Donna Howell-Sickles Workshop

I took Donna's workshop at Coupeville Fine Arts Center a couple of weeks back. She has been one of my heroes for the last few years and I was thrilled to take her course. Watching her draw is quite magical and brings home the point of what 30 years of practice can do. Tiny woman, big drawings. There were only 8 people in the class and that was great...lots of time with the instructor and each other.
I highly recommend the center for anyone looking for workshops. They bring in some terrific people. I was really sorry to miss the Ted Nutall workshop, maybe next year?

Pink Tutu

This was an acrylic sketch from the Bev Tosh worshop in RedDeer Alberta. I loved this big strong rugby player type girl in her frilly pink tutu. It is acrylic on paper. I am thinking of having it dry-mounted, then seal with acrylic medium and frame it and see how it stands up. I don't really want to put it under glass. Has anyone else tried this?

Too Darn Close

I was hanging my clothes out on the line after supper and spotted the fire that was started by lightning strikes from the thunderstorm that had just passed through. This is the view off of my back steps. That fire is too close! But the water choppers are working on it as I type.

p.s. the next day...a severe lighting storm passed through the northwest last night. There are 20 fires burning at this time. Five are big ones but the rest are small and none are really close to the Flats. We just had another storm sweep through with high winds this afternoon but there is going to be some steady rain with it, so hopefully it will drench much of the problem.

I sold a painting this afternoon and had my inaugural visit to my studio (which is pretty rough!) Thanks, Tracy!

Charcoal sketch and two walkers

Success! We finished the 10k in less than 2 hours (1 hour 58 1/2 minutes...) and it was a beautiful warm sunny day. Next year, less time!

Seated woman

Today is my first 10k walk. It's really cloudy out there..it could rain before we are done. Wish me luck.

Crouching Nude

Very simple but I like it.

Sitting Model

I liked the grace and the power of the arms in this sketch. Ms. Sickles recommended that I concentrate on practicing drawing hands. Hands can add so much character to portraits. Anybody what to be my hand model? Guess what I'll be doing this winter.

Figure Studies

I have taken figure study classes this summer, one with Bev Tosh and one with a personal hero of mine, Donna Howell-Sickles. I have tons of pages of gesture drawings and some 10 and 20 minute sketches. I am going to post a few of these. Warning, there may be nudes!

Art Shack

This was my set up for the Columbia Valley Art Tour on Sunday. This was my first art fair with my paintings. It poured rain as Bruce and I made our way up to Pauline Newhouse's property to set up and I was so worried. But the clouds parted, we had a perfect day in a beautiful setting and I believe this first tour was a resounding success.

The Checkered Tablecloth

I'm back from a remarkable workshop at the Coupeville Arts Center and am now madly getting ready for the Columbia Valley Arts Tour on Sunday, Aug. 3rd. (Pray for blue skies!) I had no idea Washington state was so beautiful and diverse... coastline, mountains, orchard valleys, dryland wheatfields.

There is a very pretty little town called Waterville about 20-30 minutes outside of Wenatchee. It is almost "Stepford Wives" pretty but I really like it. If you ever pass through, be sure to stop at this little bistro. Great sandwiches and amazing peanut butter pie!!!