January 2026

Sketching and Painting

By Buff Gontier
Posted: 09/30/2025

Villagers might expect a group called Sketching and Painting to be a chance to be involved in opportunities for expression - and they would not be wrong. On September 16, artists who were there at the Pasadena Village office/studio described it as “draw, paint, doodle, and chat.”  Tom Reid, its organizer, wasn’t able to be there, but its other members were very welcoming, even after learning that my presence was as a reporter, regrettably not an artist.

Gina Frierman-Hunt had her watercolors set up and organized to begin work on a landscape inspired by a photograph. It proceeded beautifully and expertly during the next hour and sent her outside briefly to begin its drying process. 

Maureen Kellen-Taylor shared a sample of her exceptional pencil drawings of different people’s pets. Then she worked on a new drawing from a photo of a bee, remarking on how drawing leads one to actually look at a subject in detail rather than using the scrolling habit on some device. (She used the Blackwing pencil, a tool favored by artists and crossword puzzlers.)

Karla Field led me to a display in the Village Commons of Schmoozendoodle, a humorous term for the technique of starting with a star made of two interlocking triangles and turning it into a flower. The pieces were all created together at a prior event. Karla’s example was notable. Back in the studio she set to work on what she called “doodling meditation.” It looked very therapeutic.

Arline Golden brought a print of a fine gentleman in a Goya oil painting that she was using to start a gouache rendition. She helpfully explained the gouache as a type of opaque watercolor made of crayon pencil and tubes of color. 

Virginia Merriam had an amusing plastic animal skull with horns for possible  inspiration but had become distracted by the current Village “Acts of Art,” modeled on the 2025 “Villagers by Villagers.” The program had offered villagers a chance to commission art work from Village artists. The 2025 event had resulted in $3,954 being donated to the Village as its part of the contracts. (The commission prices ranged based on what the individuals were willing to pay.)  An "Acts of Art" announcement was recently published inviting Villagers and friends to commission art by Village artists, resulting in donations for Pasadena Village.  It hasn’t resulted in many responses, and Virginia led a discussion about more publication and more participation.  So stay tuned! 

I found a happy, promising group of sociable artists who meet twice a month at the Village. They are friendly and welcoming of others who might like an opportunity to begin or expand on artistic expression. Villagers who are interested should contact Tom Reid, whose information can be found in the Membership Directory.