I did it!

I have been fulfilling one of my items on my Bucket List. That is to publish a book of my sketches. This will hopefully be the first of several. "North to Alaska" is a collection of ink and watercolor sketches from my sketchbooks following the West Coast from Northern California to Alaska.
Having travelled this route By RV, plane and cruise ship I have had to search for pages in several sketchbooks and then scan them.
My childhood was partly lived in the Queen Charlotte Islands just south of Alaska, off the BC coast.
So the area has a special joy for me. The Islands also known as the Misty Isles are now officially called Haida Gwai, the Haida Indian name.
The book is now being published and will soon be available.
I will be teaching once more on Celebrity ship in August leaving Vancouver BC on the 4th for one week.
This is the cover painting.

Better late than never

Cleo

Value Viewer img

Value Viewer img

This is really embarrassing. So much time has passed without a comment from me.
What have I been doing? A lot it seems.
February: I will fill you in starting here.
IPad is working and some of our Tuesday Painters Group have become quite clever with them.
My fave app is Value Viewer . I use it to check values in preparation for the actual painting and again when I think it might be nearing completeion. Easy to take a quick snapshot with I Pad and move it to the app.
Did I tell you I did a demo for Fremont Art Association on various approaches to collage? From the use of handmade and rice papers(washi) combined with watercolor to torn paper collage, no paint, using material from quality magazines which I scrounge as the only mags I buy are Art publications.
Standing room only I am told. Son, Tom, did a video which I have not seen yet . Hope to have an excerpt for U TUBE soon.
This was followed by a 3day workshop in March. Lots of fun but tiring for this old bod.
Also held a Monday Drop in class for a few weeks. Worked well. Averaged 5 students per day. Nice size group. Am taking summer off and to consider how much more teaching I will do.
Still plan to do the cruise ship gig.
Visited the De Young Museum in Feb and again in March. Jack and I went to see "The Girl With the Pearl Earring" by Vermeer. felt like I had watched it being painted after seeing the movie. Also showing were amazing etchings by Rembrandt and others as weel as paintings by Rembrandt and other Dutch artists of the time. Think many of the old master works were painted by candle light which could explain the darkness of many. After all Holland would have short daylight hours .
Of course Rembrandt brought us his well known "triangle of light".
The second visit was to the Annual "Bouquets D'Art". My first time to see this. very worthwhile.
A pre picked group of florists were assigned to do an arrangement that represented a painting in the Museum's collection. Pretty spectacular!
Also saw the "Girl" again as a friend had an extra pass. Then Carol, who was driving took us to coast. Had drinks and deep fried calamari at the Windmill . Yum. Did not know there was a restaurant there.

Am going to stop here and post some photos, then get back later. Promise!

Alaska cruise

Leaving Sat to Vancouver and the Inside Passage to Alaska on Celebrity Century.

Cruising

I have just accepted a teaching assignment on Celebrity Cruise line' ship the Century for the week of Sept 4-11 2011. Vancouver, Inside Passage, Icy Strait Point( new port), Hubbard Glacier, Juneau,  Ketchikan, Vancouver.
Anyone want to go? Quick decision required as date is so close.
You have to get yourself to Vancouver and home on your own.

Watercolor sketching , eating , and fun.

Let me know.

Back on Terra Firma

 A successful two weeks on the "Infinity" cruising the Northwest Coast. One  week with sister Barb and one with Good friend, Donna. We all had a good time and classes went very well.
Thank you, Celebrity.

Class size varied from 15 to 50 participants, mostly first time watercolorists.

Seattle Space Needle

Here are images we painted using ink and watercolor.

Cruising

Have received  confirmation  for back to back cruises from Seattle to Alaska  Sept.. 3rd to 17th  on  Celebrity's "Infinity" 2010. I will teach one hour classes on at sea days.

I am very excited about this.

Essanay Cafe' Show

Christine Wilson and I have 18 watercolors on display at Essanay Cafe' in the old Niles district of Fremont from today until Feb 15th. We think it looks great. Come see for yourself.

Something to look forward to.

I received news today that I will be guest artist on the Celebrity Cruise lines ship, Millenium, on a 2 week cruise from San Diego CA to Alaska and ending in Vancouver BC where we will hopefully stop off for a few days visit with family. I am really excited about this new adventure. More about it later. Meantime here is an interesting friend I met on a previous trip.