May 20, 2025

Adventure Sketching at the Coupeville Library

Maria visited Whidbey Island and gave a presentation about her background as an artist, taking participants on a virtual trip to Greenland!

By Maria Coryell-Martin

A two-story building with a sloped roof featuring solar panels. The entrance is framed by wooden beams, and signs indicate it is the Coupeville Library. A bicycle is parked in front, and the surrounding area has paved pathways and green foliage.

On Saturday, May 17th, 2025 I had a wonderful visit to the beautiful Coupeville Library on Whidbey Island. After loading up my e-bike and catching the ferry to Whidbey Island, I rode to the library with Art Toolkit supplies to share. I gave a presentation about my background as an artist and took participants on a virtual trip to Greenland, with inspiration from my Imaging the Arctic project.

A group of 15 people, mostly women, stand in a classroom holding their artwork. Smiling and posing in front of a large screen displaying a mountain scene, they showcase colorful sketches, including landscapes and animals. Tables in the foreground have art supplies and additional artworks.
Everyone and their sketches!
A view from a ferry deck showing a rainbow arching over a cloudy sky, with a calm sea and a distant shoreline in the background.
A view from the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry.

Together, participants and I sketched various elements of travel and the environment, from helicopters to icebergs and narwhals. From mixing colors, to identifying big shapes, and creating gesture and contour sketches, we practiced my favorite tools for observation. It was delightful to see what materials participants brought and to chat with everyone about their artistic explorations. Special thanks to the Coupeville Library for making this free event possible, and to all who attended!
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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