Urban Sketchers S.F. Bay Area

March 2012: Meeting Olga Prudnikova aka Olkazavr

2012-03-10T22:26:00.002-08:00

March 2012: Meeting Olga
Originally uploaded by apple-pine
I had a pleasure of tea and sketching together with a wonderful Olga Prudnikova from Berlin. We met in downtown Palo Alto, and had a chance to draw a little while talking about 100 different things. I learned that I I draw differently because spend more time talking than looking - hence need to practice more sketching with others! So I will try and catch more urban sketchers to get some practice :)

Alameda Flea Market

2012-03-09T10:43:00.006-08:00

Predroncelli Winery in Healdsburg, Barrel Tasting Weekend

2012-03-09T10:01:00.002-08:00

Barrel Tasting is one of Sonoma County’s most popular annual wine events and also my favorite. On the first two weekends in March, more than 20,000 tasters converge upon Healdsburg and the surrounding area to sample young wines right out of the barrels where they age. The weekends also provide the opportunity to purchase wine “futures” on upcoming releases. The discounts are hard to pass up, and many limited-release wines sell out before they’re even bottled.

What I appreciate most about Barrel Tasting is that winemakers, cellar masters and winery owners are available to answer questions, providing an insider’s view of the winemaking world not often available to the public.

On the first Saturday morning, I drove out Canyon Road from Geyserville toward Pedroncelli Winery. After passing through a long stretch of moss covered oaks, the view that opened before me confirmed my choice of location. Before me, leafless rows of knotted vines followed the curves of the hilly landscape, seeming to flow like waves into the valley below.

When I reached the Pedroncelli sign, I turned left to park beside a vineyard. As I walked up to the winery, Family member Ed St. John greeted me and several other newly-arrived visitors, handing each of us a tasting glass. Pointing out the barrel room, Ed invited us to first join him on a mini tour of the grounds while sharing a bit of winery history.

During Prohibition, the John Pedroncelli family purchased this then-defunct winery. At that time, commercial winemaking was illegal, and Mr. Pedroncelli planned to sell grapes to home winemakers. Long after repeal, a few decades later, John’s winemaker son—also named John—joined his father, and a few years later, his brother Jim became sales manager. In the early 1960s, the brothers bought their dad out. Fifty years later, and with the help of third, and now fourth generation Pedroncellis, the winery continues as family owned.

At the tour’s end, our group filtered into the barrel room for tasting. Before indulging my taste buds, I wanted a sketch of the action. We all watched as octagenarian John Pedroncelli extracted wine from the barrel. To do this, he used a wine thief, a long glass tube tapered at one end, with an opening at each end. John lowered the tapered end into the barrel and then covered the top opening with his thumb to hold the wine in the glass tube. Placing the tube inside the taster’s glass, he released his thumb, allowing the inky-red liquid to flow into the glass. It’s quite a treat to watch.

After about an hour, there was a break in the crowd, so I set down my sketch pad and introduced myself to John. He poured me a sample of garnet-colored liquid from the barrel, describing it as a 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc. I swirled my glass to draw air into the wine and thereby release its aromas. The wine tasted full-bodied and had a velvety texture in my mouth. I wondered how long the wine had aged in the barrel, and I asked John if it would soon be bottled. He told me it had been aging for 12 months, and would spend another month or two in the barrel before bottling and release.

Remembering the vineyard I’d parked beside, I asked if those grapes had been used to make the wine I was tasting, and John stated that those vines were 100-year-old Mother Clone Zinfandel. The Cabernet grapes, he said, were located a couple miles down the road in the Valley.

Cellar Master Polo Cano then arrived, and John introduced us. I asked Polo about his responsibilities, and was impressed by their scope, which consists of oversight of all wine production from crush pad to bottle. One of his recent jobs had been the installation of two vineyard owl houses. Owls are great hunters of the mice and gophers that feed on vineyard roots. Polo was pleased to report that one of the houses was already occupied.

Noticing that the day was fleeting, I asked for advice on a good vantage point for sketching. John and Polo both agreed that the two small hills behind the winery provided the best views. Thanking them both, I headed out to sketch.

Outside the barrel room, I was pleasantly greeted by my wife Marilyn, who met me with a smile and a picnic basket. She’d arrived an hour earlier to relax and enjoy the view from the bocce ball courts. Together we climbed the hill behind the winery, wading through chamomile flowers used as a vineyard cover crop, and found a place to sit in the shade of an oak.

While lunching on goat cheese, crackers, and delicate slices of roast turkey, we enjoyed the unseasonably warm temperatures and watched the bees buzz. With much of Dry Creek Valley visible in the near distance, we listened to laughing tasters make their way in and out of the winery below. After savoring a square of chocolate, I sketched the winery while a ladybug crawled across my sketchpad.

With a full day of sketching, picnicking, and wine tasting behind me, I picked up a bottle of Mother Clone Zinfandel from the tasting room and Marilyn and I headed home with smiles on our faces.

Drawing San Francisco

2012-03-08T13:51:00.002-08:00

Drawing Sam Francisco
Originally uploaded by apple-pine

Windy Evening in Palo Alto

2012-03-07T22:21:00.002-08:00

February 2012: Evening
Originally uploaded by apple-pine

Spring in Berkeley

2012-03-07T10:42:00.005-08:00

Mare Island, Vallejo

2012-03-04T19:37:00.005-08:00

February 2011: Visit to USS Hornet

2012-03-01T22:00:00.002-08:00

February 2011: USS Hornet
Originally uploaded by apple-pine
Bay area has many attractions but for a little boy a trip to SHIP WITH PLANES is an amazing adventure!

