Sorry, but within the next days I can’t post more about the workshop, but I have some technical problems and can’t upload images. But I will catch up with the blogging in the next week when I’ll be back to Germany.
Finally we had our first day of the workshop with Richard McKinley. In the morning he taught us all the theorie stuff and in the afternoon h took us outside and did a demo on the spot.
After that it was our turn to lay hands on a field sketch. For the first time I am working on the UART 400 ground and I am forced to work in a completely different way than I am used to. No blending here. But it is o.k, because I am interested in the wet underpainting techniques, which he is going to show us tommorow.
In this workshop I met pastelartist and blogger Loriann for the first time. We know each other from our blogs. Funny enough we choosed the same painting spot and our paintings couldn’t be more differnt. It was so much much fun and I enjoyed this first day a lot.
Barn in Skagit County, Sketchbook, 2011
© Astrid Volquardsen
On the day of our arrival we came across this beautiful old barn and some days later we came for an evening sketch. We liked this place so much that we did return the following evening to start our PleinAir session and to try out a set up for our easel and the umbrella. With a lot of laughing and joking around we finally had a stable set up and it worked pretty well for us in the wind. Becuase we were in a joking mood we said, wouldn’t it be funny, Richard driving by and seeing us painting.
Barn in Skagit County, Plein Air Workplace
© Astrid Volquardsen
After all the laughing we were able to do some nice work and I captured the mood of the landscape around the barn.
Barn in Skagit County, Pastel, 2011
© Astrid Volquardsen
The next day we finally met Richard for the first time in person and he asked us: Didn’t I see you Plein Air painting at the barn in the evening?…
I know some of you are waiting impatiently for a new entry, but this beautiful landscape keeps our days busy.
On Wednesday we went for a trip to Whidbey Island. A resident recommended a hiking tour along the coast. We hiked in this beautiful forest with its big trees left me deeply impressed. Along the trip we stopped for several sketches and tried to get a feeling for the landscape, its shapes and colors.
Not always an easy thing but we immensely enjoys our self and the fact to have all the time we need.
Whidbey Island, Sketchbook, 2011
© Astrid Volquardsen
On our way back the evening light pushed us to a final sketch at our favourite barn. More about that in the next entry.
We are fighting the jetlag and at four o‹clock in the morning we were wide awake. So we welcomed the dawn of the new day with our sketchbooks and a nice cup of tea. Because it was raining and we were very curious, we drove to Dakota Art, the candy shop for pastel artist. We were welcomed so nicely, but i will talk about this in a different post.
We appeared some three hours later outside and were surprised to find the weather as we just liked it and it presented this area in a beautiful light.
We are now very, very tired but our souls are very, very happy.
After all the preparation and anticipation my friend Susanne and I finally reached La Conner (near Seattle) in America.
It actually started out quite funny, because i had my pastelbox with me on the flight and the scan of the security check left the staff quite surprised: »Is this your backpack? For heavens sake, what is in there?« I must admit, the pastels looked very strange indeed on the monitor of the scanner.
An 11 hours flight can be quite tiring but one sight compensated for most of it. Beneath our plane a sea of ice and land and frozen lakes or rivers showed a stunning beauty.
The whole journey went well and after a two hours drive we reached the small town La Conner in the northwest of the USA. After we have found our home for the next two weeks, the first way went to the Seafoood and Prime Rib House.
With plenty of sunshine, outside on the veranda direct at the sound I feel well!
After all, the whole day of arrival went quite smooth and right now we are fighting the jet lag and try to stay awake to catch up with the pacific timezone.
Sketchbook,Rickmer Rickmers, Inkand Guoache 2011
© Astrid Volquardsen
Originally the sail ship Rickmer Rickmers was built for gods transport and its first journey in 1886 brought it as far as Hong Kong. Now it has found its place in the harbor of Hamburg as an museum sail ship.
My motives will probably change from maritime to trees, because I am an my way to America to take part at a Richard McKinley workshop. What does an artist take on a painting trip like this? Well, I can tell you there aren’t many clothes coming along. Anyway I will need some spare room in my luggage for my return journey, because the workshop will take place at Dakota Pastels, widely known as heaven for every pastel artist.
I hope to continues blogging while I am over there, so stay tuned!
