A Sunday sketch drive on the road to Lake McMurray

Do you remember taking Sunday drives with your parents, like I did? There wasn't necessarily a concrete destination, just a reason to pile the family in the car and go see what was out there. Sometimes we packed a picnic lunch to eat when we found a likely spot. How about doing that with your family today? Take your sketchbook and camera with you and combine two of the nicest things you can do on a day off.

Look east of the covered porch and you will see another great Sunday drive, the road to Lake McMurray.

If you take Exit 221 off I-5, you'll find beautiful country views, and a great place to stop for lunch and for fresh meat, fish and produce to take home for dinner tonight. Skagit River Produce is family run by some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Value vs. Color

Black and White iPad photo of preliminary washes

I have passed by this barn for years and wanted to paint it, but the location does not allow for easy access.

You never know what's going to happen to barns, and I am determined to find a way to paint it before anything changes.

Here's what's on the easel. I know I won't have time to do the entire painting today, so I'm only going to show you the preliminary washes in black and white. That's what I'm usually thinking about at this stage anyway. More tomorrow.................................

Green in the Landscape, with Barns

These are the demos used in our lesson on "green in the landscape, with barns." (click to zoom)
Please refer to Tom Lynch and Tony Couch for more examples of their work.

Intro to Watercolor II at KAC

Here is our busy classroom today as we worked on mixing color, getting texture, glazing, wet in wet and more.

Students learned how to intensify color without getting "mud" while having fun with water drops, goldfish and an old red barn. If you zoom in, I think you just might see some of the results. 

Watercolor Cards Workshop Tomorrow

"Weathered"  Sold

Here's a preview for those enrolled who subscribe to my blog. :)
See you tomorrow!

My Paintings in the Window at A Guilded Gallery, Stanwood, WA

I have 3 new framed pieces in the front window at A Guilded Gallery during the annual Mother's Day Tour on Camano Island.

You can see the large blue "Delphiniums" here on the right side of the photo, but you'll just have to visit the gallery for a better view of the small tulip fields with barns (lower left) and medium size "Hollyhocks with a View" (above right). :-)

Please let me know if you got to visit the gallery and/or enjoy the tour.

Harvest time

Original Watercolor 5x7"
by Michele Cooper

Watercolor can be so expressive. From pale, sketchy, "English Style" washes, like yesterday's post to the bold expressionistic strokes of this one.