making cookies

Tamale testing

3rd Annual West Coast Urban Sketchers Sketch Crawl 2015 (Video 2 of 2)

In 2015 San Diego will be hosting the 3rd Annual West Coast Urban Sketcher Sketch Crawl. This is our latest video!

Santa is in Town!

 While waiting for a store to open, I got to watch Santa from the second floor, using my "backup" sketchbook.

City Administration Building, San Diego

I sat in my car and sketched the San Diego Administration Building this morning... killing a few moments before an appointment.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, CA

This resort in San Diego is located on it's own 15 acre peninsula. There are views of the Pacific Ocean and Mexico on one side, and shimmering bay waters and the San Diego skyline on the other. I got to sketch there today with the San Diego Urban Sketchers Meetup Group.

Sketchbook Journal Page

 

November 29 - December 3, 2014

Valley View

I live in a little valley surrounded by hills just on the edge of the city. This is a view from my patio.

Stone Books

This Stone Book was made after visiting the Geisel Library Special Collections Department at UCSD. I went on a field trip with Book Arts Class taught by Cindy Zimmerman and saw the Touch Stones made by Pamela Paulsrud. Pamela's looked like rocks and the sanded pages were very smooth and soft to the touch.

Sketchbook Flip July - September 2014

 

This is a reconstructed journal made with various types of paper. The cover paper was decorated with a Gelli Plate. The inside shows sketches and paintings done on location (en plein air) at various locations throughout San Diego County and Portland Oregon while at the 2nd Annual Urban Sketchers Sketch crawl. www.lydiavelarde.com
Music: Mob Battle, Silent Partner

Boomshop of Comics

Boomshop of Comics is the only comic shop in San Diego. There is a coffee bar inside so it was easy to sit down to sketch. This is done in pen and watercolor.

Passport Case / Mini Notebook

A little notebook made from two 8.5 x 11 inch pieces of decorative paper. Inside is made from scrap paper. Instructions found in Yasutomo Mingei Crafts Book. 

 

 

 

Balboa Park Activity Center

you can do it

Day of the Dead Skull

 New listing on Ebay.

 

Morning Delivery

Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery, Oceanside

Old Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery, founded in 1798, is the oldest cemetery in North County San Diego still in operation.

This is where the San Diego Urban Sketchers Meetup Group met on November 9.

 

Ice Cream

Japanese Stab Binding

This is the stitch we learned to make this week in Book Arts at Mesa College taught by Cindy Zimmerman. It is the Japanese Stab Binding. Next week we will construct a book using this stitch with hard covers and Butterfly Spine.

Book Arts at the Athenaeum

Learning about Book Arts at the Athenaeum in La Jolla.

Accordion Pop Up Book

This is the latest book I learned in Book Arts with Cindy Zimmerman. It was frustrating for me at first and I wasn't enthused about it. The procedure started to get fun as I progressed with the different stages of the structure. I am happy with the outcome and it will be a healthy reference for me and my husband, Gary.

 Each page shows 4 energy foods for pre diabetics and also heart healthy.

Statue Garden

One of the patios in Balboa Park, San Diego houses many statues and decorations that have been replaced or repaired. I met with friends to sketch them today. This is my watercolor of one of the statues.

The Antique Steam Engine and Tractor Museum

Oil painting on an 8 x 10 inch canvas with some friends at the Antique Steam Engine and Tractor Museum.

San Diego Urban Sketchers at Tidelands Park Coronado

My sketch done at the meetup at Tidelands Park, Coronado

a 4 minute video showing 19 sketchers and their work during a 2 hour meetup

Hard Cover Accordion Structure

This is the Hard Cover Accordion Structure I learned in Book Arts Class taught by Cindy Zimmerman, I chose the Japanese Zodiac for my subject because she had this beautiful Japanese rice paper to share and the number of animals fit perfectly in this format.

Life Drawing

Figure drawing in a large Strathmore watercolor sketchbook
At North Park with Stephen, Kathy and Janice

Coptic Stitch with Paste Paper

In Book Arts with Cindy Zimmerman we worked on Coptic stitch 2 weeks in a row. I got better! This one is made with paste paper we made in class the week before.

Punked up Journal

This is a "punked up" Coptic stitch journal made in Book arts with Cindy Zimmerman. We took mat board and beat it up with a mallet, screws, nuts and bolts. I didn't want to cover or distress the inside cover so I made little stamps in the shape of screws, nuts and bolts. I kept tearing the paper when I tightened the stiches but my nice teacher says it gave it a more punked up look. I love my book arts class.