The Window at Molly b’s

Molly b always has an amazing window, but it was exceptional this month. I was able to quickly sketch a selective portion of it on March 6 while running errands. I added more paint and the sticker when I got home.

The Art of Enrique Martinez: Papel Picado

Origami in Oakland!

Origami fascinates me on how a flat piece of paper can be made into a three dimensional form!
My one dimensional rendering doesn’t capture the creative folds and facets of the art at Taro’s  Origami Studio.
Thanks for hosting us Jennifer!

Gil Abides!

Buffalo Gil presides over the bar at Club Mallard, an Albany institution which has been serving customers since 1945!
Carrie McClish’s sketch (above) captured the place and Justin so well.  I focused on Gil being sketched by Carrie and Micaela (below). Thanks for the hospitality Justin!

Chilly Night, Chill Place

Our July public sketching night was held at the hospitable Ocean View Brew Works, on San Pablo Ave., Albany. We had such a good time, sketching, sipping, and meeting new sketchers.  I need to come back to learn more about the brewing process (to sketch the equipment better). Thank you Veronica and Melina for welcoming us! 

Sketching Away at Way Station Brew

Today the Way Station is a relaxed coffee, tea, scone and other treats place with this striking coffee roaster.

Bierhaus

• We really enjoyed sketching and stamping at Bierhaus!

Sketching Sunny Spices On a Grey Day

I had such a wonderful time on a rainy morning while sketching the colorful spices at the Oaktown Spice Shop (OSS) in Oakland with our group. The jars, bottles, mannequin, and accessories were delightful! Thank you so much OSS for having us over!

Doing Fieldwork

We had so much fun last night sketching at Fieldwork Brewing Company, Berkeley. I am fascinated by the equipment, but there is so much more to sketch and enjoy! Thank you Fieldwork for creating such a warm, hospitable place to get together and for welcoming us.  #fieldworkbrewingco 

Sketching Girl Meets Dirt

Girl Meets Dirt produces amazing heritage preserves, "inspired by the long history of orchard keeping on Orcas Island"  in Washington State. I visited the island kitchen and their booth at the local farmer's market.. The organic, locally sourced fruit is combined with other ingredients, then cooked by hand on copper pans before it is bottled for sale in the kitchen, in the farmer's market and on-line. I can personally testify to the high quality of the jams. I end up purchasing enough for the rest of the year until I return. Thanks for having me over to sketch Girl Meets Dirt!

San Francisco Bay Area Sketches From Here and There

From old Oakland,  Pt. Reyes, to the rooftops of San Francisco, there are so many beautiful urban and natural landscapes! 

Pt. Reyes

From a rooftop garden in San Francisco

Maker's Common: A Cool Place for Dining and Sketching on a Hot Summer's Night

Great people and food at Berkeley's Maker's Common. Thank you for the hospitality!

Fiesta Sin Fronteras: Cinco de Mayo in Oakland

Last weekend I was so fortunate to attend the Fiesta Sin Fronteras at Fruitvale and at the Oakland Wall, next to Luka's. Thank you Maria Alderete for leading the way to celebrate Oakland's Latin American cultures and immigrants. You so vividly reminded us that walls are for art and dancing!

Aztec Dancer and Aztec Rattle

Mariachi Estelar musician with flowers in her hair.

Mariachi Estelar was so amazing. Their musical skills and presentation were very impressive.

Bandaloop literally danced on Oakland's Great Wall!

The Tule Wave

I am mesmerized by the Tule Wave by Reuben Margolin. This 7' x 7' 25' high kinetic sculpture is housed in the David Brower Center located at 2150 Alston Way near the Berkeley BART Station. The sculpture is composed of tule reeds, brass beads, string, and steel with an electric motor that gently creates a murmuration. I had a view from the 1st floor. Our group sketched within the Center, focusing on the Tule Wave and other art in the  Hazel Wolf Gallery which emphasizes environmental and social advocacy art.  (Please see other posts). The Center's name honors David Brower, a Berkeley native who was a leader in both the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters.  

Hats Off to Goorin Bros

I love sketching at Goorin's our neighborhood hat store. The only downside is that I often cannot leave without buying a hat! Thank you for crafting such wonderful hats, creating intriguing displays and letting us sketch in the shop.
Please see other Goorin sketches in our blog.

Girl Meets Dirt!

GIRL meets DIRT at the Eastsound Farmer's Market
One of the highlights of my annual visit to Orcas was meeting and visiting with the folks from GIRL meets DIRT. This small enterprise located in Eastsound, Orcas Island, Washington State supports local orchards and heirloom produce. The jams reflect the "taste of place". Thank you Audra Query Lawlor for the work that you, your staff and local growers do. And thank you for letting me sketch!

The jam shop/tasting room/kitchen and crew on Enchanted Forest Road.

SF Embarcadero Views

Every once in a while, I visit SF and sketch from one of my favorite spot overlooking the Embarcadero. I particularly like to try to sketch the Bay Bridge shadows on the water.  

That is Oakland in the far distance.

Four Views of the Bay Bridge

I spent a good part of the day  sketching the Bay Bridge from the San Francisco side (for a change). There is a glimpse of the Oakland cranes under the bridge.

This sketch shows the connection to Yerba Buena Island.

Sometimes the cables would catch the shifting light.

And sometimes they wouldn't so much.

July 4 - Sketching at Circle Park & Normandy Village

On July 4 I dropped by a local neighborhood celebration at Circle Park in the morning (top sketch) and went back to Normandy Village (NV) in the afternoon. I had missed our group's last NV outing  (please see their earlier posts), but love sketching this distinctive architecture. I'm afraid my depictions of the gargoyles aren't as fierce as they are in "real" life.

The Claremont Diner

We are so happy that the Claremont Diner is open again with spruced up conic red stools and black/white tiles floors. The menu retains the classics, but adds some new tasty dishes.