Sketching at the Sonshine Alpaca Farm

It felt so good to be out sketching with the WISkers again.  It's been a long time.  We met today at the Sonshine alpaca farm very near my house in Langley.  Very fun place tucked way back into the woods at the top of a hill.  Lots of alpacas, goats, chickens and BIG guard dogs to protect them all from the coyotes, eagles and owls. 

LOVE this guy snacking away IN his feeder.  I am sure the idea was for him to be on the ground with his head in the box, but whatever works!

 Totally great animals!  The black one is a big boy alpaca kept separate from his girl alpacas and not happy about it.  He never stopped mewing and bleating the whole time I was sitting doing my sketch!

This is a Karakachan, a Bulgarian Sheepdog.  His job is to protect the animals from eagles, coyotes and owls.  He is huge.  And exceedingly PEOPLE friendly.  He nearly knocked me over in his joy to greet and love me.  He was pretty sure that my camera case was his ball. 

This is SUCH a pretty place.  The sun was warm, it smelled like a farm and was filled with all sorts of animal sounds.  Such a completely enjoyable way to spent the day.

WISkers @ BAYVIEW CORNERS

It was a beautiful day for sketching at Bayview Corners!  The sun was shining, the air was warm and fragrant, there were birds everywhere - it was perfect! 

The "Half Link" bike shop

The entrance (through the vine arbor) to Bayview Nursery

I settled myself in with a view of the fountain in the yard of the Basil Cafe.  Just as I started to sketch the fountain a robin landed on its very top and began to sing.  It was such an iconic scene!

Having some freshly baked ginger cookies from the Star Store after a hard day of sketching.  







 The giant chess pieces are ready and waiting for the kids to come during  Bayview Market Saturdays.

 Sketching and an impromptu back rub among the flowers in the nursery.

One of my favorite things about the yard in the Corners area is the old twig chair under the apple tree.

SPRING in ARLINGTON

with WISkrs @ Elliott's house

 We were invited to a wonderful high bank "cabin in the woods" overlooking the water in Clinton.  In fact, it made me very nostalgic because Elliott's view is the same one Mom and Dad had for years out their front windows - straight out over the water to Everett and the Cascade range. 

 The house is full of little nooks and crannies that are in turn full of interesting "stuff", like seashells, feathers and skulls.  It was quite a sketchers paradise.

 

 I sat in a chair with my back to a HUGE tree propped up so I wouldn't tumble down the embankment into the briers and nettles on the way to the swamp at the bottom.  Except for being VERY CHILLY it was lovely to sit and sketch among the twittering birds and the delicate aroma of skunk cabbage.  Ah, spring!

 THIS IS MY SKETCH OF THE HOUSE

At the Bailey's Corner Store Art Studio Paul Petersen blows beautiful glass to take to his shop at Pike Place Market on equipment he built himself.  I am impressed with ALL of that, and with Paul!

WISkrs @ Studio 106 for First Saturday Art Walk

 

Last night was the "First Saturday Art Walk" and the April gallery openings down in Langley.  Museo and Brackenwood both had new shows and Artist's Open Houses for them.  And artist (and Sketcher) Phyllis Ray opened her studio both to the art walkers, and to us to sketch while they come through.  Her son's girlfriend agreed to pose for us, modeling Phyllis's Easter bonnet.  She was a GREAT model - holding her pose for at least 1 1/2 hours, never moving and never taking a break!  She is missing a bet financially.  If she did this professionally, she would be in HIGH demand.

It was a great night of art and fellowship.  Phyllis even sold some art (one of my favorite pieces of hers - the painting of The Braeburn Restaurant in bright blue).  

WISker's March Challenge - Sketch cloud formations over Whidbey!

 The challenge issued to the group by fellow Sketcher and artist Lois Mathews, was to capture the cloud formations in the skies around the Island.  The sky this time of year (when you can see it) is full of clouds that are just one step away from snow clouds - billowy, but full of moisture.  They run from bright white to nearly black and full of rain (or snow).  They were beautifully piled up on the day I tried to sketch them, but it was so cold outside I couldn't hold my pen.  So I photographed them and retreated to the warmth of my "studio" to finish up. 
The Doghouse Restaurant is, like Lazarus, coming back to life, thanks to new owners.  It is going to take at least a year, but even if it only takes that long it will not be a moment too soon for the residents of South Whidbey! The park bench overlooking the Marina and the water at the end of Second St. in Langley is surrounded by daffodils - they look pretty but don't make it any warmer for sketching!