I found a small exposition of "sketches from the war" by George S. Eisenberg - wonderful inspiration! I sketched him from the photo in return :)

And then we were stuck in traffic and I did some quick line drawings (usually I cannot draw in a car:) and added color at home.

SF Chinese New Year Parade

2012-02-29T10:15:00.008-08:00

The Year of The Dragon and the parade was filled with dragons!

Animals, animals, animals!

2012-02-28T10:29:00.003-08:00

Our local zoo, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, in San Jose brought some wild animals to the library. We just HAD to go! Here are a few of our furry ( and scaly and feathered) friends:

And, we went to San Diego Wild Animal Park over Presidents Day weekend. More sketches, made as we walked around the Park.
Strange striped beasts:

I love the flamingoes. If there is a sketching equivalent of 'photogenic' they are just that.

Lots more sketches on my blog or my flickr stream

UC Berkeley Stadium

2012-02-26T07:33:00.004-08:00

Memorial Stadium on the UC Berkeley campus opened in 1923. It is being remodeled and retrofitted and is reopening this fall. The Hayward earthquake fault, a branch of the San Andreas Fault runs through the stadium. At the top of section KK the stadium wall has split about 30 cm.

Stag show

2012-02-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

Christopher Creek Winery

2012-02-23T11:07:00.004-08:00

Climbing the steep hill to visit a friend at Christopher Creek Winery, I stood up on my bike pedals to get the leverage needed to reach the top. Once the road leveled off, I stopped to rest and enjoy the view of the Russian River Valley.

A head-pruned vineyard sloped downward toward the valley floor with leafless vines creating a chaotic thicket of sticks. Between the rows grew yellow mustard flowers, reminding me that even though the sun is shining now, we are still in the midst of our rainy season. At the bottom of the hill, vineyards, oak trees and farm houses blanketed the valley floor until the coastal range on the far side pushed skyward. There is so much to see here in Sonoma County that I wondered if I’d ever experience it all.

With my breath now even, I set my bike down near a picnic table with its folded patio umbrella standing guard. Walking around the grounds, I noticed zig-zagging vineyards on a far hill that, from this distance, reminded me of a Zen sand garden. As I stepped back from the view, I found a good spot to sketch the winery, rolling hills off to the left. I pulled out my drawing pad and travel stool and began to paint.

After packing my art supplies, I entered the tasting room, expecting to see my friend Al. Instead, Jerry and Carry warmly greeted me. I asked how Al was doing, and Jerry said Al had called in sick. Sorry to hear this, I made a mental note to check on him later.

Jerry asked if I was interested in tasting. I’d come not only to say hi to Al, but to find a bottle of Zinfandel for an upcoming tasting party in Napa, so my answer was yes. Even though I had Zinfandel on my mind, I couldn’t help starting off with Catie’s Corner Viognier. The grapes are grown here in the Russian River Valley and I love the wine’s crisp pear, lemon and floral aromas.

Then I asked to try some of their Zinfandel, and Jerry set down a second glass in order to taste two wines side by side, one from the Dry Creek Valley and the other from the Russian River Valley. In simply swirling each one by one, my nose noticed differences. Jerry pointed to the importance of terroir as factor differentiating the wines. I found the Dry Creek Zin tasted of raspberries and cherry jam, tobacco, vanilla, and spices of black pepper and clove. The Russian River Zin showed darker fruits like blackberries and plum, and had a long finish. This is a good food wine, I thought, especially with pasta. I enjoyed both wines but chose to purchase a bottle of the Dry Creek Zin for my tasting party.

Then I asked permission to sketch the tasting room and got the okay. I drew Jerry and Carry while they worked on taking inventory. After finishing my drawing but too tired to add watercolor, I took a couple of pictures so I could finish in my studio.

After thanking my hosts for the tasting, I packed the wine in my backpack and stepped out into the cooler outdoors. The sun was inching closer to the horizon, hinting it was time to get back before sunset. Hopping on my bike, I coasted downhill and toward home.

Foppiano Vineyard’s Frost Fan

2012-02-23T11:05:00.001-08:00

While biking to visit a friend employed at Christopher Creek Winery, I abruptly turned off Limerick Lane at the railroad tracks and kicked up a cloud of dust behind me. A towering fan above Foppiano’s sauvignon blanc vineyard had caught my eye and I wanted to get a quick drawing of it. Once the dust settled, I swung myself off the bike, leaned it against a eucalyptus tree and pulled out my sketchbook. This morning was a little warmer than most because dense morning fog had held in the previous day’s warmth. But now the sun had broken through the mist, and the coastal range of mountains was visible in the distance.

Healdsburg averages over forty inches of rain a year, but this year may be an exception since we’ve only received half our average. Without clouds and the rains that accompany them, nights get extra cold and frost dusts the landscape in a blanket of powdery white. Although beautiful in the early morning, the frost doesn’t bode well for plants, especially early-budding grape vines. To protect the delicate buds from frostbite, many farmers use tall fans above the vineyards to capture the warmer air hovering just above the cold.

One problem with the fans is that they are incredibly noisy and so are unpopular among neighbors. They’re said to sound like a loud lawn mower or even worse, an airplane taking off. Averaging 70 to 80 decibels each, one can understand why they wouldn’t please those living nearby. Closer into town, the use of much quieter, traditional overhead sprinklers is often used as a frost deterrent.

After putting the finishing touches on my sketch, I gathered my drawing supplies in my backpack and rode up the hill toward Christopher Creek tasting room.

Spenger's Seafood Grotto, Berkeley

2012-02-23T09:14:00.002-08:00

Sketching in Spenger's "High Room" named for the high ceilings, 5x7", ink & watercolor

We met Tuesday night at the historic, oldest restaurant in Berkeley, Spenger's Fish Grotto. I had called the day before to see if we could sketch in the room whose walls are covered with taxidermy animals and fish. When I arrived a bit late I found our group of six already sitting at a big table in the middle of the room, which the manager had opened and designated just for us.

