Thornburg Village Gargoyles

Thornburg Village, aka Normandy Village, located in north Berkeley is enchanting.

I was captivated by the resident gargoyles.

Rudolf Scheer & Sohne, k.u.k.Hofschuhmacher

The Rudolf Scheer & Family business has been serving royalty and diplomats all over the world for generations. The windows display intricate patterns and exquisite shoes. (Inside, we were welcomed to see the exhibit of historic shoe lasts made for clientele from empires past.)

Prater's Riesenrad with Roller Coaster

The ferris wheel is where Harry Lime met his friend Hollis Martins in the classic film, The Third Man (1949).

Prater Park

This is a wonderful park in Vienna, Austria filled with historic and contemporary attractions.

Donau Insel Navigation & Cell Tower

Towers like this dot the islands and banks of the Danube River in Vienna, Austria.

Vienna, Austria

This beautiful church is located in the Mexikoplatz, which commemorates the ties between Austria and Mexico.

Old Farm house

A neat old farm house in Gilroy.

Marin Circle Teddy Bear Fountain

Marin Circle Teddy Bear Fountain 2nd sketch

Teddy bears hold hands in a circle in this wonderful, historic fountain in North Berkeley on Marin Circle. We sketched there on a warm Tuesday evening as the sun was setting.

First sketch of the evening

Yosemite in May

Lots of water in the falls. Not a lot of people in the Valley.

Eugene O'Neill House in Danville

Marin Circle Fountain in Berkeley

Steam Trains in Berkeley

Medley of Steam Train Sketches

A few weeks ago Cathy and I were sketching guests at the Golden Gate Live Steamers Club in Berkeley's Tilden Park. The train people were as curious about us as we were about them, and they wanted to see what we were doing. I usually don't care when people look at my sketches, but I was drawing their trains that they had lovingly built from scratch, designing and engineering everything from the wood-burning boilers to the screws that held them together. It was like drawing their children—one thing out of place and they would know it.

Train guys

More of the story with photos and a cartoon video on JanasJournal.com.

Miniature Trains in Tilden Park

Sketching at Maybeck-Designed First Church Berkeley

First Church of Christ Scientist, Berkeley - Interior

The American Institute of Architects named this church one of the three finest uniquely American churches. I saw a picture of the spectacular interior and knew we had to sketch it. I contacted the architectural heritage group, Friends of First Church (see photos on their site), and one of their members was generously willing to open the church for our Tuesday night Urban Sketchers group.

photo from where I sat and sketched

I tried to envision how I would get everything I wanted onto my page and then just started drawing in the left corner, working my way across the page, drawing directly in ink. I drew up until the last minute so had to add the watercolor at home.

That's a pipe organ behind the choir loft. They're trying to raise funds to restore it.  Everything is embellished with gilt so the room has a golden glow. The architecture and design includes many styles and periods, including Gothic, Romanesque Byzantine and Arts and Crafts.

Spending the evening in that beautiful, quiet, exquisite space was so special and we are very grateful to the Friends of First Church for so graciously sharing this jewel with us.

San jose towers

I see these all over San Jose. These are on my way to work, so I stopped and sketched them.;>)

At the Mall

I took my doggy to get a hair cut last wednesday and waited at westgate Mall where they were having some kind of kids fair.

There was Face painting!
This Puppet guy was great.

The fire guys were doing some shopping.

Alameda Flea Market

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Two sketches made at the Monterey Bay aquarium. It was fun to draw the flowing, repeating textures and patterns.

Cargo Ship Moving to Drydock

Backyard Wisteria

The Pub/Sketchcrawl Continues

On Pub Time, Ink & watercolor

The Pub in Albany was originally an old house and though long ago it was (minimally) converted to a pub, it is as comfy as hanging out in my living room (except a lot more interesting). People come to drink beer or espresso, play card or board games and sit around in big overstuffed chairs to chat. There are interesting collections of objects in every room.

That's a bald guy's head sticking up over the chair on the right

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The Albatross Pub

The dart players and the pool table at the pub.