The sun is out again . . .

Yesterday there were a few white clouds floating in a brilliant blue sky. It was just beautiful. It was only 63º but we were all ready to call it summer. The beaches along the lake even had swimmers! And, of course, all the parking spaces were already taken. We headed for the Bellevue Botanical Garden. So many cars, there was no place to park here either. 

Our next idea was downtown Kirkland to visit the galleries and then sit by the lake in the sun . . .  of course, no place to park. The only vacant spaces were in the library lower lot, which was just about empty. The "Permit Parking Only" signs on every post made it seem quite unfriendly, so we left Kirkland and went on to Kenmore to our favorite Starbucks, where we sat outside in the sun with our favorite summer drinks. 

Coffee shop sketches . . .

I had to take the car in for an oil change early this morning. Rather than wait for the car at the station, I walked down the street to a coffee shop. Unlike my last post, I had a sketchbook with me this morning. Interesting. I think I sketched this man once before . . . also around 7 am . . . same coffee shop and I was there for the same reason.

Coffee shop sketches . . .

I arrived in town a bit early the other day, so I stopped for chai at a favorite coffee shop. These moments are made for sketching, since people always make such wonderful shapes when visiting informally with friends.
There were many more possibilities in the room. Problem was, the backs of my chai receipt and an envelope were the only blank papers I had. A small sketchbook added to my purse would be a good idea.

"Corner Coffeehouse"

8 x 6 inches

oil on wooden panel

Coffee shops are popular here all year. When the sun is out, people sit outside with their coffee, books, and papers. When the weather is less welcoming, they sit inside. My favorite coffee shops have fireplaces - wonderful on gray, windy, and rainy days!

Click on image to enlarge.

"Catch You Later"

8 x 6 inch

oil on wooden panel

The sun is out again and so are lots of us! This is on the corner of Lake Street in downtown Kirkland, very popular in good weather. Coffee shops, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and Lake Washington are just steps away.

Click on image to enlarge.

"Nice Socks"

8 x 6 inches

oil on wooden panel

This coffee/tea house is near the end of our favorite trail walk. We almost always stop for chai before heading home. There are always fun painting possibilities here. This person must have been reading a good book because she never took her eyes off the pages. Somehow her right hand always knew just where the dish and mug were. Amazing. The color in painting is much richer than it appears here.

Click on image to enlarge. 

"Lunch at the Frye"

14 x 10"

oil on wooden panel

I just received word that this painting has won an award in the Women Painters of Washington Membership Show at the Kaewyn Gallery, 10101 Main, Bothell WA. The gallery reception is Friday evening May 23rd from 5-8 p.m. Please stop by if you are in the area.

The inspiration for this painting came from a visit to the Frye Museum in Seattle. From the museum’s parking lot across the street, I saw these people having lunch in the cafe. The sunlight and shadow patterns on the trees, the walls and the people in the window took my breath away. I new I had to paint it!

"Two + One"

7 x 6.75"

oil on gessoed museum board

I painted this a while ago. I liked it at the time but it really didn’t excite me. Several days ago I took it out to have another look. Suddenly it was so obvious! I darkened the outside of the tea cup - the center section closest to the viewer - from the little rose-colored flower at the top to the base of the cup. Now it is just right! This section is darker than the photo shows.

The photo does not capture the rich colors very well either, but it does give a good idea of the actual painting.

Click on image to enlarge.

"Orange With Lemon"

8 x 8"

oil on gessoed museum board

I find blue and yellow so cheerful together. After being given some wonderful lemons, this painting was a natural. I added several orange slices for color. The colors reflected in the deep blue of the tea pot and cup are always exciting to capture in paint.

"Early Morning Sun"

8 x 6"

oil on wood panel

I had a meeting in town yesterday morning. I drove in early and stopped at Pike Place Market to look for painting opportunities. This man was reading the news in the morning sun. The coffee shops and cafes were open but the rest of the market was still setting up for the day. More paintings to follow soon.

"A Kiss"

8 x 12"

oil on panel

February 1st seems like a great day to add this painting to my blog. It shares a moment in the cafe at the National Gallery in DC. The gallery has so many great moments, so many rooms filled with wonderful art and interesting people. At one point we just wanted to sit for a while, so we went downstairs to the cafe for lunch. These diners drew closer and closer together in their conversation until yes! A kiss.

"A Kiss" appears in the February ad for the Women Painters of Washington Gallery in the 3rd Floor Atrium of the Columbia Center, 701 5th Avenue, Seattle. The exhibition runs thru April, 2008.