We are delighted that Berlin Urban Sketcher and illustrator Olga Prudnikova joined us Tuesday night and will be coming along on our sketch outings while she is in Berkeley the next couple months.

Thank you Spenger's general manager Richard, for your support and hospitality. We had a great time sketching and snacking on the famous creamy, thick clam chowder.

Spenger's

2012-02-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

We sketched at Spenger's in Berkeley. They were nice enough to give us a room to ourselves that was full of stuffed fish and deer heads. Lots to sketch. See Micaela's post below. Also joining us last night was Olga a USK from Berlin.

Spenger's – the taxidermy room

2012-02-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

I've never been in this room before. There are many rooms with different themes in Spenger's. This one has a giant elk (?), deer, pronghorn antelope, marlin, swordfish, tuna, and smaller fish besides. There are also model ships, bridges, and paintings and photos. Lots to look at, lots to sketch! The fish are fascinating. We don't always think about the fish we are eating as living breathing(??) creatures, but they were, and they often have beautiful multi-colored skin. Most of these looked pretty much like they'd been done quite a long time ago, but you get a sense of their former beauty anyway.

Road Construction Bulldozer

2012-02-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

Road Still Under Construction, 5x7", ink & watercolor

I was sitting on the curb just finishing up my sketch when a guy in a truck pulled over and politely asked me to move so he could park in front of his house, where I was sitting. I added the watercolor standing up.

This bulldozer is the last of the equipment from the one mile long road construction project in my neighborhood that took two years to complete.

February 2012: Saturday afternoon flowers

2012-02-18T22:53:00.001-08:00

February 2012: Saturday afternoon flowers
Originally uploaded by apple-pine

Nature trip in the middle of Bay Area - summerwinds nursery.

Sonoma Valley Airport, California

2012-02-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

Sonoma Valley Airport in Schellville California. Home to many classic and vintage aircraft.

Opening of Magnes Collection in Berkeley

2012-02-10T15:45:00.000-08:00

The Cal band played at the opening, including the Hava Nagila.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at the Bancroft Library is a museum of Jewish history, art, and culture.

Oakland Lunar Festival continued

2012-02-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

February 2012: practicing superman pose

2012-02-03T16:47:00.001-08:00

February 2012: practicing superman pose
Originally uploaded by apple-pine

Squid and Ale at Elevation 66

2012-02-02T17:40:00.000-08:00

Esther Vanilla Stout: A milkshake of a beer!

Here are my additions to the wonderful sketches that Micaela, Cathy, and Beth posted below from our night at Elevation 66 (click their names or scroll down a few days to see sketches below).

Strange but yummy dinner: squid, avocado, grapefruit and fritters

Beer vat and wine on shelf with hose and pipes

Cathy and Micaela sketching at the bar

Elevation 66 is a fun, small lively, neighborhood place with lots of sketching opportunities and good beer. More about the evening on my blog.

Sketching at Stanford

2012-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, I spent an afternoon at a South Bay Sketchcrawl at Stanford University. I wasn't very happy with the sketches I produced then and have been wanting to go back. I finally did on a sunny winter afternoon last week. Here are some sketches from that day.
Hoover tower and bicyclists:

And Stanford Memorial Church.

YOU can see more sketches on my blog or my flickr stream.

Diesel Books, Oakland

2012-02-01T14:27:00.001-08:00

Postcards display at Diesel Books.

Behind the counter display of books with numbers in the titles. Everything from Counting 1-2-3 to Playground by 50 Cent.
A great independent Bookstore on College Avenue in the Rockridge district of Oakland. Very welcoming to our sketch group.

Diesel Books, Oakland

2012-02-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

Keeping warm in front of the gas fireplace at Diesel Books on a chilly Tuesday night,
contemplating that strange painting of a man milking a giant fish(?). They color-coordinate the books on the shelves here; love that!

Lunar New Year in Oakland

2012-01-30T09:44:00.001-08:00

Orchids, red gladiolas and plum blossoms for sale at festival.
At Phuong Jewelry Company on Franklin Street.

Franklin and 8th in Oakland.

Sparkling Wine Tasting Group

2012-01-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

Some say the key to longevity is having good friends, eating good food, and of course, drinking good wine. I tend to agree and that is why I’ve enjoyed being part of my wine tasting group for so long. Our first tasting took place seventeen years ago while casually relaxing on a friend’s porch here in Healdsburg. We had each brought a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, and we discussed the wines while eating crackers. Though our tastings have become more elaborate over the years with the introduction of blind tastings and a full pot luck dinner, I’m happy to say that we still meet several times a year.

Recently, I hosted our group’s annual sparkling wine tasting. After we agreed on the the date of the party, I planned the evening’s festivities including the dish I would make and the wine I would serve. Once the food was purchased, the house cleaned, the table set, and two rosemary chickens were roasting side by side in the oven on a bed of potatoes, I relaxed as my guests arrived with smiling faces, fresh bread, aged cheeses, green salads, dessert, and of course, a bottle of sparkling wine each.

Bread was broken and updates on family and friends were shared along with recent adventures or mishaps. Additional still wines were opened by two wine makers in our group seeking comments on their latest release. I’ve been saving an interesting bottle I recently found in my wine cellar (coat closet) that’s ready to drink, so I opened it also.

After I caught up with each of my guests and made a couple rounds of the cheeses and still wines, I hid away in the kitchen wrapping each bottle of sparkling wine in a paper bag and numbered them for identification. This was a blind tasting after all, and even I tried not to look at the wine label while wrapping each bottle. Then I herded everyone to the dinning room table where glasses and note pads had been pre-arranged.

