Sketching at Filoli, Too

One of the mysteries of our August sketching trip to Filoli Estate: why did all the pumpkins sport lovely paper umbrellas? A little research reveals that shading the gourd slows the maturation process and the pumpkin can remain on the vine, hopefully, until Halloween.

In my neighborhood, holiday pumpkins rapidly succumb to mischievous squirrels with the munchies.

Sketching at Filoli

Located 30 miles south of San Francisco, Filoli is an historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century. Some of us participated in the Artist Days at Filoli Garden. These events are a wonderful opportunity to paint in the gardens after they are closed for the day. Not only are there no other visitors but the late afternoon light is perfect!

Filoli Estate

Some of our group visited Filoli, a National Trust for Historic Preservation site in Woodside on the S.F. Bay Peninsula, for one of their Artist Access Days. Here are some of my sketches from the day.

Filoli House and Garden

Some of our group visited Filoli, a National Trust for Historic Preservation site in Woodside on the S.F. Bay Peninsula, for one of their Artist Access Days.  Filoli is an estate and 16 acre garden, created in the early 20th century and last lived in by the Roth family, owners of the Matson Navigation Company.  The grounds were at their full summer ripeness, gardens bursting with floral color and orchard trees heavy with fruit.

The original owner, William Bowers Bourn II, created the name Filoli from the first two letters of words in his personal motto:  "FIght for a just cause; LOve your fellow man; LIve a good life."

The huge flower arrangements in the Garden
House are changed frequently.

 The gardens are set within the surrounding woods
and Crystal Springs Watershed lands.

The design of the grounds is a succession
of garden rooms and terraces.

Food Obsession

I have a food obsession for sure. At almost any given moment you could ask me what I felt like eating right then, and I could think of a LOT of things I would want to eat. Lately I've taken to drawing what I eat too. Here are a few recent food-related sketches.

A pear and almond tart and coffee at Filoli Gardens, Woodside.


A Reuben sandwich, Gunthers, San Jose


And condiments on the table.


More sketches on my blog or flickr stream.