The Art of a Sketchbook - September

The other day I decided to walk to the waters edge and do some sketching instead of my usual 2 mile walk.  It was only 9 a.m. yet it was already showing signs that it was going to be a warm day.  With the sun in my face and my eyes squinting I was able to do one landscape sketch and two other sketches of nearby objects.

Looking south from the beach.

Cedar branch.

Dried leaves on the beach.

Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival

Recently we've had some really lovely weather here in the Northwest and a week ago today we decided to attend the 37th anniversary of the  Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, about 90 miles away.  It was amazing.  Lots of people, lots of vendors, lots of food and lots of wooden boats.

Point Hudson boat basin.

A lot of boats are decorated with pretty bouquets of flowers,
either on their bow or stern.  Such a pretty sight with the beautiful polished wood.

For me one of the highlights of the day was when I spotted this plein air painter on the beach.

Periodically throughout the day I would go back to where he was painting and see how he was progressing.

And I was happy that I returned just as he was putting the finishing touches on his painting.

Ahhh, a beautiful painting to show for his hours of standing on the beach.

The end of our day we were rewarded with this view of boats sailing in the bay.

Mussels in a Group

I have been preparing for a holiday show that is the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year.

More often than not I find myself still working on framing or printing long after midnight the night before.  This year I'm ahead of schedule.  I have all my cards printed and most of my paintings ready to share.

This is a small 6" x 6" painting of Mussels to go along with the small wood block shell paintings I do.

Group of Mussels, 6" x 6", Oil on stretched canvas
© 2013 Nancy Van Blaricom

Side view of stretch canvas

My taboret ...

A number of months ago I purchased this wonderful cart at a garage sale in hopes of using it as a taboret  in my studio.  It works wonderfully. It glides across the floor so smoothly you wouldn't believe it, and look, it has 4 large drawers to store a lot of goodies in.

My taboret ...

My taboret cart neatly put away when not in use...

When I'm not using the taboret I am able to keep it at the end of my all purpose table with my brushes, most used tubes of paint and my palette sitting on top of it.

It has nice big drawers to store art supplies ...

Taboret almost in place....

When I am using the taboret I turn it sideways in front of my easel along with my palette. 

In order to paint from this distance I need to hold my brush by the end (not close to the ferrel) just to reach the painting.   I don't know if I would ever have been able to make that a habit with out the aid of my taboret.

Taboret in front of easel ...

In place and ready to start using it ...

What about you ... do you have a taboret?  Do you use it like I do, in front of you to help remind you to paint by holding the end of your brush?