A row of six glasses, the equivalent to the number of wines being poured, was waiting at each place sitting. The wines were then passed around and poured in order. The chattering group of us settled and became quiet as we got down to business. Music that was once muffled by conversation was then recognizable above the clinking of glasses. Notes were taken, the wines ranked, and when each of us was done exploring the wines, we discussed them one by one.

Once our conversation was exhausted, we unveiled each wine by ranking, from the bottom to top of the list. “Aaahhhs,” “ooohhhhs,” and “huummms” were uttered, expressions of surprise and curiosity made as the bottles were revealed.

Then the scent of roasted poultry called me into the kitchen and we all prepared for dinner. Out of the oven came the two roasted rosemary chickens and potatoes, the salad was tossed, and more bread brought to the table. The feast was served and each of us chose from the remaining wines an accompaniment to his or her meal.

Clearing the table, we finished with dessert, coffee and conversation well into the night.

After saying farewell to the last departing guest, the dishes were rinsed and put into the washer. Then my wife and I relaxed in the afterglow of a great evening of friends, food, and fun.

(*Note- I started this drawing at the party but due to the fact I was hosting as well as had been tasting wine, I finished it up the sketch with a photo)

Toad Hollow Tasting Room

2012-01-28T16:15:00.000-08:00

Once a year I host a sparkling wine tasting at my house and each person attending, including myself, must bring a bottle to the party. Half the fun of attending a wine tasting is making one’s wine selection, whether it be from a wine shop or tasting room. But Healdsburg is short on sparkling wine producers, and since I’ve been self-limited to my bike these days, I had to choose something nearby.

As I pulled my bike out of the garage, I noticed a bigger problem—a nearly flat tire. I didn’t even have a patch kit to fix it. Since it appeared to be a slow leak, I decided to take a chance, and after pumping up my tire, headed toward town. On the way, I remembered Toad Hollow Winery has a couple sparking wines and their tasting room is right off the square.

At my first stop—Spoke Folk Bike Shop—I purchased a tire patch kit, then rode the few blocks to Toad Hollow tasting room, parking against a tree. Standing away from my bike, I thought the view would make a good sketch, and standing as far back as possible on the sidewalk without stepping into the street, I began to draw. Soon after I finished blocking in the larger shapes, Jim Costa, the tasting room manager, came out to offer me a chair.

After adding watercolor to finish the sketch, I entered the tasting room, where a small group stood at the bar, and a young couple looked through shelves of merchandise at the back wall. Checking the day’s tasting menu, I learned luck was with me–I’d get to taste two sparkling wines.

The first was NV Amplexus Brut, a French wine produced in the Crémant style. This wine is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Mauzac, and Chenin Blanc grapes. I found it pleasing, with notes of peach and lemon balancing on toasty aromas of yeast.

The second wine, NV Risque, tasted fruitier than the Amplexus and reminded me of apple cider, pears, and honey. A medium sweet wine, it’s made entirely from the Mauzac grape using the Méthode Ancestrale, an unusual technique that predates the Méthode Champagne. It also has less carbonation and alcohol than the Amplexus. I enjoyed both wines, but since my preference leans towards dryer, or brut sparkling wines, I purchased a bottle of Amplexus for the party.

Slipping the wine into my backpack, I noticed my tire was underinflated, so I sped home. As I pulled up at my house, my back tire was now flattening against the pavement. I sighed with relief at having made it home, my tire intact, and with a good bottle of sparkling wine in hand.

Elevation 66

2012-01-25T16:46:00.001-08:00

A brew and drawing at Elevation 66

2012-01-25T16:20:00.001-08:00

What could be better than testing a new brew while out sketching? We visited Ranch Market 99 last week, Elevation 66 this week, what's next, maybe Butterfly Restaurant on Pier 33?
I had some trouble with with perspective and positioning — the bar guy was actually directly in front of the cash register, but somehow he ended up on the other side of it! Then my pen ran dry, so I had to finish it at home. The big tanks of ale are really shiny, just gleaming clean and new - maybe I'll capture it next time.

Vat's All, Folks

2012-01-24T22:11:00.000-08:00

Elevation 66 Brewing Co., 10082 San Pablo Ave., El
Cerrito, CA, by Beth Bourland.

Berkeley Fire Station

2012-01-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

The 34th World Wide Sketchcrawl in Healdsburg

2012-01-22T10:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday marked the 34th World Wide Sketchcrawl, an event that happens about every other month. What is Sketchcrawl, you ask? In 2006, Pixar artist Enrico Casarosa started the group in San Francisco, with the idea that artists worldwide might spend a Sketchcrawl day in kind of a pubcrawl like fashion, only sketching rather than drinking. Artists gather at a designated location, then go off in the direction of their choice to sketch what interests them. After a few hours, each member of the group returns to the meeting place to share their sketches with the other artists.

At 10am last Saturday, about a dozen sketch artists met at the Gazebo in Healdsburg’s plaza. We then scattered around town to sketch. My first drawing was of the northeast corner of the Plaza, where the day workers congregate in hopes of finding work. But it wasn’t long before scattered showers and cold weather pushed me indoors. My sketch friend Phil and I decided to head over to Moustache, a cupcake and coffee shop, for Double Barrel Americano coffees and cupcakes. Delicious!

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye and we hurried back to the Gazebo to re-congregate with the group. Mingling once again, this time we shared our mornings’ sketches. I thoroughly enjoyed this event, despite the fickle weather, made some new friends, and delighted in seeing other artists work.

