Trout Cove, Lake Dixon with Inland Painters 2018

Orangutans at San Diego Zoo - San Diego Sketch Crawlers

Point Loma Light House - San Diego Urban Sketchers

Coronado Ferry Landing with San Diego Urban Sketchers

Yesterday I got to sketch with the San Diego Urban Sketchers at the Ferry Landing on Coronado. This video shows the artists, their sketches and a bit of the area.

Lake Mira Mar - Sharpie September

I created this drawing with a Sharpie Ulta Fine Marker and watercolor while attending a paint out with Inland Painters. This is the dock at Mira Mar Lake, a reservoir located in North San Diego County. There is a 5-mile loop around the lake and is a popular place for picnicking, jogging, walking and bicycling.

Sharpie september

Sketching with the San Diego Sketch Crawlers at Spanish Village.

Sharpie September using a Sharpie pen and watercolor paint.

Hanging the show in Escondido - sketchbook journal entry

Field worker Carlsbad Flower Fields

This was drawn from a photograph taken at the Carlsbad Flower Fields many years ago.
It's a small sketch on brown craft paper created with Sharpie Brush Pens.

Coronado Ferry Landing

Sharpie September Day 4 was created at the Ferry Landing in Coronado. I visited the area to see which spot would be a good meeting place for the San Diego Urban Sketchers. I had a cup of coffee at the Coronado Coffee Company and sketched for a little while. It seemed to be the meeting place for retired men having their morning coffee, a destination for their morning bike ride.  I also walked over to the fishing area of the landing and sketched from there. A young couple was scurrying around trying to catch fish from both sides of the pier and reporting on the phone how many they had in the bucket. I wonder if they worked for a restaurant. They kept admiring my sketches every time they passed by me.

It was a peaceful morning with light sprinkles. It's hard to believe that it will be high 90's by the end of the week. I had my sweatshirt on the entire time.

Sharpie September Day 3

Today I used a Sharpie Ultra Fine Permanent Marker. Since I stayed home all day I sketched while watching Live PD. My sketch was created on brown craft paper glued to the back of one of my sketchbook pages. There were random bleed through marks fro the previous page so I used the brown paper to draw on.

red Sharpie brush on Kraft paper in a Watercolor Moleskine

Day 2 in Sharpie September
@sharpie #sharpieart #sharpiebrushpen #watercolor @moleskine #sketch#itsabirthdayparty #kraftpaper

Car show - Sharpie September

Today was the first day of Sharpie September. It is something I am going to try with a few of my friends. The first attempt was with a big fat Sharpie Magnum. I felt like I was drawing with a bar of soap! A few car enthusiasts came by to chat with me and when I told one of the men I was having trouble with my big Sharpie he brought me a smaller point. I am happier with my second attempt. There are many different Sharpies I have to look forward to for the rest of the month.

Lydia Velarde - Sketchbook Flip (Daler Rowney Sketchbook)

My latest sketchbook flip 

11 x 17 inch Daler Rowney

sheep

I am still practicing direct watercolor in my sketchbook. This technique helps me to see shapes and colors better than when I draw the image first. 

Watercolor at Lake Hodges

Direct watercolor while sketching at Lake Hodges in San Diego. I love line, and contour drawing so painting without drawing first was a fun challenge for me. 

Salerno Winery statue

 At the Salerno Winery, there is a set of very tall clowns lining the driveway and this is one of them created with watercolor in a Daler-Rowney 11 x 14-inch sketchbook.

Salerno Winery with San Diego Urban Sketchers

My sketch from the Salerno Winery in Ramona. 

What a great place to sketch. Located in Ramona, "Salerno offers guests an experience unlike any other – complete with award-winning handcrafted wines, an extensive collection of world-class sculptures and live performances by local musicians." We had it all!

Spectator at a chess game

A good opportunity to sketch when it isn't my turn at a chess game. This quick sketch was created with a Derwent Medium Wash Pencil. I used a water brush to shade and later used my finger (which wasn't a good idea). Gary moved his hands and arms a lot so even though I thought he was going to sit still, there was movement. I still need to remember to take my time to get an accurate drawing while sketching. 

Sketching at Spanish Village

It's been a while since I have sketched with the San Diego Sketch Crawlers and wanted to visit more than draw. I worked on several small sketches with my Rapido Sketch Pen and watercolor rather than concentrate on a full page drawing. I only stayed for a few hours but managed to sketch and take photos of the other artists.

This is a 1:07 minute video of the group and their sketches at Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego. 

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico

I have been working on daily painting since attending the Plein Air Convention. This Daler-Rowney Sketchbook is 11 x 14 and a little too large to carry around as a constant companion so I have been working from photos until I fill it up. I have taken notes each time I sketch so I can learn from my exercises instead of just daily painting. So far I have worked on using more pigment, making better drawings before painting, and keeping up my momentum and enthusiasm until I am done with the sketch.

Oceanside Pier - San Diego Urban Sketchers 2018

I worked with a Rapido Sketch Pen and watercolor when I went sketching a the beach with San Diego Urban Sketchers. The video below is all of the artists, the Oceanside Pier area and finished sketches from the 2-hour event.

annoying people in the waiting room

I tend to look at people. Mostly I am looking at what would be interesting to draw but yesterday I got a little distracted by the annoying people. Many times I wonder if they are just annoying to ME of if they are annoying in general.

