APRIL BLOG

A Perfect Time for Pocket Sketching

​My friend Michelle has a new house to furnish and oil paintings her daughter painted when she was young.  They are on 1 inch canvas stapled to the support.  And they are big, as in 22 x 24 inches. She asked me to paint the exteriors to hide the staples, matching the colors Megan used years ago.  Tip:  Don’t do this!  Not only do you have to use very thick paint, you have to match the colors someone else chose.  I thought it would be an interesting exercise and perhaps lead me back into painting in oils.  Got out the Julian easel.  It has become amazingly heavy and cumbersome.  I used to haul it over a mile to paint on location.  I’m matching colors with paint that has become so thick, I’m using a nail to penetrate the tube to squish it out on a palette, using pliers. Then there’s clean-up.  Paint thinner and soap and water.  POCKET SKETCHING IS SO PORTABLE, SO NON-MESSY, SO JUST MATCHING OUR LIFESTYLE!  Oils look great on the wall, but P.S. is pure pleasure.

Lake Oswego Inlet

Descutes River Inlet

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​For three weeks In June we will be in Pinetop, AZ renting a house with a Jacuzzi for which I have a use.  Covered with a plastic sheet, it becomes a very large workspace for water media and I don’t have to pick up for a month.  It’s in a separate room with good lighting, air conditioning and my music. In Tucson my ‘studio’ is outdoors and I’m forever getting stuff out and putting it away totally dependent on weather and lighting.

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Workshops

Arizona Inn Poolside

​​Once again, we’ve had a delightful workshop.  What a way to meet fun, happy people.  We went to the Arizona Inn for the plein air part on the third day and sketched at the glorious swimming pool.  The old Inn is timeless (almost 100 years old), has High Tea on Sundays open to anyone.  Being there is stepping back in time.  The new owners will keep it classic but add a few extras you’d expect, such as a spa and discounted packages

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Upcoming

In July we have two workshops in Coupeville, Washington:  July 10 – 12 is The Basic Workshop and July 20-22 is The Refresher Workshop, (in the Refresher, the first day is review, then all new stuff.  It’s a great way to re-learn and get new technique plus have fun!).  Coupeville is on Whidbey Island across from Seattle.  The shuttle from the Seatttle  Airport runs every 20 minutes.  Lodging is walking-nearby.  This is a gem for vacations!

Basic Workshop

Coupeville

Refresher Workshop

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Totally New is Bend, Oregon, August 3-5

We will be at the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center in Sunriver just south of Bend.  Bend is totally a distination recreation town with great fishing in the Deschutes River, the McKenzie River and many lakes.  If you have a companion who loves the outdoors, this is the place!!!  Golf, hiking and even summer skiing if you're into helicopter.  I lived there for two years when the population was mrerely 15,000.  I rode my bike on the deer trails.  The handlebars fit where antlers go.
C ontact Julie Barrett for information and to register:  (202)232-8243.
Email:  [email protected]

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News

And the last news is by request.  Do you want to see one of our videos more than once to really ‘get it”?  Unlike regular PBS where you have to be ready at 9:30 on Tuesday morning every week, in June we will begin Pocket Sketching Memberships.  Susan, our techie, has found  a place that has a good user-friendly format.  Unlimited viewing for $20.00 a month with a six month membership to get all of PBS Seasons One and Two.  That means you can look at Season Two, Episode 4 ( whatever it is), any time you want (maybe midnight when you can’t sleep) for as many times as you want and back it up over and over to get exactly what you want to review.. When we did Online Workshops we found some people would go back over and over on the recordings to get what they wanted to learn.  I want this feature available.

We will follow this with Seasons Three and Four and a special package of ‘Yappas’.  In Greek, Yappas are something extra.  I have many technical gems that are sophisticated watercolor to share in a string of short we-make-them-here videos.  PBS Season Five is filmed, but not even totally edited yet.  Eventually it will also be available.  We are in planning stage in all of these and really look forward to your feedback.

WATCH FOR UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENT WITH DETAILS OF MEMBER BENEFITS.

Click the button below if this is something you may have interest in.  Your voice matters to us!  Thanks for participating.

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Happy Sketching!