January 2012: Waiting in Mountain View

2012-01-21T22:40:00.001-08:00

January 2012: Waiting
Originally uploaded by apple-pine

Waiting is much less painful when you have sketchbook with you :)

Lunar New Year at 99 Ranch Market

2012-01-20T21:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Lunar New Year decorations at 99 Ranch Market

The shoppers at Ranch 99 Chinese supermarket were in festive spirits and the store was decked out in red and gold for Lunar New Year. There were red envelopes, red lanterns, brilliant green Narcissus in fuchsia foil wrappers, special treats in red and gold boxes, and bunches of simulated fire-crackers hanging from stop-sign shaped objects that said something in Chinese, but probably not “Stop.”

Chuckle Fish and Mullet on Ice

Even though I was tired at the end of the evening, I couldn’t resist drawing the fresh fish on ice when I saw their names: Chuckle Fish and Mullets. I wonder what Chuckle Fish is in Chinese?

Ranch 99 Market

2012-01-18T16:00:00.001-08:00

More drawings, some of the same subjects at Ranch 99 Market in El Cerrito.

Ranch 99

2012-01-17T23:03:00.000-08:00

It's getting close to Chinese New Year, so the market was a crowded and happy hubbub.

Oakland Waterfront

2012-01-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

China Camp

2012-01-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

State park in Marin County, California. A Chinese shrimp-fishing village thrived on this site in the 1880s. Nearly 500 people, originally from Canton, China, lived in the village. In its heyday, there were three general stores, a marine supply store and a barber shop.

Arch Street in Berkeley

2012-01-11T09:41:00.001-08:00

Pt Ryes Seashore

2012-01-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

Near the visitor center at Pt. Reyes National Seashore.

Oldie But Goodie

2012-01-04T19:46:00.000-08:00

My neighbor's new (old) car

I was inspired to draw this because of the way the bright midday light was glowing on my across-the-street neighbor's new old car and the huge crows' nest in the tree. I sketched and painted from the little porch off my kitchen on the side of my house. More about the sketch on my blog, JanasJournal.

Sonoma California

2012-01-04T11:08:00.001-08:00

UC Berkeley campus

2012-01-03T09:38:00.001-08:00

Sketching at the Hardware Store

2011-12-31T23:40:00.000-08:00

Original version done at Pastime Hardware, ink & watercolor, 5x7"

I stood and sketched between the paint solvent and cleaning product aisles (both stinky), using an aisle-end shelf for my paints. When we finished and shared our work, I realized that in the original sketch above, I had ignored the fact that it was dark outside.

Sketch finished at home with dark windows

So when I got home I painted all the dark windows. I’m not sure which I like better. What do you think?

Pocket Park with Guy on Roof

2011-12-28T21:52:00.000-08:00

Pocket Park Beside Albany Hill, ink & watercolor by Jana Bouc

Our pseudo-summer continues (now turning into a serious drought) and with the sun shining, I decided to go for a walk and find a spot to paint outdoors instead of in the studio. As I walked by the little pocket park alongside Albany Hill, this cul-de-sac called out, “Paint Me!” With a handy picnic table right there to lay out my paints, how could I resist?

Although I usually sketch directly in pen, this scene was so complicated I decided to draw in pencil first. When I was almost done with the drawing I spotted a guy on his roof with a string of holiday lights. Do you see him? I know it looks like he’s standing on top of a tree but his house is just behind the tree. I think I made him a bit of a giant!

Santa 4

2011-12-25T10:44:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, or if you're not celebrating Christmas, Happy Whatever You're Celebrating or just have a great day!

Santa

2011-12-24T20:44:00.001-08:00

San Francisco Santa Sketch (see Jana's previous post).

Happy Holidays!

Sonia

December 2011: Pines

2011-12-23T23:06:00.001-08:00

December 2011: Pines
Originally uploaded by apple-pine
Palo Alto pine trees continue to be cut to pieces. I tried to console myself by spending some time drawing the process but it was surprisingly hard to hear the sound of broken limbs when I am so close to it. Street looks foreign. Click on the image to see more sketches form this series.

We Share Our Santa Sketches with Santa and Wish you Merry Holidays

2011-12-23T21:53:00.000-08:00

S.F. Bay Area Sketchers visit (and sketch) Santa. (L to R: Sonia, Cathy, Santa, Jana and Micaela)

Santa's elves behind the camera had quite a time trying to get all of us and our sketches of Santa in the photo. I wish more of our group had been able to join us that evening and get in the picture too.

I posted my sketch with a bit of a story about the evening here on JanasJournal.com. We asked him to sign our sketches and he did: "Santa James." He was the sweetest, most patient and jolly gentleman I've ever met.

Happy Holidays from the San Francisco Bay Area Urban Sketchers!

Northbay Waterfront

2011-12-22T15:08:00.001-08:00

December 2011: Shortest Day this Year

2011-12-21T22:48:00.001-08:00

December 2011: Shortest Day this Year
Originally uploaded by apple-pine
Quick walk before darkness swallowed streets of Palo Alto - but great lights all around :) Happy Holidays to you all!

Model Shoe Renew & Triple Rock Brewery on Shattuck Ave, Berkeley

2011-12-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

My family has been going to Model Shoe Renew for

many years. They of course, resole, but also sell

shoes, and backpacks, wallets, purses, socks...

Triple Rock has great beer. The waitress was working

on the order terminal, but I didn't get that in there, so

she looks like she's pointing at something.

Waterfront Sketches No. 1

2011-12-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

Sketching Around Berkeley

2011-12-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

Caffe Trieste, waiting for the music to start

Patio at Peet's Coffee, 4th Street

On the table at Saul's Deli, waiting for dinner

Happy Saul's Deli diners

Dining and talking at Saul's Deli

Brennan's

2011-12-16T08:07:00.000-08:00

Since it was a cold night, we headed over to Brennan's. It's now in the old train station and has great dark-green walls. Eating is cafeteria-style, hearty food, irish coffees are a mainstay if you don't mind a wobbly line! (I didn't participate in that this time...).

