Sketching in Oakland's Chinatown

Christmas in Emeryville

Sunday in the Square

carried away's photostream on Flickr.

I joined the San Francisco Sketchers on Saturday (Dec.7) at Union Square in San Francisco. In the square itself was a skating rink and a stage and more people than I can count.

Farmer's Market

At Berkeley's Saul's Deli

At Berkeley's Saul's Deli, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

Another outing with the sketch group - and we came to this fine deli and restaurant. Sonia and I arrived early so we both ordered something to eat before "going into the zone."

I love waiting in waiting rooms

IMAG0740, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

...especially when I arrive early and can pull out a small sketchbook and sketch until my name is called.

Another sailboat and view @ Berkeley Marian

Another sailboat and view @ Berkeley Marian, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

I spent the day at the Berkeley Marina with my buddies from the SF Sketchers group. It was a nice day to sketch; I dedicated the day to my mom who died four years ago today. She loved sunny weather.

Art in the Park Aug. 31 2013

Art in the Park Aug. 31 2013, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

I spent all day on Saturday, Aug. 31 in San Francisco (pier 27/29) participating in an Art in the Park even put on by the America's Cup folks. There were a few races going on, the best place to view the action, however was in front of one of the giant video screens in the viewing area. Viewers could stretch out on bean bag chairs or on the grass. It was a beautiful day, somewhat breezy but I forgot to get cold because I was so busy sketching and painting.

practice sketch

IMAG0714, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

I had forgotten that I sketched this but I didn't care for it but decided to post it anyway.

5th String

Another Berkeley establishment to close!

on oakland's piedmont ave

IMAG0678, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

i'm on vacation - or should i say staycation - and i've been home cleaning and corralling kittens. so i got out of the house and found myself on piedmont ave. it's rather warm so i'm standing in the shade across the street from st. leo church

drawing of Lake Merritt

drawing of Lake Merritt, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

I also did this sketch of Lake Merritt during the last Sunday's (July 14) sketchcrawl.

1st Annual West Coast Urban Sketchers Sketchcrawl

What a blast - sketchers from San Jose, Chico, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles - and a few from out of state - came to the sketchcrawl organized by my sketchgroup the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Urban Sketchers movement.

Visit to Washington state

Last week I continued my "escape from my comfort zone" quite literally. I went to Washington state to attend an art workshop put on by the Urban Sketchers, May 17-19. And I decided to take up an offer by a former boss, Dan Morris, and pay him and his wife, Amy, a visit. They live in Anacortes, way up north. How far up north? Well I could see Canada from their house! OK, I exaggerate  bit but not by much. It is beautiful country, islands everywhere. Oh, and green, very green! I got the itch to sketch and knew right off that I could not come close to capturing imagines of this wonderfully scenic part of the world. But I tried anyway. Amy took me to LaConner for lunch one day. We sat at a table overlooking a river or lake.

Field trip to Healdsburg

IMAG0386-1, a photo by carried away on Flickr.

My sketch group visited our North Bay neighbors,

New sketches

Here are some recent sketches

Music was the prevalent theme for these two sketches. The second photo is what came out an outing with my sketching group on March 26. Loved the ambiance of the venue. The first photo was a solo adventure. I went to Hayward for the 19th Ukulele Festival on April 7 and had a blast.

April sketching begins

On my day off I took my car to the auto shop for its maintenance check-up on April 1. While the mechanics did their thing, I did my thing. I did some sketching at a Peet's shop on San Pablo Avenue near the El Cerrito Plaza.

A day at the food park

What a blast! Food trucks, tables and benches, a little sunshine. The wonderful aromas from the barbecue truck, Mexican food, waffle truck -  didn't buy anything there but it sure did smell good. Oh yeah, I did do a little sketching. Here are some folks at the slider truck.

January 1

We began a new year of sketching in Emeryville, on the roof of the Ikea parking lot. The biggest challenge was actually drawing in the cold -- at least in San Francisco Bay Area standards. It had to be in the high 40s thanks to a brisk wind. I was all layered up and even donned my fingerless painting gloves. I'll add a better photo of this tomorrow.