On the Filbert Steps (larger)

On Saturday I joined the San Francisco SketchCrawl group for SketchCrawl 14. I hooked up with fellow art blogger Jana Bouc and we spent the day wandering and sketching. It was great to finally meet her!

The San Francisco group had about 80 people this time; quite a crowd. This SketchCrawl was especially Crawl-y; we walked over four miles. The general route (for us at least) was: Ferry Building, Filbert Steps, Coit Tower, North Beach, Ferry Building. The weather was just about perfect. What a great day!

North Beach: St. Peter and Paul Cathedral (larger)

Coit Tower (larger)

SketchCrawlers at Coit Tower (larger)

Chinatown: Corner of Grant & California (larger)

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“Lemon Martini” (larger)

I need one of these! I do love the shape of these glasses, too.

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“Hi-Fidelity” (larger)

Last weekend we went to the Harmony Sweepstakes A Capella Festival. It’s a yearly event where vocal groups from around the US perform and compete. They sing beautifully, and in a wide range of styles. They move around a lot too; this makes drawing a challenge!

I did these ink drawings in the dark. I couldn’t see a thing, and even ran right off the paper on that first one. Later after the show I added the watercolor. This is a fun way to draw, and of course there’s no pressure to make it come out perfectly. Drawing people that move is hard though, even when you can’t see the paper!

“Solstice” (larger)

“The Fault Line” bodies and “Double Shot” clothes! (larger)

By the way, I’ve added a few new items to the menu bar on the right including “Link-o-rama” (my links list) and a Sketch Gallery. It seems one can spend an infinite amount of time tweaking their blog code and configuration. I have to remember to leave time for sketching! 🙂

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Mini Cooper Dashboard (larger)

I’ve never been a car person, but I love my little Mini Cooper S. I’ve had it for three years now and the initial glow has not left our relationship. It is cute, well appointed (as they say), and a hell of a lot of fun to drive. 🙂 If only it was a hybrid, it would be perfect.

This is a different sketching technique for me (pen without watercolor). I have been admiring Tommy Kane’s amazing drawings lately and they’ve got me thinking about hatching. He is a master hatcher!

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Pupu Hut, D.T. Fleming Beach (larger)

Five days of vacation in Hawaii: yowza! Short, but very sweet. We went to Maui for a small family wedding and had a great time. Swimming, walking, snorkeling, dining and sunburn: we got it all.

Despite the activity I managed sketch every day. There were sketch-worthy views everywhere: wish I’d had more time. I admit to being sick of drawing palm trees though!

David & Marie 4/17/07, D.T. Fleming Beach (larger)

My sketch kit was with me everywhere I went and I got sand in everything. My little paintbox has the stuff in every pan. I probably should empty it out and put fresh paint in, but I am inclined not to bother. Free texture!

I was able to do all of these drawings on site but much of the painting was done later: some even here at home. I find that if I can finish a sketch the same day it’s fine, but if even one night goes by the results are not optimal: stiffer and less lively. I need to work on speeding up.

D.T. Fleming Beach (larger)

Kapalua Bay (larger)

It’s always a treat to sketch daily for a number of days, especially in an unfamiliar environment. Everything looks interesting to me when I’m away from home. What a great excuse to travel, travel, travel!

Moon & Venus (larger)

Lanai & Molokai, from Hawea Point (larger)

At the Pool (larger)

Flight to Maui (larger)

Molokai, D.T. Fleming Beach (larger)

At Kahului Airport (larger)

Palm Trees (larger)

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Virginia Street, Apr 14, 2007 (larger)

Virginia Street, Jul 01, 2006 (larger)

Don’t know why, but I never seem to draw the same thing twice. Yesterday though I drew a scene I had also done last year. This view is looking down from a second floor hair salon, onto the street below.

I was surprised when I pulled out the old sketch how similar the two are. I don’t love either one, but I think I have a slight preference for the older sketch.

I’m going on vacation tomorrow, for a week (Hawaii!). Hopefully I’ll come back with some interesting sketches to share.

