Spring Retreat - Part II

 Despite some of our husband's (wishful?) projections that all we do is have pillow fights in lingerie on our get-togethers, we spend the vast majority of the time making art -

 This location was great for light, floor and table space - we all got to spread out and do our own thing.

(Kathleen's latest experimentation. Love it!)

 Suzy and Gudrun are painting on silk and sculpting respectively -

(some of Gudrun's darling clay creations. Her preferred medium is stone).

 Rebecca is working on a 9-painting series of darling imagery for the children's hospital.

 And then there was the group project - monoprinting on gelatin 'plates' -

 (Here's one of Jo's in-process) -

 Michelle (who's going to Georgetown Atelier part-time with me) and I did homework/anatomy studies, amongst other things.

 Leg studies...

Working on ankles and feet...

There were also long walks, chatting, much advice and critiquing given and sought...

 ...and as always, many fabulous meals together (such good cooks!)

Thanks again for yet another fabulous weekend girls!

Music Monday - Weekend in New England (Spring Retreat - Part I)

 My critique group had its annual spring retreat this past weekend. We stayed in a lovely spot on Puget Sound. Despite being on the opposite coast, the location reminded me of Barry Manilow's Weekend in New England (although we were all caught up in *art* rather than romance...)

(Say what you want about the kitchy-ness that is Barry Manilow, the man can sing! What a live performance!)

The view from the ferry as we headed over. The sun started breaking through the clouds for the first time all week.

 On the other side, we stopped for lunch at a teensy, award-winning and most delicious crepery.

Yum! SOOO good.

After driving through scenic countryside for about an hour, we arrived at Fort Flagler. We stayed in the rather non-descript building in the middle there. Utilitarian looking, but the inside is *perfect* for our group-art needs. We'll be returning, I'm sure.

Our buildling was at the top of a bluff overlooking the Sound - 

From our living room window, you could not only see water, and Whidbey Island, and sailing things, but various mountains peeked out - like Mount Rainier -

- to Mount Hood. Pretty spectacular view (when it's clear at least).

Fort Flagler is still home to it's original Army gunnery installations - 

(this one at least looked vaguely medieval...?)

And from the tip of the island which comprises Fort Flagler, Port Townsend is visible.

More anon.

Retreat, Part Last -

But of course, the best part of our retreats is the company, and the huge inspiration that comes from the creative intensity of being around such artistic activity....

Such variety of art forms - watercolor, oil, silk painting, computer, sewing, knitting, sculpting and even finger painting!

We were also visited by a bevy of neighborhood dogs - who were happy to accompany us on walks, play endless rounds of fetch or even serve as substitute pony rides. :-)

And then of course, there's the food! So many good cooks and wonderful dishes to try. We always eat very well.

So thanks again to all my fellow-POBLites for yet another successful and productive retreat. Looking forward already to fall. :-)

Retreat Part III - shoreline critters

I was tickled with the number of living things that we spied as we poked around on the sand...

There were a number of large rocks down by the low tide line (this one covered with sea lettuce) that a number of creatures were tucked under - from periwinkles and whelks and mussels -

-to large violet sea stars (and again with the giant barnacles)-

There were quite a few shockingly orange sea-cucumbers...

There were clusters of feather-duster tube worms (some of them poking their feathery heads out in the water).

We also found an enormous bed of sand dollars (the living ones were dusky-purple brown and hairy looking), with dozens of tiny, bleached sand dollar 'skeletons' scattered about for the taking....

And then there were living things buried in the sand... See this pile of barnacles nearly submerged -

-they are attached to this grumpy little rock crab...

There are also Dungeness crabs and these teensy little kelp crabs tucked behind smaller stones....

Other things in the sand - so, so, so many geoduck siphons! (If you are not aware of the wonder that is our indigenous freaky-enormous clams with the double siphon - you really must look at the link. Prepare yourself). There were so many clam siphons that nearly every step we took resulted in multiple streams of salt water being squirted into the air as the clams rapidly withdrew.

Such a fun walk. :-)

Music Monday - Valpariso and Retreat, Part II

I know Sting's version of this song, but I think Darby Devon's take is absolutely magical:

So while you are listening to 'the rolling sea', let me show you pictures of the shore...

It was low, low tide, and near the water line, many types of sea vegetation was exposed to the air. Some of it was sparse and brittle looking - like tufts on the balding head of an old wrinkled man - 

Closer to the water's edge it became thick and varied - dark and bright greens, reds and purples. Where they lay over pale stones or shells they looked like vivid translucent dyed easter eggs..

Besides the frilly seaweed, there were also the *rocks* to admire. Some decorated with barnacles, muscles, whelks and kelp strands...

Some of the rocks were beautiful on their own - look at this green-stripes on green specimen! This is not a small rock. Those are *giant* barnacles (the size of your palm) attached to the sides. I've never seen these before. They are impressive!

Another interesting sighting close to the water line were clusters of tube worm tubes sticking up from the sand.

Looking up from this cluster, there were tubes in the air as far as I could see on this section of the shore...

Tomorrow - sea animals on the sand...

Succulent Saturday - Spring Retreat Part I

This year we stayed at a new-to-us location along a little bit of coastline of Puget Sound...

(here is one of the views from the property at low tide....)

The sky alternated between light grey and glowering... (it did rain for much of the weekend).

After unloading the car, one of the first things we did was to explore the shoreline, 

which was only available at low tide....

We found many many wonderful things! I will show you more anon!

Music Monday - (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay

Am back from our spring retreat....

As usual, it was a lovely get-away (see the view from the property we stayed at). There were walks along the beach, amazing food, good company, and much, much work accomplished....

This song ran through my head as we strolled along the water (although it is deceptive - sounding like a relaxing time was had, although not so much...)

Despite some very long days spent painting, it was a good trip. The book is nearly finished (thanks to this weekend!) and more retreat photos will follow...