Masks - SF Sketchers Zoom Group

The topic was "masks". We drew each other while, one by one, we talked about our Halloween experiences. If there "posed" and spoke for about 4 minutes. Some of us also talked about our Covid mask.

Lowell, Dede, Faye, Corinne, Carmela
Pencil with watercolor

Doug, Hazel, Kaije, Victoria
Pencil with watercolor

Lauren in her bug mask, Jane, and Liz

Mechanical pencil

When we got back from our short break we drew our self-portrait with our mask on.
Mechanical pencil.

Mini Lap Journal

Working in my mini lap journal today using watercolor, white gelly roll pen, china marker.

Balboa Island, Newport Beach

I worked in a small purse-sized sketchbook so I could create a quick memory of our visit to Newport Beach. When I sketch during visits with friends I tend to focus on my sketch rather than conversation so I try to keep sketches small and short term.  There were many historical homes dating back to 1935 and 1936 on Balboa Island and this particular house was across the street from our friends. The car drove up during my sketch process and as soon as I started to add it, the car moved out of the view. 

Sketching in the Waiting Room

I was very active with my sketching habit for many years. I still carry my sketchbook with me but most days it stays in my purse. In an effort to get back to the sketching habit, I am participating in #The100DayProject by doing #100DaysofSketchbookEntries.

I started my first day by drawing people in the waiting room of my doctor's office. I used a Uniball Signo.

I have poor eyesight

Healing from retinal detachment surgery and looking forward to cataract surgery I am facing many challenges with my poor eyesight.

Urban Sketching at Farmers Market at Old Poway Park

I went to Old Poway Park with the intent of sketching. Having music while I was Urban Sketching was a treat. I drew the musician with the saxophone first and was going to stop after drawing him but then I decided to fill my page. If I had done more planning I would have put them in their correct positions and scale. I use Winsor and Newton Watercolors with a Paper Mate Flair Pen. I did the drawing first, then filled with paint.

Los Rios Street with Urban Sketchers

This sketch was created on Los Rios Street this weekend while attending an event with Los Angeles Urban Sketchers, San Diego Urban Sketchers, San Clemente Urban Sketchers and Long Beach Sketch Meet Up. I normally sketch for 2 hours but this event was 4 hours which included coffee, visiting, taking photos and sketching. This extra time allowed me to tackle a full spread in this handmade sketchbook.

This is the video I created for the event: 

Urban Sketching in Old Town San Diego

The San Diego Urban Sketchers met on the corner of Twiggs Avenue and San Diego Avenue in Old Town to sketch and welcome 2 out of town sketchers. We had Urban Sketchers from France and New York join us for the morning. Making friends around the world is one of the benefits of urban sketching.

Flowers in Gouache

In the past, I have not been too fond of painting flowers but I have this lovely still life on my kitchen table and have taken on the challenge. This time I focused in on a section that had high contrast. Using its' negative shapes to create the little flowers. Painted in Gouache.

Sharpie september

Sketching with the San Diego Sketch Crawlers at Spanish Village.

Sharpie September using a Sharpie pen and watercolor paint.

Quotes from the Minimalists Podcast

"Sometimes we have to say no to things so that we can say yes to others." Remembering to tackle one task at a time is something I am constantly trying to practice because I get distracted so easily!

These are 2 quotes I jotted down while listening to a Minimalists Podcast. I am sure the faces are from my Orly Avineri influence since I took a "Facial Expressions" workshop from her this weekend.

My bird nest

I have a friend that has a nest collection, one that has a million bird nests in her horse barn and a teacher that talks about them like they are SO very special (which they are). I have always wanted one. Not just to have one but to find one. To see it in the tree, to think about the life it held and all the amazing work the mother bird did to find all the little elements that go into the nest. Carrying the pieces back and forth and creating a birth home for her babies. THAT is why I was so happy when my husband found one for me and brought it to me in it's branch, then showed me another abandoned nest in our orange tree.

Drawing at the Library a San Diego Urban Sketcher Event

I attended an art reception at the library yesterday and sketched the scenery outside of the library entrance. I didn't go inside because I am the official "greeter" for the San Diego Urban Sketchers and this was one of our events.

 I worked with a Stabilo China Marker and watercolor. The sketchbook is a Daler Rowney 11 x 14, 65 lb paper. When I am drawing or painting on location I don't use a full page for each drawing because I don't carry my large brushes for location painting and I work with the sketchbook on my lap. I would probably get paint on my blouse.
It was a bit chilly and many of the sketchers drew parts of the library, the people and even drew from books.

SD Urban Sketchers and SD Plein Air Painters Art Reception

The San Diego Plein Air Painters Meetup Group invited the San Diego Urban Sketchers to participate in an art show at the Rancho Penasquitos Library during the month of March. The San Diego Urban Sketchers sketched in and outside of the library and Tricia De Luna gave a painting demo. This video was compiled from clips taken at the reception on March 17, 2018. There were 2 walls of framed artwork as well as a display case with unframed artwork and sketchbooks.

Gargoyle in a Stamp

I started practicing my gouache with a gargoyle this morning. I then turned to doodling and then stamp carving. Even though I use a small v-gouge I have trouble getting fine carving lines. It was still a fun process for me.

Day 1 of #OneWeek100People2018

I have taken on the challenge put out by Mark Taro Holmes and Liz Steel to draw 100 people in one week. #OneWeek100People2018. Today I worked in gouache and pencil, marker and ink pen.I worked small and used photo references because I had to stay indoors. Tomorrow I plan to draw people while urban sketching.

Figure Drawing with Pencil and Watercolor

This was the clothed model at life drawing today in a 20-minute pose. One of the other artists commented on the speed of my drawing. I think it is because I use contour drawing. I learned to draw in this manner from Bill Robles in the 1970's at the Art Center College of Design. He was/is a courtroom artist. 

I switched from pencil to a marker for these 20 and 10-minute poses. 

These are 2 minute warm-up sketches. I painted the panels with watercolor. I am in the habit of doing the panels because I usually paint the nude. It helps speed up the painting process for quick poses.