I started with the woman in the distance on the right, I had no idea if I would ever get to the other side of the page, much less the other side of the OTHER page, but I did. It took up the whole evening but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Here's the panorama—

and the right page first then the left if you want a closer look.

Occupy San Francisco

2011-12-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

Limerick Lane

2011-12-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

Late Saturday morning, as I packed and prepped the bike for a ride into town, sub-freezing overnight temps were rising into the mid-40s. As I set out, a chill nipped my chin, but the sunshine and exercise kept me warm. After crossing Healdsburg’s Memorial Bridge and cruising down Old Redwood Highway, a left turn found me on Limerick Lane, a gently sloping winery-lined road that opens onto rolling vineyards.

At a quarter mile or so, the county road ends, branching into two private roads leading in opposite directions. Two old barns frame the rolling vineyard-covered hills. Here I hopped off my bike and unfolded the portable stool to draw amidst the wild grasses. The scent of woodsmoke drifted on a gentle breeze, along with faint, but not unpleasant, barnyard smells. I pulled out my landscape sketchbook and began to block in the larger shapes of the landscape.

Midway through my drawing, I heard a loud neigh just behind me. Spinning around, I found a beautiful cream and brown spotted horse a few feet away. It neighed again as if to ask, What are you up to?

My new friend made excellent company as I put the finishing touches on my painting. Then I packed up my gear and rode back toward town. With the sun now low in the west I felt the evening chill once again filling the valley. I hoped to make it home before dark, but I had miles to go before I could rest.

Occupy Berkeley

2011-12-12T15:49:00.000-08:00

Occupy Oakland & Berkeley by Beth Bourland

On December 9, fellow sketcher Beth Bourland and I went to Occupy Berkeley. In her blog, Beth notes the little girl playing near the Peace Wall, how the upside-down flag symbolizes distress, and the protester adjusting his tent.

Occupy Berkeley by Sonia Tamez

I was struck with the peaceful coexistence between the Berkeley Farmer's Market underway and the demonstrators' camp next door which I illustrated above.

Occupy Berkeley by Sonia Tamez

Towards the end of my stay, a group of carolers, with director and music stand came by, singing:

"We will occupy the streets. We will occupy the courts. We will occupy the offices of you. Until you do the bidding of the many, not the few."

I wasn't able to sketch them (had to beat it to the car before I got a ticket), but the memory stays with me.

Occupy Oakland

2011-12-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

Occupy Oakland and Buddhist Peace Fellowship

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship sponsored Nine Minutes of Silence with Occupy Oakland on December 3:

"Three minutes to contemplate the past--the causes and factors that led us to this point.

Three minutes to rest in silence.

Three minutes to aspire to continue in non-violence."

Occupy San Francisco

2011-12-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

Occupy San Francisco

On Dec 6, fellow sketcher Micaela and I went out to Occupy San Francisco at the foot of Market and across the street from the Ferry Building. The next morning, the campers were forcibly evicted.

Construction

2011-12-12T13:31:00.000-08:00

Working in the Mission Bay section of San Francisco offers lots of opportunity for construction sketching.

December 2011: Tree Cutting in Palo Alto

2011-12-09T21:10:00.001-08:00

December 2011
Originally uploaded by apple-pine

Saul's in Berkeley

2011-12-08T14:21:00.001-08:00

Randy Craig Trio at Cafe Trieste in Berkeley

2011-12-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

November 2011: Tree Removing Crew

2011-11-30T23:14:00.001-08:00

November 2011: Tree Removing Crew
Originally uploaded by apple-pine

A large tree removing crew is working in Palo Alto.

Picante 2.0

2011-11-28T15:11:00.000-08:00

The Salsa at Picante

Same tortilla maker, different sketcher.

Tortilla Making and Eating at Picante

2011-11-26T21:15:00.000-08:00

Tortilla Maker at Picante, ink & watercolor, 5x7"

She was amazing, in constant motion, pulling dough from the bowl, rolling a ball, placing it in the wooden press, squeeze, put on grill, move the tortillas around, squeeze another.

Fish Tacos: Yum!

My dinner was delicious: fish tacos served on Maria's freshly made corn tortillas and drizzled with avocado sauce. Yum! Picante is my favorite of Berkeley's Mexican restaurants with its friendly, festive atmosphere and delicious food made with high quality ingredients.

The Vineyard in the Valley

2011-11-26T09:40:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I loaded my backpack with art supplies and hiked into the countryside near my house. It had rained earlier in the day, but as soon as I saw a break in the clouds, I gathered my art supplies and headed out to sketch.

The golden grasses covering the hills during the dryer months are turning green with the help of recent rains. Reaching the top of a hill, I was confronted by the bright colors of Jordan Winery’s vineyard and a red-roofed shed guarding its gate. What a great view I thought, and parked myself on my folding stool to paint.

This northeast edge of Healdsburg used to be a horse ranch until about 15 years ago, when it was replaced by the homes in my neighborhood. Some reminders of the ranch still remain, like the old wooden fence posts climbing this hill. Although people have encroached upon this once wild land, the area is still home to raptors, deer, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and migratory birds. Blue herons and egrets, much to my dismay, like to eat goldfish out of our backyard pond. But it’s a small price to pay for living near open land. Some of the wildlife can be dangerous, like rattle snakes and mountain lions, and many of my neighbors have reported sightings. Luckily, I’ve never run into any problems but still keep a sharp eye whenever I’m out in the field. At night as I’m drifting off to sleep, I often hear the howls of coyotes celebrating a new kill and the feast that follows.

