Dee Art Supply in Mt. Vernon

The back door at Tri Dee and the mural.

There's always such a positive, welcoming environment when I go to Tri Dee Art Supply in Mt. Vernon.You can tell it's going to be creative, fun and exciting, just by the way it looks on the outside!

The back wall has a huge mural that says, "Make Art Not War". It consists of 139 pieces made by members of the community, from the owner's daughter to well known artists.

Thank you, Summer, and the rest of the crew at Tri Dee for making us welcome today and for the lovely gift of the Palomino Blackwing 602 pencils! They are fabulous!

Only three of us (Anne, Michele, Sandy) made it back inside the store for a photo on the steps with our sketches.

It was such a lovely day, sunny and in the 60's. What a treat for February! So although our sketch meet up was planned so that we could shelter from winter inside, many of us just had to go outside and take advantage of the early spring weather. Some sketched around the block, others joined up way down by the river. It was hard to keep track of where anyone was at any part of the afternoon. I'm looking forward to seeing their sketches as they post them on the Anacortes Sketchers Blog in the next few days! So much to write in my sketch journal, so I'll post my sketches from the day tomorrow!

Sketching the Aquariums

Can they see us from the other side of the glass?

We were ready for inclement weather. Advance planning required an indoor location with a much needed splash of color at the end of January. Brilliant idea! We were given private access to everything the Breazeale Interpretive Center had to offer, including the ambient sounds of the seashore. Who knew we would have a sunny, clear 68 degree afternoon in the Pacific NW while east coast residents were bracing for a blizzard?!---Post and Photo by Michele Cooper