A group of artists gathers every Tuesday during the winter months to capture a different area of Pine Island on paper through various mediums.
Carol Sands, who has been organizing the locations for the past five or six years, said the Pine Island Outdoor Sketchers began 30 years ago with Peter Quigley. She said every week they go to a different beautiful, unique spot on the island to sketch.
The group is very diversified in the mediums they use to recreate what they see at the different locations. Sands said they have individuals that use pen, ink, oils, acrylics and watercolor.
Article Photos
MEGHAN McCOY
Jan St. Hilaire uses a fine pen to draw the tarpon water fountain at the Bokeelia Tarpon Inn. She said the Pine Island Outdoor Sketchers anchors her week because everyone is so supportive.
"It is great fun," she said about the group that is wonderful and encouraging. "The best part is the people."
Last Tuesday the group met at Bokeelia Tarpon Inn, which Sands said is one of the artists' favorite locations.
Linnea Doden, who has been a member of the group for the past four or five years, said she enjoys the camaraderie that her fellow artists offer. She said she also enjoys the friendships and the lunch that they have after the weekly sessions are over.
Although Doden has many favorites, the Adams Mound takes a top ranking among the others.
"There is something special about each location," she said. "I love Pine Island the old Florida state charm."
Her inspiration comes from the way the light shines on a particular item. Doden drew the door of the Bokeelia Tarpon Inn last Tuesday.
Barbara Rook and her husband, Elmer, became a part of the Pine Island Outdoor Sketchers group many years ago.
Barbara said her first attempt with sketching began 10 years ago when she started with the group. She said she remembers Quigley suggesting different techniques and ideas to the artists when he was in charge of the group.
Watercolor was the medium of choice for Barbara, which continues a decade later.
"I started with watercolor," she said. "I like it because it is easy flowing."
Barbara enjoyed Bokeelia Tarpon Inn because it's a pretty area and offers an abundance of things to create.
Elmer, who sat across the street from the inn Tuesday, said although the group started off really small when he first got involved 14 or 15 years ago, it continues to grow in size.
The Rooks, who live on the island from January through May, try to attend every Tuesday.
"It's good therapy," Elmer said. "It's something my wife and I do together and enjoy."
He sketched the Bokeelia Tarpon Inn with pen and ink Tuesday because he likes to add detail to his drawings. Elmer said he enjoys drawing older structures and buildings.
Another lifetime artist who was among the group Tuesday was Florence Sansom, 94, who travels from North Fort Myers every week. The Florida native was born in the caretaker home of the Edison Estates because her father was the groundkeeper.
Sansom said she has been doing art for the majority of her life, which included being a hairdresser for many years at a beauty shop down the road from the Edison Home.
"I sketch some things I don't see, like a figure," she said Tuesday afternoon.
Her sketches are typically of people.
"I focus on the people. I do portraits," Sansom said. "I kind of like to do people in action."
She currently has paintings hung at the Edison home. The island native also has a book out, which is mostly told through pictures called "Edisonia Native Girl: The Life Story of Florence Keen Sansom."
The Pine Island Outdoor Sketchers begin meeting on the first Tuesday of November. The last session of the season is held on the last Tuesday in April.
The remaining two gatherings during April include Woody's Waterside Restaurant, 3051 Stringfellow Road, on April 17, and Tarpon Lodge, 13771 Waterfront Drive, on April 24. There is no charge to join the group from 10 a.m. to noon.
