Honeymoon Travel Sketchbook.

Here are some little snippets of my sketchbook from our recent honeymoon.

We adventured by car, caught ferries, hopped onto islands, and explored big cities.

Highlights for me were definitely our times on islands. Orcas Island Washington

has long been a favorite of mine, and my new favorite is Salt Spring Island, BC.

Both are little havens for small sustainable farmers and Artisans, my perfect combination!

We ate our way around, walked for miles, saw amazing sights, such as dried seahorses

in Chinatown, Vancouver BC, a whole museum of miniatures in Victoria BC, 

and stayed at some remarkable Air B and B rentals. Cabins, Barn lofts, 

LED certified apartments, and renovation warehouse lofts. 

It was a fun way to try on different lives!

It was a lot of work to paint a map of everywhere we went, but it was also 

tremendously helpful! We would be looking for an intersection, and I'd say, 

"Oh, I know where that is, I painted it this morning!"

We really do retain so much more when we slow down and put pen to paper.

I brought a pretty large smattering of art supplies, but found most often

I kept it simple, my small gouache set, a #6 round brush, and a micron.

If you are wanting to get in the habit of keeping a sketchbook, 

might I recommend my upcoming class, Sketchbook Play, which begins in late January.

Check out the class section of this blog for more info, it's going to be a blast!

In My Sketchbook This Week.

It's been a fun sketchbook play week for me. 

I moved a little desk into the living room, and have been drawing and painting

while the Mr. and the cat watch TV in the evenings. 

Even shows that I usually love don't hold up to the pull of playing in my Sketchbook.

Here's what I have been up to this week...

Here is a very loose drawing of a arrangement of peonies.

I drew it with a Pilot Varsity water-soluble fountain pen and painted it in with gouache.

I love the bleedy blue lines of the ink.

I've been on a roll drawing faces from my google image search of "regular people."

I scroll until I find someone I like the looks of, then draw them, 

and I finish off the exercise making up a story about them.

"This guys name is probably Bill, or Mark, or Carl.

He will laugh at your jokes. He's got a black lab named Marley,

named after Bob Marley, his favorite musician in college. 

He is kind and will wheel out your trash if you're on vacation.

Just don't ask him to water your ferns, he's not a 'plant guy.'"

Five minute drawings over a gouache box. Everyone has time for five minutes! 

I love putting diluted ink into these Niji and Pentel water brushes and using them to sketch.

I drew these sheep looking at a recent piece of art from Taproot Magazine.

Then my brain got to thinking about the next page, and I drew this skein of yarn.

I like when pages relate to each other.

Another guy from the interweb...

"Omar loves cheese, the only problem being that he is lactose intolerant.

He is quite tolerant of ducks though, and feeds them bits of bagel every Wednesday,

on his way home from the gym."

And of course a few birds to round out the week.

What I like most about this is the combo of bright green and red,

I must use more of these complimentary colors in the future.

So, that's what I've been up to this week, how about you? 

Been sketching up something fun?

I'd love to see it!

And the winner is...

Rebecca M!!!

You have won a FREE spot in my Sketchbook Play class

which starts next Wednesday here at Bird's Eye View Studio.

Woo hoo! 

Thanks to everyone who joined in the free giveaway.

If you didn't win, but still want to take class, there are a few spots left.

I am offering a special discount to those who entered the drawing,

you may take $25 off, as my way of saying "thanks for playing!"

Dates: Wednesday's, April 15th-May 20th

Time: 6-8:30pm

Location: Bird's Eye View Studio, 

3934 NE 16th Ave. Portland, OR 97212

Cost: $175 plus a $25 material fee. 

The material fee covers the cost of your 

handmade sketchbook and an 02 micron pen. 

There is an additional small supply list of a few brushes, 

an inexpensive set of watercolors, and a few pens.

Email me at: suki (at) birdseyeviewstudio (dot) com to register!

FREE CLASS GIVEAWAY!!!

Here's a big, Big, BIG giveaway in celebration of Spring!

If you have been interested in my Sketchbook Play class,

then this is the opportunity of the season for you!

I am offering one free spot in my next session of Sketchbook Play.

Class begins on April 15th and runs every Wednesday until May 20th,

 from 6-8:30pm here at Bird's Eye View Studio in inner NE Portland.

How do we win you say???

See all the details below!

To enter you must do two very easy steps.

One: Join the Bird's Eye View Mailing List here.

Two: Comment on this blog post saying why you would love to join in on the fun!

The nitty gritty rules: 

One entry per person. 

Enter only if you can attend the 6 week class.

There is a small supply list that is not included in the free giveaway.

Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, April 8th at 10am.

Here is a description of class, if you don't win, there are still a few spots left,

we would love for you to join in the fun!

Sketchbook Play : The Art of Keeping a Visual Journal

Come learn to play, sketch, paint and record your daily life in a handmade book.

This class is geared for the sketch-phobic, the ultimate beginner,

 the "I always meant to," the "when I retire", the imperfectly perfect Artist in all of us.

No experience needed, no magical talents requested,

just bring your own wonderful self.

In this class we will spend the first week creating our very own long stitch bound

 sketchbook using vintage book covers, hot press watercolor paper, and waxed linen thread.

