Picasso quote

San Diego Museum of Art Visit, May 2015

Montval Field Sketchbook Flip

Sketchbook from September - November 2014. Montval Field Watercolor Book. 11 x 14 inches.140 lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper. Canson.

Outside the Mingei

When my friend told me there was a sketchbook of James Castle at the Mingei exhibit, SELF-TAUGHT GENIUS - Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum I decided to take a drive to see the show. Unfortunately the museum is closed on Monday but I made a fun morning out of it by sketching the front of the museum. I also got to visit the San Diego Museum of Art. (Balboa Park will be the location of the 3rd Annual West Coast Urban Sketcher Sketch Crawl in August)

Costco Purses

San Diego Book Arts Quarterly Potluck April 2015

A 3:14 minute video.

Published on Apr 27, 2015

Food, artist books and sketches were shared during the SDBA Quarterly Potluck. This 3:17 minute video gives you a peak into a few sketchbooks, a preview of Doria Goocher's workshop and Fran Watson's creation, "The Scheherazade Notebook".

Trixxie's Trolley Trek

"Trixxies's Trolley Trek" started at the Santee Trolley Station. The San Diego Urban Sketchers hopped on the trolley for a short ride to the next stop where we got off, sketched for 15 minutes then jumped back on the trolley to the next station. We sketched at 4 different stops before returning to Santee. All of the sketches were done quickly, after the 2nd stop i realized I left my bag on the trolley, while it was on the way to downtown San Diego, I continued to sketch but with pen only. Thanks to a trolley flagger who radio'd the trolley I was lucky get my bag back with all my valuables still in it.

"A World of Artist Journal Pages"

I just got "A World of Artist Journal Pages" in the mail, a book by Dawn Devries Sokol where I have 2 pages of art work published. My friends,Carol Bonomo and Francesca Albini are also in the book.

The San Diego Urban Sketchers at Greenwood Cemetery April 2015

Greenwood Cemetery

a 12 second stop motion film

vulture stop motion watercolor sketch

My first stop motion film sketching a vulture.

Lori

Life drawing at Judy's.

San Diego Automotive Museum, April 2015

a one minute video of my favorites at the automotive museum, along with a few sketches done on location.

Envelope Book and stamps

This is my completed humming bird stamp. I used the remnants to carve some flowers and leaves to decorate the paper bag books.

The books were made from instructions in Alisa Golden's, Making Handmade Books.

Hummingbird

In progress. This hummingbird is carved into a speed ball speedy cut. It is 4.5 x 4.5 inches. I stopped because I wasn't sure if I want to have the humming bird alone or with flowers. I decided to do the flowers separate.

Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla

The Wolfstein Sculpture Park at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, is part of the Arts for Healing program. The San Diego Urban Sketchers met there this morning to draw in and around the Serenity Garden. My sketch is of Pedestrian Observation by Ed Benavente.

Sketching Vultures at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park April 2015

The Weekday Sketchers celebrate 6 years of drawing together.

San Diego Urban Sketchers at El Campo Santo Cemetery March 2015

El Campo Santo Cemetery, Old Town, San Diego

The Roman Catholic El Campo Santo Cemetery was established in 1849. One of the graves here is that of Yankee Jim Robinson who was hung at the site of the Whaley House, two blocks away. 

A San Diego Book Arts Workshop with Helen Shafer Garcia March 2015

San Diego Urban Sketchers at Powerhouse Park March 2015

Time CHANGE

spanish village, balboa park

This sketch was done at Spanish Village in Balboa Park this morning. It was done in colored pencil. (The stamp was done in life drawing by my friend Stephen Sloan.)

Note: Balboa Park is the location of the 3rd Annual West Coast Urban Sketchers Sketch Crawl which will take place August 7,8, and 9th 2015.

Reporting for Jury Duty

Vacation Village, San Diego

The Barefoot Bar and Grill is located in Vacation Village, tucked away on gentle Mission Bay in the heart of San Diego. The restaurant was the location of this sketch done in pen and watercolor.

A Mingei Morning

Palm Leaf book

This is a Palm Leaf Book made from instructions in the book, Making Hand Made Books by Alisha Golden. It is 1.5 x 5 inches. The paper watercolor paper from an old painting I didn't like. It is bound with bakers thread and 2 buttons.

North Park Water Tower

The North Park Water Tower is located in San Diego and is registered with the California State Historical Resources Commission. The tower was built in 1924, and it held 1.2 million gallons before it was retired in the 1990s.

Bernardo Winery

The Bernardo Winery is oldest family owned and operated winery in Southern California. This watercolor sketch painting was done at the winery today.

Bathroom Tips Zine

First published in 2009 the Public Restroom Tips zine is back and on my etsy store, take a look!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LydiaVelardeArt?ref=hdr_shop_menu

San Diego Urban Sketchers at Midland and Temple

Weekday Sketchers at Spanish Village

Spanish Village, Balboa Park

This sketch painting was created today at Spanish Village.  This is an area of Balboa Park, in San Diego where over 37 working art studios are located. The village has a colorful flagstone patio filled with seasonal blooms, and unique shops housed under the historic Spanish-tile roofed buildings. Balb oa Park is also the location of our 3rd Annual West Coast Urban Sketcher Sketch Crawl, August 7, 8, 9 2015! information at:  http://3rdwcuskskcrawl.blogspot.com/

Queen Califia's Magical Circle

Queen Califia's Magical Circle is a sculpture garden located in Escondido, California. It is one of the last works of French artist Niki de Saint Phalle and the only American garden by the artist.

My sketch done in watercolor on gessoed paper.

San Diego Urban Sketchers at Amici Park January, 2015

this is my sketch and our video from the San Diego Urban Sketchers Meetup in Little Italy.

Book Making

2 books I made today. Book on the left is a watercolor sketchbook using the method my friend Stephen Sloan taught me. The book on the right is perfect binding from the book, Making Handmade Books, Alisa Golden. It is a book made with very light weight board covered with Christmas paper. Inside are all of the Christmas cards I received that had photographs on them.

Chess set at Myrtle Creek Nursery

There is a huge cement chess set at the Myrtle Creek Nursery in Fallbrook where the San Diego Urban Sketchers met today. This is my ink sketch of the set.

Smog test

Weekend Sketch Crawlers at Westfield Mall Food Court

Westfield Mall, Food Court

The food court has changed.. A LOT. It seems to seat more people and has a little area that looks cozy with plants and nice chairs.

This is a snack stand I sketched while on an outing with the San Diego Sketch Crawlers.

Relief carving

This is a "relief carving" I created at a workshop held at the San Diego Museum of Art. It was carved in clay, lopsided and just a waste. The workshop was not what I had in mind but I just can't throw this little bird away. I finally painted it today. Poor thing.

My last 3 sketchbook pages

These are from Jan 2 to Jan 4, 2015

San Diego Weekday Sketch Crawlers meet at Spanish Village Balboa Park