Have you been out Sketching this summer?
Nature is inspiring, it makes you want to slow
down. Tune in. Just BE.
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| Wendy Sketching on the Rocks - Pender Island |
Painting and drawing with your best friend, your sketchbook is a safe place to play. You can Experiment. Play. Relax. Let your ideas flow.
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YouTube video to accompany this blog: Summer Sketching on Pender Island with Wendy Mould
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I was out lots this summer sketching. I took out several small groups (1 or 2
artists) for Mini-Adventures in parks in North Langley. The feeling of camaraderie as we painted, is a
truly wonderful feeling.
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| I like a wild nature setting for sketching, Williams Park |
Image set up right at the water’s edge along the Fraser River on a sunny day.
We were nestled in the shade under a tree branches painting and chatting. There was a cool breeze coming off the water. As we worked on painting the island shore opposite us, we chatted about ways to create warm and cool greens, finding patterns in the tree foliage and how to breakout of the ‘green only’ landscape.
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| Of course everything was GREEN but we infused some other colours into the scene. Does it read all GREEN to you? Glen Valley Park |
We started at 9:30 and suddenly it was noon. As we headed up the bank to have lunch at the picnic tables we stopped in shock. It was smoking hot under the trees by the tables. (Yes, it was one of those 32 degree July days.) We didn’t realize how protected we were by water!!
But teaching was not my only Outdoor Sketching outings.
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| Little stream exiting the Beaver Pond |
I like to go camping up at Hicks Lake, in the
mountains north east of Harrison Hot Springs.
I love the nature beauty of the land and I always find lots to sketch
there. I load up my kayak with lunch and
paint kit and head off with Max. We find
a little spot along the shore to stop. I
sketch, swim and read. Max snags snacks
from me, wonders a bit and relaxes. It's a truely lazy summer experience.
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| Mount Hicks towering over the Lake |
My trips to Hicks are always filled with great art experiences. Hiking the trees gives me great reference material for my wildlife. The quiet days (no wifi there) give me a chance to recharge and forget about the world. I find I am full of inspiration and project ideas when I return.
The ocean has its own Voice for Sketchers
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| Rising Islands created by the incoming tide - Just had to sketch them |
As part of my summer sketching, I booked 4 days on Pender Island. I find I enjoy sketching by water and the ocean really calls to me. There is something really thrilling to hike along the shore and find a ‘spot’ to settle. The rugged logs on the shoreline, the weathered trees and the rocky bluffs fill your mind with inspiration.
Sketching along the ocean teaches so many lessons. How to paint a wave, the changing colours of the water as your eye moves from foreground to background, and all the different greys you need to paint the weathered rocks and logs.
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| Not everyone finds sketching on the beach entertaining! |
But the biggest lessons is the Tides!!
When Sketching Outdoors you need to work quickly
as the sun and shadows are constantly changing.
Also, your paint is drying quickly because of the heat and breeze. But nothing gets you moving faster than the
‘incoming tide’!
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| Our great spot to sketch along the Shore |
When Max and I walked along the shore I had asked a few locals if the banks would be covered by incoming waters. I was assured that there would be room along the shore to get back to the stairs to the parking lot. I wondered along the shore, around the point and found a great spot to paint.
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| We were comfortable, settled on the rocks. |
Things were going really well and I decided I had done enough and would relax and read in the sunshine.
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| I was really pleased with 'Safe Harbour" |
That’s when I noticed the waves were lapping the shore much closer than I realized.
I quickly decided to head back, closer to where the stairs were. As I
rounded the point I could see the water less than a foot from the bottom of the
stairs!! The locals were right, the
banks were not getting covered but the bottom of the steps were.
We hustled over to the steps. Believe it or not, I had to carry Max to
the steps because he really is not a fan of walking in the water!!
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| Safe Harbour - I was experimenting with the warm greys I talked about in my July blog |
YouTube video to accompany this blog: Summer Sketching on Pender Island with Wendy Mould
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Thursdays, October 15, 22 & 29, 2026 10-12:30 or 6:30-8:30pm