This simple bookbinding method is delightful because our books will open flat

 giving us full access to all of our pages. 

Weeks two through six we will learn the basics of contour drawing using everyday

 objects as our models. We will continue on learning about watercolor techniques, 

hand-lettering, fancy borders and more!

Classes will begin with a demonstration and are followed up with plenty of work time

which includes, coaching, and creative cheerleading from Suki.

We will study and draw botanicals, vintage household curiosities, gifts from the sea

 and forest, and anything else that strikes our fancy. We will embrace recording

our daily lives and objects in a visual format, which is such a treat to

look back through and treasure.

Dates: Wednesday's, April 15th-May 20th

Time: 6-8:30pm

Location: Bird's Eye View Studio, 

3934 NE 16th Ave. Portland, OR 97212

Cost: $175 plus a $25 material fee. 

Your material fee covers the cost of your handmade sketchbook

and an 02 micron pen. There is an additional small supply

list of a few brushes, and inexpensive set of watercolors

and a few pens.

Fingers and toes crossed for everyone!

Sketchbook Play Class.

Many folks have wondered, what goes on in those Sketchbook Play classes!?!

Well, here is SOME of what we do...

Sketchbook Play is a class that I teach for beginning or intermediate drawers.

The purpose is to get better at drawing as well as solidifying a sketchbook practice.

Things we study include, but are not limited to: Contour drawing, the basics

of watercolor painting, cursive alphabets, hand-drawn alphabets, 

and of course hilarious inky portraits.

If you are looking to bring back some creativity into your life,

if you want to learn the fundamentals of bookmaking

and sketchbook keeping,

come join me!

Sketchbook Play

A series of six Wednesday evenings,

from April 15th - May 20th,  6-8:30pm

Bird's Eye View Studio

3934 NE 16th Ave. Portland, OR 97212

$175 w/ a $25 material fee,

and a very small supply list.

Email for more information and registration:

suki (at) birdseyeviewstudio (dot) com

Holi-laze 2014.

What a wonderful restful holiday time we have had here.

December is always a busy time as I balance art shows, wholesale orders,

and classes, all in great abundance. And although I LOVE all these things,

by the end of the month I feel like a limp rag doll.

This year we decided to "do" the holidays differently,

we declared December 24th-January 1st Pajama Week!

We stayed home, made a bed in front of the fire, listened to holiday music,

ate delicious foods and treats, re-read "The BFG" by Roald Dahl, 

drank mug after mug of tea, and just generally did nothing, or at least did very little.

It was WONDERFUL.

I am giving each and everyone of you permission and encouragement to do nothing.

Even if it is just for one afternoon, give yourself a break

from the "musts," "shoulds," and "should bes."

Just for a few moments let yourself just BE.

In my down time what arose was a desire to paint, just for fun.

I made a set of ornaments to honor our hen daughters,

and worked on my rainbow afghan, which is close to completion.

It felt so wonderful to make and be creative with no pressure!

If you are looking to jumpstart your no pressure creative life,

I highly recommend my Sketchbook Play class!

The next one starts on February 16th, read all about it here in my class listings.

This class is built for everyone, beginners VERY welcome!

I hope each and everyone of you had a lovely holiday,

may your New Year be filled with the joy of creativity!

A Fun New Series Class: Sketchbook Play!

I am THRILLED to announce a brand new series class starting in January,

Sketchbook Play

The Art of Keeping a Visual Journal

Come learn to play, sketch, paint and record your daily life in a handmade book. 

This class is geared for the sketch-phobic, the ultimate beginner,  the "I always meant to", 

the "when I retire", the imperfectly perfect Artist in all of us. 

No experience needed, no magical talents requested,

 just bring your own wonderful self.

In this class we will spend the first week creating our very own long stitch

 bound sketchbook using vintage book covers, hot press watercolor paper,

 and waxed linen thread. This simple bookbinding method is delightful

 because our books will open flat giving us full access to all of our pages. 

Weeks two through six we will learn the basics of contour drawing

using everyday objects as our models. 

We will continue on learning about watercolor techniques, 

hand-lettering, fancy borders and more!

Classes will begin with a demonstration and are followed up with plenty

of work time which includes, coaching, and creative cheerleading from Suki.

We will study and draw botanicals, vintage household curiosities,

gifts from the sea and forest, and anything else that strikes our fancy.

We will embrace recording our daily lives and objects in a visual format, 

which is such a treat to look back through and treasure.

Dates: Wednesday January 7th-February 18th, skipping the week of February 11th.

Time: 6-8:30pm (We may run a little late the last week of class.)

Location: Bird's Eye View Studio, 3934 NE 16th Ave. Portland, OR 97212

Cost: $150 plus a $20 material fee. 

Your material fee covers the cost of your handmade sketchbook and a 02 micron pen. 

There is an additional small supply list of a few brushes, an inexpensive 

set of watercolors and a few pens, which we will discuss during week one.

I'm SUPER excited about this class, and so are others, spots are going fast!

If you are interested in joining us, email me: suki (at) birdseyeviewstudio (dot) com.

If you have always wanted to have a daily sketchbook practice,

but haven't made it happen yet, SIGN UP!

Make and keep your 2015 creative New Year's resolution.