The sky above me darkened and small drops of rain splashed on my page. Looking toward the west, I could see that another storm approached, so I packed up my gear and headed home. Under the next day’s sunny skies I returned to the same spot to add the finishing touches.

Occupy UC Berkeley!

2011-11-20T13:50:00.000-08:00

DAY & NIGHT AT OCCUPY UC BERKELEY

I attended the Occupy UC Berkeley Strike on November 15. I planted myself at the Sproul Plaza Fountain while marchers, students, community organizers, and others swirled around. Eventually, there were thousands (est. range from 5 to 10 thousand). It was difficult to sketch (the movement deserves better), but I felt an obligation to document history in the making and provide another visual perspective in contrast to main media. I have to note that the space-ship looking item was actually a small tent on a pole, symbolizing the tents that had previously been removed). There was also a Che flag that served to link the past and present.

Later, the festive atmosphere changed to a more serious mood as information came out about a (unrelated) shooting at another part of the campus and the assembly process began. There were calls for non-violence and the need to decide on what actions undertake. More people moved into the plaza and the presence of helicopters and police on the ground became more insistent.

During the course of my afternoon and early evening, I repeatedly heard the need for a peaceful demonstration, from students, veteran Viet Nam War era demonstrators (who were now checking out what was happening on campus), folks from the Berkeley Zen Center, and a policeman (who volunteered that his mother sketched).

For more info, please visit www.Berkeleycuts.org. You may also want to see Occupy Oakland artwork at www.anthonyholdswork.com. And my sketching friend Michaela has posted her wonderful work earlier on this blog.

Monterey Market Sunflowers

2011-11-20T13:48:00.001-08:00

The sunflowers and melons provided bursts of color on a late grey day.

Monterey Market Pumpking

2011-11-20T13:45:00.001-08:00

This mammoth pumpkin came in at 794 lbs.

Summer's Over on Orcas

2011-11-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Catching up on posting now that it is raining.

This is from last summer on Orcas Island.

... where I chance upon a wedding

2011-11-19T10:40:00.000-08:00

Late September. The sun was blinking through the leaves of the trees. A wedding in the Mission.

More on www.visualflaneur.com

Pet Store Sketches

2011-11-18T22:19:00.000-08:00

Small Water Dragon Lizard and Baby Corn Snakes

It's interesting, challenging and a bit disturbing sketching caged, creepy crawly creatures at the pet store.

Mice in their dinner. Glad we don't sleep in our food!

Rats eating pellets and drinking from their water bottles

I liked seeing the pink tongue of the rat licking the water bottle. He looked kind of cute. But the smell made me draw fast so I could leave the rodent section.

Occupy Cal

2011-11-16T19:38:00.001-08:00

Although there had been an incident earlier in the day with a man pulling his gun at police at Haas School, it was unrelated to the Occupy movement. While we were sketching it was peaceful, and people were encouraging each other in non-violent expression.

Las Vegas

2011-11-14T11:45:00.001-08:00

Picante!

2011-11-12T09:44:00.001-08:00

I first went to Picante in about 1989? when it had been around for a relatively short time. It was a good bit more humble then, but the prices matched, and the food was awesome, as it is now. (Well, maybe awesomer just a little!) I can't say it was hot in ºfahrenheit at Picante, but it was hot & hopping with customers as usual. I went to a quiet spot outside to sketch an abandoned table.

The bar is popular now.

Levi Leipheimer Promotes Bike Friendly Healdsburg

2011-11-11T10:31:00.001-08:00

Pro cyclist, Levi Leipheimer, spoke last week in Healdsburg at a Villa Chanticleer luncheon offered by our Chamber of Commerce. The purpose was to support and raise awareness of a proposed Healdsburg City Counsel application for the League of American Bicyclists coveted “Bike Friendly Town” award. With all of my recent cycling enthusiasm, I couldn’t resist showing up to learn about and support this cause. But hey, I reasoned, meeting world famous Levi Leipheimer, Tour de France Stage winner, Olympic medalist, founder of 7,500-riders-strong Levi’s Gran Fondo, and three-time winner of the Tour of California wouldn’t be a bad thing either.
During the presentation, I sketched Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Mo McElroy and Levi at the podium, and after the question and answer period, stopped to meet them. It was a great opportunity to inform them of the book I’m currently writing about local wine, bikes, and art, and of my support of bicycling in Healdsburg. And the best part is, Levi happily signed my drawing of him. How cool is that?

John Muir House

2011-11-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

John Muir House, ink & watercolor 7x5"

The scent of bay leaves, the sounds of birds, a bench in the shade of an old tree on a warm sunny day, and lots of details to sketch: It doesn't get any better than that!

The John Muir House in Martinez is free to visit and a great spot to sketch, outdoors or inside the house, full of Muir's artifacts. Read more on JanasJournal.com.

John Muir's House in Martinez

2011-11-04T15:05:00.001-07:00

Sequoia that John Muir collected in the Sierras.

There is now a 4 lane freeway and a railroad line running right next to the house.

Kensington Harvest Parade

2011-11-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

Boy scouts waiting for the call to line up, ink & watercolor, 5x7"

The nearby small town of Kensington was having their annual Harvest Parade. The route was about six blocks along the Arlington, from the hardware store to the library. I sketched the boy scouts above while they fooled around on a bench waiting the call to line up.

Getting ready to march

Then I sketched people across the street in the staging area. When the parade finally started I joined in and followed along on the sidewalk, enjoying the high school marching band music.

The Water Tower

2011-11-03T14:16:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, while biking home from nearby Coppola Winery, I stopped on Independence Lane to admire a weathered water tower overlooking a vineyard. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry that day and didn’t have time to paint.