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San Francisco from the Berkeley Marina (larger)

We’ve been having (mostly) fabulous weather for the past few weeks. Did this little (2.5×5 inch) sketch very quickly today before heading home after an all-day meeting at a nearby hotel. I go to this shoreline a lot though; it has wonderful views across the bay, great walking and lots of fresh bay air.

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Public Market Produce (larger)

On my recent Seattle trip I spent an afternoon sketching but didn’t have time to draw at the Public Market. I did take a few quick photos though.

Public Market Produce (larger)
More Market Photos

I often take pictures with the intention of later sketching, but rarely get around to actually doing it! This time though I didn’t want to miss a chance to draw one of the luscious produce displays.

The Public Market is filled with amazing produce, flower, and fish displays; huge piles of healthy and colorful goods, artfully arranged. I am sure I could spend a full day happily sketching there.

I drew this sketch from the photo, directly in ink. The sketch is small, as are all my sketches: 5.5 x 3 inches. You can see that it isn’t exactly like the picture but all the main components are there. The best part was adding the watercolor; so many colors!

I wasn’t sure if I should paint in the signs (see below) but went ahead anyway. I am not sure which version I like better; what do you think?

Before Signs Painted

Related Post: Sketching in Seattle

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Claremont Hotel (larger)

Recently I was at the venerable Claremont Hotel on the Berkeley/Oakland border for a meeting. It’s a grand old structure, mostly white, at the foot of the East Bay Hills.

I did make some pencil guidelines first on this one; that perspective was tricky!

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Campanile Tower (larger)

Saturday was the 13th SketchCrawl, and we had our first official East Bay Crawl. About 30 people showed up to sketch in and around the U.C. Berkeley campus.

The weather was outstanding, and there were lots of great subjects to draw. We met at 11:00am at the West end of campus near BART, and worked our way around and through various buildings. We had a brief meeting at 2:00, and then about 15 of us met up at the Cafe Strada at 5:00 pm to share coffee, sketches and tips. It was a great group of friendly sketchers. […more below]

Life Sciences Building (larger)

Pterodactyl in LSB (larger)

The Life Sciences Building has T. Rex and Pterodactyl skeletons, as well as other interesting bones to draw. The Anthropology Museum was also open and provided sketching material, but I wanted to stay outdoors in the beautiful weather. I had forgotten how beautiful the campus can be, and I went to school there and live only 1/2 mile away! I will definitely be back there for more sketching soon.

Sather Gate (larger)

Pelikan Building (larger)

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Labyrinth in Sibley Park (larger)

Last weekend was cool, but sunny. A friend and I took a hike in the East Bay hills, in the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. From the top you can stand in one spot and see San Francisco, Mt. Tamalpais in Marin, and Mt. Diablo to the East all at the same time. That’s hard to do from the ground!

The park is the site of several small dormant volcanos and an old rock quarry. It’s a geologist’s dream. There are also at least four man-made rock and grass labyrinths. Here is a view looking down on one, with the Bay and Mt. Tam in the distance.

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Calder’s Eagle (larger)

Oldenburg’s Typewriter Eraser
(larger)

Recently I was in Seattle on business and managed to sneak away to do a few sketches. The new Olympic Sculpture Park is beautifully situated above the water and brilliantly designed. It features stunning views in multiple directions and plenty of expansive space in which to set off the works from striking angles.

There was a sign saying that the Oldenburg was not to be photographed, but it didn’t say anything about sketching. 🙂 Some teenagers were admiring the sculpture but had no idea what it was supposed to be: I explained, but I don’t think they believed me!

The Pike Place Public Market is another interesting site full of sketching possibilities. It is a bustling place, filled with stands overloaded with prime specimens of every imaginable kind of food. Just looking at those vegetables will make you healthy! 🙂 Sadly, I only had time to sketch it from afar, looking down Pike Street.

Space Needle and Monorail Tracks, from 5th & Wall (larger)

Down Pike Street to the Public Market (larger)

Related Post: Produce Market

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