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!