Sailing on Spreckels Lake in San Francisco

Last weekend I joined the SF Sketchers in Golden Gate Park to sketch the Rhoderdendrens that are in full bloom. BUT I realized we ere right next to Spreckles Lake and there were people sailing their model sailboats and their radio controlled power boats! No contest  for me, the rhodys took a back seat that day though I did get one sketch of the spectacular blooms done!

The San Francisco Model Yacht Club is devoted to the building and sailing of model yachts, both power and sail. Spreckels Lake and the San Francisco Model Yacht Club are special parts of the city's long and colorful maritime history. Established in 1898, the club is believed to be the oldest such organization in the United States.  – Cathy McAuliffe

 

Hometown Tourist

I have lived in the Bay Area all my life. I have been to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park many times but learned about things I had never noticed when I went there on a San Francisco City Guides tour. This tour lead by a very knowledgeable volunteer was great. They give free tours of places all over the city.

I had never been to Alcatraz and finally made it over to the "rock". The Alcatraz Historic Gardens Project preserves, rebuilds, and maintains the gardens created by those who lived on the island, and interprets their history. They have docent led tours that explain the gardens and tell the amazing story of the restoration.

Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park Conservatory of Flowers

When North Carolina Urban Sketcher correspondent Laura Frankstone was in San Francisco for a long weekend I (Jana) had the great pleasure of joining her for an afternoon of sketching in Golden Gate Park.

Below are our sketches of the Conservatory. I added watercolor to mine (above) in the studio later since it was windy, foggy and cold sitting on the grass and so were ready to go explore the (way too hot) conservatory.

Laura's sketch on left, Jana's on right

My sketch with Conservatory in background

After getting all steamy inside the Conservatory of Flowers' jungle-like atmosphere, and touring the Wicked Plants exhibit, we came back out to sketch people on the lawn.

Picnic in the park

We agreed to paint these later too, since time was short and we wanted to keep moving. Below are our two sketches.

Laura's on top, Jana's on bottom

Our last stop was the Tea House in the Japanese Tea Garden. The garden is an absolutely beautiful place with incredible plantings, sculptures, buildings, ponds, trees, moon bridges and more. I wanted to live there.

Japanese Tea Garden View

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