October 8, 2025

Sketching at Sea

To close out summer, Art Toolkit Founder Maria Coryell-Martin joined Washington State Ferries as an artist-in-residency, welcoming sketchers to join her aboard on the weekend!

By The Art Toolkit Team

A scenic view from inside a ferry, showcasing an open door leading to the water. A sailboat is visible on the calm sea, surrounded by lush green hills under a partly cloudy sky. The interior features industrial elements like safety equipment and railings.

Maria captured scenes ranging from cloudy open skies and views of downtown Port Townsend to the metallic marvel of the ferry’s engine room.

A serene watercolor scene depicting a harbor with several sailboats floating on calm waters. In the background, quaint buildings and distant hills are bathed in soft sunlight under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
Port Townsend, pen and watercolor by Maria Coryell-Martin.
A detailed watercolor illustration of a large industrial engine, featuring multiple gauges, pipes, and a prominent exhaust manifold. The engine is painted in shades of green and brown, showcasing its mechanical components and intricate design.
Salish vessel engine, pen and watercolor by Maria Coryell-Martin.

Thank you to those who joined Maria on September 28th to sketch at sea!

A group of people sits on a ferry, engaged in a drawing session. On the left, an instructor stands holding a sketchbook and speaking. In the middle, participants draw on sketchpads, focused on their work. On the right, the instructor displays a long sheet of illustrated drawings against a backdrop of water and distant land.
Maria leads a sketching demo and shares a Moleskine Japanese Album (accordion-style) of ferry sketches on deck.
A serene watercolor landscape featuring a distant snow-capped mountain surrounded by soft, pastel skies. Below, a calm body of water reflects the subtle hues above, with a dark silhouette of trees framing the scene.
Mount Baker, direct watercolor by Maria Coryell-Martin.
A serene watercolor landscape featuring soft blue-gray clouds over a calm body of water, with a dark silhouette of an island in the foreground.
Marrowstone Island, direct watercolor by Maria Coryell-Martin.

Read about Maria’s residency, demonstration, and art exhibit on her website.
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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