Election Night

KALW radio did a live broadcast from the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse on election night.  The wildly partisan crowd cheered as Obama was announced the winner.

Hosts Rose Aguilar and Larry Bensky on stage

Sat in back of the guy at the sound board.

Don't know if I caught the beauty of the walls, which use reclaimed wood from the original F&S.

Election Eve

Bodhisattva, ink & watercolor

Now that we’ve voted, all we can do is pray for the best possible outcome. This beautiful life-sized sculpture greets visitors in the entry hall in the home of a friend of mine.

New Polling Place at the Richmond Korean Baptist Church, Ink, markers, watercolor

My polling place moved from the senior center a few blocks away to a neighboring area I didn’t know existed so it was an interesting walk there. It was made even more interesting by trying to follow my iPhone’s new BAD map program that speaks turn by turn directions. It got me there OK but totally messed up on the way home.

Day of the Dead Celebration

My sketches from the Day of The Dead Celebration in Oakland. See Jana and Micaela's sketches of the day in earlier postings.

Sketching Corners and Sketchers

Corner of Ashby and College, (LuluLemon) ink & watercolor, 5x8"

Our sketchgroup sat across the street at Cafe Roma and sipped espresso on an unusually warm fall evening. I don't know what that huge speaker thingee is on top of the building is but it's really that big (almost).

Corner of University and Walnut, (Berkeley Hardware at Dusk), ink & watercolor, 8x5"

I sat at the little Brazilian food cart across the street sketching Berkeley Hardware until it got to dark to see. That's Ceinwen sitting in front of the hardware store sketching the food cart.

Corner of San Pablo and Carlson, El Cerrito (Peet's Coffee), ink & watercolor, 5x8"

Albany Hill sticks up behind Peet's Coffee. The hill is beautifully forested with Eucalyptus trees that were planted by a dynamite manufacturer operating on the other side of the hill in the late 1800s. They had so many accidental explosions they needed something to catch debris and muffle the sound.

More about all of this on my blog JanasJournal.

Russian River Barn

Old barns are common along roadsides in Sonoma County, but I never tire of the character and beauty they add to the landscape. Many are no longer in use; seemingly held together by nothing but peeling paint, their roofs sag and the walls bear holes big enough to accommodate all sorts of critters. Yet somehow these barns manage to keep standing. I like to think they’ve grown roots, like the old oak trees from which they were built, that each is digging ever deeper into the soil in order to prop up its increasingly frail frame. This old barn along West Side Road complements the season’s earthy browns and greens, now that recent rains have washed away much of autumn’s warmer tones.

The last pumpkin, Point Reyes Station

There was one last pumpkin in the garden, but this is California and there are still flowers and it was warm and sunny.

The last pumpkin, pen and brown ink and watercolors, 9x12in

Day of the Dead, San Francisco

It was not easy to draw during the Day of the Dead parade, I made pencil sketches of people who were having their faces painted and added the ink and watercolor afterwards. The ink blobs just happened and I added some more. It was a beautiful event.

Dia de los Muertos, Pen and ink and watercolors, 18x12

More From Mendocino

Spenger's on University Ave and 4th

I sat under the railroad overpass on University Ave and drew the nautical paraphernalia around the Spenger's Grotto Building. It makes me think of far away harbors.

Spenger's Grotto, Pen and ink and watercolors, 9x12in

AT&T Ball Park Opera

Rigoletto at the Park! You can see earlier (and more timely) posts by Cathy and Jana.

The Actual Cafe Welcomes All

I love the Actual Cafe.  It is truly a community gathering place for all.

Dia de los muertos celebration

Some of the alters had a layer of sand in which people were drawing patterns and placing flowers and pieces of art. There was a lot going on with huge circles of dancers which moved from one end of the celebration to another. The dancers were very fast-moving so I just caught a tiny bit of the action.

Saul's Deli

Fun evening eating and sketching with Cathy.  I was going to draw my dinner plate, but I was too hungry, so I drew the pickles instead.

Low Rider Car Show at Dia de los Muertos

1948 Chevy Fleetline, drawn in ink on site, painted at home (5×8″)

At the Dia de Los Muertos celebration in East Oakland families came to celebrate and honor their loved ones who had passed. They displayed elaborate, beautiful altars filled with marigolds, fruit, religious imagery and mementos of loved ones.

I was thrilled to find a low rider car show away from the loud music and crowds where I could set up my stool and sketch.

He said he likes to draw cartoons; I  tried to get him to draw the car with me but he declined

There were the booths filled with flowers and decorated sugar skulls and skeleton-themed art of all kinds. here was music, Aztec dancing, drumming and more.

Sugar skulls, skeleton dolls and a view from above

Trying to sketch the Aztec dancers

Lots more sketches and photos from the day on my blog, JanasJournal

Tennessee Beach, Marin Headlands

Marin Headlands is a paradise for hikes and it's so close to the city. It's a gorgeous coast line.

Tennessee Beach, Pen and ink and watercolor, 9x12in

Downtown San Francisco

Every now and then I spend a day drawing in the city. It's a bit challenging to sit  alone at a corner during the lunch hour when everybody goes to get something to eat, but in general I choose a difficult view and focus so much on drawing that I don't notice what goes on around me. There is always a nice comment from someone passing by.

Sacramento and Front, Pen and ink and watercolors, 9x12in

China Town Gate, Pen and ink and watercolors, 9x12

Cathaoula Coffee, Richmond, CA

Catahoula Coffee Roaster & Barista

While I was having my car smog-checked I walked down the street to Catahoula Coffee in Richmond. The coffee was great and their coffee roaster was an inspiring challenge to draw. I only had a grey, black, yellow and red marker with me but added a bit of watercolor on top of the ink when I got home. That's a burlap bag on the wavey-shaped counter beside the barista who read a soccer magazine when business was slow.

Night Scene in Downtown Berkeley

Dowtown Berkeley from PiQ Cafe

Half Price Books from PiQ Cafe, Pen and ink and watercolors, 9x12in

PiQ turned out to be a great place to draw. I choose the corner of Half Price Books. The old S.H.Kress and Company building is beautiful and there are several other renderings of it that will appear from the group.

Sketching in Ft. Bragg

Debate Night

 So inspiring to watch the debate amidst the Albany Community and to hear the thoughtful questions and comments from George Lakoff and the crowd afterwards.

The Second Presidential Debate!
Kudos to the Albany  Library for hosting this community event. Even though I never saw her, I was sketching with Micaela. Please see her earlier post.

The post debate discussion let by Prof George Lakoff was engaging, insightful and thought provoking.

The 2nd Presidential Debate at the Albany Library

A community room at the library filled with community-minded people who care—the best! This debate was moderated by Candy Crowley, who did seem that - moderate. Commentator George Lakoff discussed the debate and took questions from the crowd.