learning

Now Live: My Craftsy Class!

Sunday, September 24, 2017



So excited to announce that my Craftsy class, Urban Sketching in 15 Minutes a Day, is live! It's great for beginners. You'll learn simple ways to quickly convey the essence of a place, moment or passing scene – whether you’re walking to lunch or traveling in a car, bus or train.

What you get:

  • 6 Streaming HD video lessons with anytime, anywhere access
  • Class resources, including a printable supply list
  • Detailed instruction, explanation and demonstration
  • Me! I'll be personally answering your questions in the class

Let's get sketching! Sign up today

in motion

Open Streets: Viva Calle SJ 2017

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Viva CalleSJ westbound

Last weekend, San Jose once again hosted Viva CalleSJ, an open streets event to encourage walking and bicycling. Each time, I discover more parts of the city.

This year we started near Alum Rock, and M. brought along his Box Bike. I had the best seat in the house -- I got to sit inside the box bike and sketched while M. pedaled along the route!

Sketching in Box Bike by DIYBiking.com during Viva CalleSJ

Viva CalleSJ going east

Viva CalleSJ balloon

We stopped in front of Five Wounds Portuguese National Church -- I've wanted to draw it for some time so was glad to get the chance.

Five Wounds San Jose

Someday I'd love to go down to LA to sketch during a CicLAvia event.

horsing around

We Have Polo!

Saturday, September 09, 2017

South Bay Polo Club - Garlic Cup, Gilroy, CA

Yep, we do indeed, just 20 minutes away. Sketched this during the heat wave, at the South Bay Polo Club's Garlic Cup a few weeks ago. (It's in Gilroy, where everything is made of garlic.)

Interestingly, the announcer didn't proclaim "We have polo!" every few minutes as seemed to be the norm in Saratoga. Also unlike at our previous polo experiences in Saratoga and Greenwich, the attendees seemed to be a more diverse and laid-back crowd. Fewer UFO-size hats, more coolers. Plus there were tacos and margaritas - fun!

So far I've sketched golf and polo and yoga and ballroom dancing around the Bay Area. Still on the list to sketch: fencing, cricket. What else?

sunstruck

That Time My Birthday Was Eclipsed by ... the Eclipse

Saturday, September 09, 2017

So the whole country decided to throw a party for me this year. Woot!

Yep, I'm one of the lucky ones who happened to be celebrating a birthday at the same time we all collectively stopped in our tracks to gaze at the sun. For one brief moment we forgot about all the crazy.

I celebrated by hitting not one but two national parks. First stop: Lassen Volcanic National Park. What's that, you say? Oh, only the awesomeness of steam vents and sulfur and bubbling springs without the crush of people at Yellowstone.

We hiked around Manzanita Lake. I stopped to sit on a log and paint.



Manzanita Lake at Lassen Volcanic National Park

Direct to watercolor, no sketching first, in a Hand Book Field Watercolor journal.

Then we trekked to Bumpass Hell. The back way, involving a steep, muddy hike, because the easy trail was still closed. Because of snow. In August!

It was exhausting, but so worth it. This painting doesn't really do the scene justice, but it's the best I could eke out with what little energy I had.

Bumpass Hell at Lassen Volcanic National Park

We drove onward to Crater Lake National Park. Sadly, we could barely see it because of the smoke from all the wildfires. We spent the night in the town of Jacksonville, Oregon, near Ashland. It has a very lovely downtown.

Jacksonville, Oregon downtown

For the main event, we went to Roxy Ann Winery in Medford, which was hosting a viewing party. Yes, we didn't see totality, but ~90% while sipping fresh-from-the-orchard peach mimosas? Yes, please!

Eclipse watching at Roxy Ann Winery, Medford, OR

Austin (or Cleveland?) 2024, here we come!

animals

Sketching at the Zoo

Saturday, September 09, 2017

Took advantage of our office summer picnic a few weeks ago at the San Francisco Zoo to sketch. Because, flamingoes!



flamingos SF Zoo



And parrots (I think?).

parrot SF zoo

So what is this awesome toned paper? It's that Daiso kraft paper scrapbook I'd previously used for gouache.


Here's a roadie I had done a few weeks earlier, in the same sketchbook.

Sketch from the road