We unintentionally managed to escape the Second Corvallis Deep Freeze this year… whew!  Business brings us up north to Bellingham, Washington, also known as The City of Subdued Excitement.  Seriously, they call themselves that.  And so far, I’d have to say they’ve nailed it, but even so, I have enjoyed the opportunity to loll about and sketch and paint while Griff works.

The above fir silhouette at sunset I painted from a series of photos I took out the window of our B&B.  It’s been ages since I had the luxury of watching an entire sunset.  If you’re looking for a piece of Pacific Northwest classic art at a modest price, prints are available in many sizes – just send me a comment or an e-mail!

This next sketch was from a photo I took on US Highway 9 (I think), Stevens Pass Highway, on the drive north.  The Cascades were a dazzling backdrop for this classic old farm.  Judging from the creeping suburbia just up the road, I’d say this might be the last time it gets its portrait made.  Farmland is disappearing faster than the glaciers.  Speaking of which, there is a terrifying and well done art exhibit called “Disappearing Ice” at the Whatcom Art Museum in Bellingham.   Beautiful art, but the theme will break your heart.

Technique Notes:  I learned that my ink “brush pen” is not waterproof after all – it must not have been totally dry when I added another watercolor glaze.  I also decided that when doing ink silhouettes, I should completely outline the structure before filling in the rest; the tree trunk is not shaped quite like it should be because I did this one the other way around.