Starbucks couple

The best part of my day is often going to Starbucks in the late afternoon. I can really relax there and take some time to read or think about things. One way I slow down is to sketch the people around me.

Boatyard watercolor

I made this watercolor from a photo in Joan Centellas' photostream here. The photo is a great black-and-white shot, and I love the angles.


I'd like to do this again now that I've learned about some of the angles and colors.

Copy of Ron Stocke Watercolor

Today was a cold, gray, drizzly day, so I painted this copy of Ron Stocke's watercolor that you can see here. I learn a lot from copying other peoples' work. I like Ron's watercolor style, especially the way the way the figures are painted, and the grays he uses to indicate distance.

Starbucks people

I love sketching people in Starbucks. Really relaxes me.

Haselwood Family Y

Last year, the Haselwood Family Y opened and immediately was a huge success. It's located near the center of Silverdale and always has a packed parking lot. I joined in February because I needed to get some exercise in the winter. I love it! I've been swimming three times a week and I feel stronger and more energetic. It's a great facility, with the latest of everything. The pool has six lap lanes and there's almost always room when I go swimming, usually in the late afternoon.

Ferry Cafeteria

On a recent trip to Seattle, I sketched these people in the cafeteria line at the cafeteria on the ferry. I'd like to get better at sketching people in action.

Laptopping together

When I was in Bainbridge Island for an appointment, I had coffee at Bainbridge Bakers and sketched this couple sitting together and working on their laptops. I don't know if they were friends, co-workers, or partners.

Ferry family

Made this sketch of a young couple and their baby as they talked with friends on the ferry.

St. Mark's Cathedral

I attended the Clergy Wellness Day at St. Mark's Cathedral today. made this sketch during lunch break. Making art is part of my "wellness program."

London street scene

Today I took a watercolor workshop from the irrepressible Stella Canfield. I learned how to make a thumbnail and to connect shapes. It was fun!

JKPP Irene Lamartina

Irene L'amartina, for Julia Kay Portrait Party.. From this photo.

JKPP Luis Vigil

I've been too busy to paint the last two weeks, and I got burned out at work. Tonight I finally had time to sit down and finish this portrait of Luis Villa. This is art therapy for my tired soul.


From this photo.

Steve Jobs portrait

Today everything is snowed in, so I'm working from home. While I was on a conference call, I made this portrait of Steve Jobs from this photo. I was inspired by this portrait by Barbara Luel.

JKPP Carolyn Pappas

I started this painting by making the basic outlines in light blue with a brush. It's light enough that I can make corrections later. I think this gives me a little more freedom. From this photo of Carolyn Pappas.

JKPP Roderick again

This is my second attempt to paint this marvelous photo of Roderick. This is the largest portrait I've done yet...probably 15" by 20" for the whole painting. I like the way the face came out, especially since I didn't use pencil to draw the face, but I started right in with a light cobalt blue painting of the face and hat. Then I added washes of cadmium yellow, winsor red and ultramarine to define the face.

House Post at the Seattle Art Museum

Today was my son Guy's birthday, and to celebrate we took the ferry to Seattle to visit the Seattle Art Museum. The Northwest native American art exhibit there is excellent. This is a Kwakwaks'wakw house post ca. 1800. The carvings are massive and deeply incised, giving it great power. The age of the pole shows in the dark fissures and missing areas.

JKPP Roderick

My son Guy gave me an easel for Christmas and I tried it out with this portrait. The easel makes everything different because I hold my brushes differently and I have a different perspective on the painting. So much better! Thanks, Guy.

This portrait is taken from this photo.

Two paintings of Luli

I did two paintings of this photo of Luligirl for Julia Kay's Portrait Party. I wasn't satisfied with the first one, below, so I did it again. This time I got the proportions better and did a little better with lights and darks.

Last watercolor of the year

It's New Year's Eve, and I want to get one more post in this blog so I can equal last year's total posts of 109. This portrait is of Zaid, an Iraqi, from this photo. Looking back, I have to say I've improved quite a bit from last year. Participating in the Julia Kay Portrait Party has helped me step up a notch. Happy New Year, everyone!

Tracyton community building

This building sits at the center of Tracyton, right across from the Tracyton Public House and the Texaco station. It's sadly dilapidated and needs to be torn down, but it was once a community building and the heart of Tracyton community life.