San Diego Steam Punk Picnic 2018

I created this watercolor while attending a San Diego Urban Sketching Event at Old Poway Park. We met during the San Diego Steampunk Picnic which gave us many costumed figures to sketch. It was a fun exercise even though it was hard to find one sitting still.  My sketches were done in an 11 x 14 inch Daler Rowney Sketchbook with pencil and watercolor.

View the 3:46-minute Lydeo of the event below.

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.

Facial Expressions Workshop with Orly Avineri

This weekend I got to attend a 3-day workshop given by Orly Avineri. The title, Facial Expressions intrigued me because I had taken one from her a few years ago where we made a little book of faces, and I loved it. Orly's workshops are more than "how to" we become an engaged, open group of creators. Each spread has a personal meaning that I cannot put into words. These journal pages are not just pieces of art but bits and pieces of an experience.

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.

The Draw and Cook

This morning I found out my Chili Bean recipe was accepted on "They Draw and Cook" website. I created all the elements in gouache and compiled them with photoshop.

Current Sketchbook Page

I like to fill the pages of my sketchbooks. If I don't create an urban sketch or draw from a photograph I fill the page with doodles and whatever is going on at the moment.

The menu us from an old favorite pastrami shop from my childhood. Let's keep that memory alive!

The skulls were created while reading the book, "The Urban Sketching Handbook, People and Motion by Gabi Campanario.

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.

Maira Kalman

Artsy.net has a new Maira Kalman page that provides visitors with up-to-date Kalman exhibition listings, over a dozen of her works, and exclusive articles. The page also includes related artists and categories, allowing viewers to discover art beyond their Kalman page. This is a great resource! 

Day 3 of #OneWeek100People

When I created these 20 drawings I used a Pigma Bold Brush Marker. I sketched from the Internet News. I normally like to do all my drawings from life but doing 20 drawings takes a long time. I would rather sit at home to draw instead of doing 2 hours of staring at people in public.

Day 2 of #OneWeek100People

One Day 2 of #OneWeek100People I used a Kooh-I-Noor Rapido Sketch Pen for these drawings. I sat across from the snack shack at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas and was able to capture people as they gathered for coffee or ate snacks. I had to sketch quickly because they were constantly moving, especially the children!

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.

1967 VW Volkswagen Bug Original Watercolor on Ebay

Bid

Original Watercolor Painting of 1967 VW Bus Driving down the road in San Diego. Signed in the lower right side in watercolor: Lydia Velarde Image 4.5 x 6.5 inches Outside mat size 8 x 10 inches Mat is brown with a foam board backing. Shrink wrapped. Volkswagon, VW, Car, Vintage

Sketching at the Opera Rehearsal for Turandot

The San Diego Opera invites artists to their dress rehearsal at the San Diego Civic Theatre in San Diego, California, I was honored to be one of the artists that got to attend the rehearsal for Turandot. There is so much to take in while sketching: the music, the colors, the sets, costumes and of course the beautiful VOICES! These are the pages I worked on during the rehearsal.

Sketches with Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and watercolor.

Derwent Sketching Pencil Medium Wash and Aquarellable Stabilo 8046 Pencil with Watercolor

Graphite Pencil

Gouache Sketch and Contour Line Drawing of Museum of Man

Gouache on left contour line drawing on the right.

Still practicing gouache, I worked on a small part of the Museum of Man in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA. The building was built as part of the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition. The museum features cultural anthropology exhibits and was one of the first buildings in Balboa Park.

Watercolor with Urban Sketchers at Mission Trails Visitor Center

These sketches were created at the Mission Trails Visitor Center in San Diego while at an event with the San Diego Urban Sketchers.  I used my favorite drawing tools which are the koh-i-noor rapidosketch  pen and a set of Holbein watercolors. The Mission Trails Regional Park encompasses 7,220 acres of both natural and developed recreational land with 60 miles of hiking trails. 

This is a video of the event:

Figure Drawing

These are figure sketches from yesterday at Judy's. 2 fives and a 20.

I tried drawing with a brush on the 5 minute poses after noticing that a lot of the artists at the watercolor society started this way.

The20-minutee pose was done with aRapidoo sketch pen and watercolor. My comfort zone.

Alexa Health Facts

Lydia stresses out

Link to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/zipchips

PACE 2017

I was so excited to see that half of me appeared in a photo sent in a promo email for the 2018 Plein Air Convention and Expo!

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.

Cabrillo Bridge Balboa Park, San Diego

The San Diego Watercolor Society meets every Wednesday at different locations in San Diego. Today we met at the Cabrillo Bridge which leads right in to Balboa Park. The entrance is at the corner of El Prado and Balboa Drive.

 

Walking at the Mall

I really enjoy walking at the mall, when I got right down to it there were many reasons I enjoy it! The only trouble I have is getting on the non-moving escalator steps. The lines and the width of the steps get me a little disoriented when I first step on.

My drawing and journal entry was created with a micron pen and gouache.

Campaign to reach 1000 YouTube Subscribers

Are you aware that I have a YouTube Channel? I am making an aggressive effort to reach 1000 subscribers. That's my goal! If you can help out this is a link to the channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/zipchips

 I show videos of San Diego Urban Sketcher Events, plein air events, sketchbook flips and a few museum visits. Check a few "Lydeos" out to see if they peak your interest. If so please show your support by subscribing!

Thank you so much!

Lydia

Heritage Park near Old Town, San Diego

This is the sketch I did today at the San Diego Urban Sketcher event at Heritage Park in Old Town, San Diego. Pencil and watercolor in a Daler Rowney sketchbook.

I passed on drawing the Victorian Homes and drew a house on the hill instead.