The following Saturday I returned under clear blue skies, the air a crisp seventy degrees. This time, it felt like a vacation, and I reveled in the beauty of the autumn landscape, exhilarated to be out riding.

Leaning my bike against a fence post, I surveyed the area for a good place to sketch. While catching my breath, I delighted in the grape vines’ glowing red leaves, took several photographs, then settled down in the shade of an olive-green bush to draw.

Wooden water towers are scattered all around Sonoma County and most were built about 100 years ago. Back in the day, water was pumped out of the ground using a windmill and stored for later use in a tank at the top of the tower. Gravity provided enough water pressure to supply fresh, running water for a nearby home. Although most water towers have fallen under disrepair, some have been refurbished into guest houses and B&Bs for an almost tree house like experience.

After I finished painting my sketch, I packed up my gear and headed home in the warm afternoon sun.

SS Red Oak Victory

2011-11-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

Launched on November 9, 1944 as the SS Red Oak Victory, and commissioned as the USS Red Oak Victory (AK235) in December, 1944, the Red Oak Victory is the only vessel built by the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California that is being restored. The ship saw service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and has the distinction of being the only ship operated by both military and civilian personnel during her career.

More from Cheeseboard and Kitchen on Fire

2011-10-28T10:08:00.001-07:00

Cheeseboard and Kitchen on Fire

2011-10-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

Tools of the Trade at Kitchen on Fire

Kitchen on Fire is a cooking school in Berkeley where we ended our Tuesday evening sketchcrawl after it got too dark to sketch on the street.

Guys enjoying pizza outside the Cheeseboard Collective on Shattuck and Vine, Berkeley

We were sketching by the light of the storefronts and streetlights on a bench outside the Cheeseboard, a wonderful cheese store that also sells their pizza of the day to people who line up for it in the evenings.

Freddy Hughes Band playing inside the Cheeseboard

The Cheeseboard also hosts musicians who entertain the people in line and those eating on benches and cafe tables and the median strip of street. I drew them while standing in the dark outside. You can read and see more on my blog, JanasJournal.com.

Ambulance Between Calls

2011-10-27T16:25:00.001-07:00

Solano Avenue, Albany

2011-10-24T14:42:00.001-07:00

Solano Avenue, Albany

2011-10-24T14:37:00.001-07:00

Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline Park

2011-10-23T23:51:00.000-07:00

A perfect day for a sketchcrawl at Miller-Knox Park

Beautiful weather and scenery at Miller-Knox Regional Park. In the Bay Area, even when you are surrounded by trees, water, and birds, in the background there is almost always the view of a bridge, freeway or transit system.

... where I learn about business on the streets

2011-10-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

San Francisco: Valencia and 22nd

I hope you all had a lovely weekend,
.
Your visual flaneur

Albany Cinema

2011-10-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

Moffet Field, California

2011-10-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

2011-10-11T07:06:00.001-07:00

In keeping with my plan to start biking to sketching destinations, my friend Phil and I took to the streets last Saturday. The morning was sunny and warm, as we each rode high on two wheels, heading to our first destination, Francis Ford Coppola’s winery, just north of Healdsburg.

As I suspected, riding bicycles instead of driving a car opened up a whole new world of visual treats. We saw turkey vultures resting on fences, old rusted tractors in pumpkin fields, and wooden water towers located off the main roads. I’m looking forward to all these new sketching opportunities.

Once we made it through the gate to the Coppola estate, it wasn’t long before we found a good spot to sketch. Coppola had a “wine wonderland” in mind when he built this facility, with wine tasting bars, two restaurants, a full bar, a swimming pool, a movie gallery, a performing arts pavilion and a park area with game tables and bocce courts. He designed a place the whole family can enjoy and it is truly a destination unto itself.

I sketched the east side of the winery with it’s most prominent spire and a patio restaurant covered with umbrellas. The vineyard to the left had already been picked but trucks thundered down the road behind me carrying bins of fresh picked grapes to the crusher.

Evening Outside the Burger Depot

2011-10-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Burger Depot, Albany. Ink & watercolor, 5x7"

Trying to get in one last outdoor evening sketch session of the season, we sketched at the bottom of Solano Avenue in Albany. I stood under a street lamp and by the time I finished drawing it was dark out.

The proprietor of the Burger Depot who has owned the shop for over 30 years saw me trying to paint standing, with my palette and water on the ground, and brought over a plastic chair and a little table for me. The street light and light from inside the shop gave me just enough light to see what I was doing.

where I eat and draw a watermelon

2011-09-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

More from my trip to Austria a while back:

In Vienna I enjoyed a day at a public swimming pool where I found time to draw some locals folks.

I find watermelon to be a quintessential summer companion. This juicy slice was perfect for my day at the pool! And as I sunk my teeth into the wedge, the lady’s reflections on her position in the universe did not fail to entertain me.

What is she saying?

‘… sharing a flat also sucks. You exchange fake smiles yet every other day you think: I hate you all…’

Take care,

Your visual flaneur

www.visualflaneur.com

Merry Go Round at Tilden Park

2011-09-28T13:08:00.001-07:00

How to Save Money at Whole Foods

2011-09-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Whole Foods Market, Oakland. Ink & watercolor, 5x7"

It's easy to save money at Whole Foods (otherwise known as "Whole Paycheck")! Just draw the food, don't buy it!

We met at the fancy Oakland Whole Foods for Tuesday night sketching and I had trouble settling down from a challenging day at work. After a couple of false starts outdoors on the patio I moved indoors and found a table with an interesting view. I was still drawing when everyone wanted to meetup for our show and tell, which I ended up missing. Although I always prefer to paint onsite, I didn't want to miss a ride home, so I added the paint the next day.