More Details on my two new Urban Sketching Workshops

Intro to URBAN SKETCHING Skagit Valley College (Mount Vernon Campus)

I am very excited to announce two NEW workshops on urban sketching where I can introduce you to some of my favorite sketching tips, locations and experiences. Every level of experience is welcome, but each workshop is particularly designed as an introduction for those who want to know what it's all about but haven't really tried urban sketching on their own. Or maybe you just need a little guidance on what to sketch and how to use your equipment.

Urban sketching might seem intimidating at first, but there’s a whole world of subject matter out there just waiting to inspire you. In each workshop, we’ll explore a number of different ways to approach sketching both in the city and in the countryside. You’ll learn how to create a simple, compact and inexpensive sketch kit, easy methods of sketching people, street scenes, marinas, gardens, markets, farms and more. Learn to do what other urban sketchers do when the weather turns against you by setting yourself up in a cafe window, a park shelter, a mass transit seat or in a museum. Instruction, hands on practice, outdoor sketching.

We'll start in the classroom for demonstrations, hands on practice and orientation. Then we go out on location to try out your new skills. Each day of each workshop will offer different locations in and around the Mount Vernon and La Conner area. Part of one day of each workshop features riding and sketching on the bus! (bus fare included with the workshop!)

Lunchtime will be one hour plus time to commute to the next location. Lunch Day One on your own, Day Two Cafe sketching in class (bring lunch money).
Location maps, materials list and complete schedule sent by email upon registration

6033   CART 072   AG   9:00AM-4:30PM   SaSu 7/9 to 7/10   H208   Cooper M   $179.00  Seats Avail: 7 of 10

6034   CART 072   BG   9:00AM-4:30PM   Su 8/21 to 8/28   H208   Cooper M   $179.00  Seats Avail: 8 of 10

SKOL2016 at Roozengaard

Although I shared this series of sketches live on Periscope after a morning at Roozengaard, a tulip display garden, it's always nice to see the work in progress. Scroll down to view my accordion book sketches in reverse order, from end back to beginning.

The finished sketches of the day. 4.7.16.  Individual sketches shown in more detail on the replay at the 57min mark. Here on Katch.

I want to engage in the Sketch Out Loud Project along with other artists around the world. The goal of SKO/L is to help celebrate Landscape Architecture and World Landscape Architecture Month with a wide audience of sketchers to promote on location sketching as a way to observe and document the landscape. Learn more about SKOL2016 here.

Final sketch of the windmill and a trophy shot on a warm, sunny bench nearby.

As I sat on a bench sketching in the northwest corner of the display garden, a bee came to view my progress. It hovered for a few moments, so close that I could see it pivot in flight left and right from page to  page.  After it buzzed away, I sketched it in place exactly where it had been, took this photo and continued my work in progress. 4.7.16
Roozengaard

La Conner and the new Boardwalk with Anacortes Sketchers

There was a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 23rd at the Washington Street-end to celebrate the completion of the La Conner Boardwalk. Today, the Anacortes Sketchers went there to sketch and explore. 

LaConner has always been an inspiring place to paint: quaint shops, the "rainbow bridge", fishing vessels and the boardwalk. I have been going there for decades to shop, sketch and browse. Previously, the boardwalk consisted of the extended decks from some of the shops and a small wooden landing or two with public access. But now, a major facelift has taken place all along a substantial part of the waterfront.

  

I have to go back! Because, instead of sketching the boardwalk itself, I blithely used it to provide greater access to views across the channel!

Fish processing shed across the channel. Sketch by Michele Cooper

Sketchers at the Tulip Fields

Two more days until the "official" opening of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and the fields are at peak already. Anacortes sketchers met across from Christianson's Nursery in Mt Vernon today at what may be the ultimate field this year.

Spring has sprung! 68 degrees and color everywhere !

Update: My friend and fellow artist took a photo of me painting this sketch. See it here.

ASk sketching in the tulip fields today. A trophy shot of my sketch in progress.

A bystander asked if we all wanted our photo together, I gave her my camera, she took two photos and I have no idea what happened to them. I should have checked to see if she pushed the right button, I guess.

I did get some photos of Anne and Joyce sitting on their portable camp stools very close to the mud! and our group photo of sketches, a distant view of the group putting their work at the end of a row and a trophy shot of my sketch in progress.

Barn Shadows

Barn Shadows - Watercolor by Michele Cooper

This is the final result after working on this composition from yesterday. It was a lot of fun working with the variety of shapes provided by the years of wear and repair on this old barn. After sketching in my sketchbooks, it was wonderful, being able to use bigger, better brushes and larger format. It's the first time I've painted this one, but I feel like I could explore it a hundred times over and get a new viewpoint each time.

"Barn Shadows" - Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Size: 11x 15"       Price: $200 (unframed)