Tulips in the Rain

Roozengaard Gardens during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. 11X15 watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper by Megan Seagren.

 



The Seattle Watercolor Meetup Group went to Roozengaard Gardens during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April. The day was dismal and rainy, but the tulips lit up the region with beautiful color. I painted this while hiding out under the food tent.

Black Point - Old Dock (Novato, Ca)

(8" x 10" watercolors on 140lb. waterboard)

Took a drive down Hwy 37 and set up at the Black Point boat launch. Followed a hidden trail that led to an old dock. While sketching my layout... my tripod cracked and my portable stool broke!!!

Luckily I also packed a beach chair.... and ended up painting on my lap. The winds picked up and my umbrella kept flying away... luckily I always tie down my umbrella just in case this happens :)

Other than all the mishaps... I  had a great time here!

Old Lakeville Road # 3 - Petaluma, CA.

I drove along Lakeville Highway and turned into Old Lakeville Road # 3.

That's right.... there are three roads to choose from but # 3 is the longest road...with great landscape views of barns and farm animals.

i immediately pulled over to admire the ponies! But just behind, I noticed a large group of sheep beginning to come up and over the grassy hillside.

So I started setting up along the fence and comfortably between two eucalyptus trees.

 The sheep were long gone by the time I finished up this painting, but sure was nice they kept us company throughout the afternoon.
 (9" x 12" gouache on watercolor board)

Yakima Canyon Aspens

After many weeks of low winter light, I'm eagerly anticipating the bright, clear days of spring, and remembering the wonderful Yakima Canyon workshop given by Catherine Gill last April. I painted this view of the Yakima River from a path leading down to it from the lodge where we stayed.

Yakima Canyon Aspens

South Lake Union

Several times this year the Seattle Watercolor Meetup Group met aboard the Virginia V, a paddle-wheeler docked at the Wooden Boat Center in South Lake Union. I painted this impression of Capital Hill from its deck, whilst chatting with my fellow watercolorists.

With the Seattle Urban Sketchers

My first time meeting up with the Seattle Urban Sketchers.  It always seems they meet on the weekend I have to work, or some other big event in my life is happening, and I can't make it to their gathering.

But this time, it was meant to be.  It was my off-week, the husband's out of town, and they are meeting in a park in West Seattle, not far from where I live!  I've been looking forward to it all week.

The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold.

Jack Block Park is an interesting place.  It's sort of industrial, being right on the edge of the working Port of Seattle.  But, it also has on of the best views of the Seattle Skyline/Waterfront.  I was a little overwhelmed by the enormity of the view.  The hardest part for me is always figuring out what to draw.  I sat with a few other people that were going to draw the skyline, so I thought, what the heck, I should give it a whirl, too.

Can't say mine is anywhere near accurate.  I wanted to get in a little of everything, and my paper was not long enough, so I jammed things together a little.

After I did the skyline, I walked around the park and enjoyed the fresh air, then I did a quick semi-blind contour drawing of some sketchers.  These are the type of quick sketches I really enjoy, because there can be some very interesting surprises.

You can see some of the other sketchers work at:  http://seattle.urbansketchers.org/

Sunset with a Full Moon

I saw a lovely sunset with a full moon rising as we returned from a day trip to Canada for birdwatching... As my husband drove and the light was fading, I managed to paint the feeling of the scene somewhere near Mt Vernon. Obviously, our gray northwest doesn't look this colorful, just call it artistic license!