Navel Orange Tree - Pen and Ink with Watercolor

It's been in the high 80s in San Diego lately. Yesterday when I felt a breeze and comfortable outside I decided it was time to sketch in the yard again.

I chose our navel orange tree. We have had it for years and it always produces oranges but I only remember one year that they were sweet and tasty. I did this sketch in pen and ink with watercolor.

Direct painting

I left my Casein paints on my palette and threw it in the freezer. The freezer part was probably not necessary but I wanted to see if I could reuse the paints or if they would dry up. Of course, they weren't as creamer as the first time a squeezed them out of the tube and on to my palette but I was able to revive them by spraying them with water.

This sketch was painted directly on the paper, without making a drawing first. I used an empty spot on my sketchbook page so these railroad volunteers are only 2.25 inches tall.

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. 

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.

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.

red Sharpie brush on Kraft paper in a Watercolor Moleskine

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

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.

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.

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.

V's Coffee shop

I created this sketch in V's Coffee Shope in Rancho Bernardo. I was going to meet friends for plein air painting but it was too cold for me to go outside. This subject was perfect for my first gouache because it had a lot of darks and lights. The only thing I missed was trying vibrant colors.

Drawing at the Opera

Several artist groups were invited to the San Diego Civic Center to sketch during the dress and music rehearsal of Pirates of Penzance. I participated in this event last night. We had a little reading light and kept very quiet while drawing. It was a fun challenge drawing the moving singers. I dropped in watercolor on the first few sketches but decided my sketchbook was too big for me to be painting quickly.

Waterwise Botanical Garden, Bonsall

 A nursery in San Diego was the location of the San Diego Urban Sketchers today. They had a lot of nice displays of the cactus and succulents. Luckily we had a break in the heat wave while we were there. This is my sketch done in my new Stillman & Birn Alpha Series.

Liberty Station

 Still hyper from the Plein Air Convention and Expo (#PACE17) I did a sketch after entering some pieces in the San Diego Watercolor Society monthly show. The Walk for Mental Health was just wrapping up so I got to sketch. I practiced some of the many things I tried to remember from the convention.

AT the Gaslamp

This is my first sketch in a very large sketchbook my friend Doris Bertch gave me. The watercolor paper pages are 11 x 14.5 inches. It was a bit scary at first, and I had to practice holding it on my lap before going out with it. I think I am going to enjoy this book.

watercolor and brush pen

Viking watercolor sketch