Sketching in Isleton on a hot June day

The day after the Davis Sketchcrawl, I drove up to the little Delta community of Isleton. Known for their "Cajun Festival" in the summertime, the Benicia Plein Air Painters were gathering for one of their weekly Sunday paintouts. I arrived a little late, but was able to get in a couple of sketches before I had to head out home.

Sketching Davis with Pete Scully's Group

This weekend was a "Let's Draw Davis" Event that Pete Scully holds about once a month up in (where else?) Davis, CA.

We all met at the Amtrak Station there in downtown Davis. It was a warm 86 degrees but quite manageable if you were sitting in the shade of the many trees found downtown.

I had lots of fun meeting Pete and the other local artists. A few sketches were committed...:)

Check out the mention of this event on the Urban Sketcher's Blog.

Check out Marlene Lee's blog about this sketchcrawl!

Check out Salvador's blog on this sketchcrawl.


We stopped and sketched some toys in the window of a local shop.

Here's Pete with some of the Group:

I had the day off the Friday before and sat in my car and sketched a few scenes in the early part of the day. (Colors were added later).

It took me a few trains stopping to catch the side of the train but I was always rewarded with a view of one of the conductors. This is more of a composite sketch of the ones I saw that day.

I see that they renamed the local "Murder Burger" - Shows you how long it's been since I was in Davis!

Lucky me I was there early enough in the day to avoid many pedestrians but I spied this old jalopy when I drove down the street. I had to stop and catch that!

I had to leave a bit early the day of the sketch crawl on Saturday but this was the place the rest of the Group would meet at the end. I sat in the car in front of Chipotle's to get this view (a composite of the Plaza). It was getting kind of hot by then...

Check out Pete Scully's Blog to see a sketch of ME! (Hey Thanks Pete!)

I definitely enjoyed myself in Davis and will look forward to sketching there in the future!

SKETCHCRAWL 31 - APRIL 16, 2011

Mission Dolores & Basilica St. Francis of Assisi: I started my Sketchcrawl over at the Mission (Dolores & 16th) and took the $5 tour of the buildings and the cemetery gardens. One of my favorite movies (Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo") was filmed in the cemetery here.

The Basilica was wonderful inside. Well worth the tour!

Valencia & 20th in the Mission District: I had my car so I took the opportunity to wander over to Valencia Street looking for a bite to eat. Finding shady parking spots in the Mission District is a formidable task. Here near this house on Lexington I happened upon a mural by Shoultz & Noble on the side of a typical SF building. I had to draw even a small bit of it!

The next block I was lucky to find a wonderful Mexican Rotissiere - Regalitos. The added chile verde was wonderfully hot and the tangy chicken enchiladas verde (made with homemade corn tortillas) was served with spanish rice & pinto beans and really hit the spot!

Berkeley Marina & 9th Street - April 8th, 2011

BERKELEY MARINA & 9th STREET. The day started out cool and slightly hazy but I headed down to the Berkeley Marina to join the East Bay Plein Air Painters. Sidetracked, I meandered over to Cesar Chavez Park to sketch the view over at Yerba Buena/Treasure Island and the City.
"San Francisco Skyline from Cesar Chavez Park" - each 5" x 7" watercolor sketches

Unluckily for me I had inadvertently left my headlights on and when it came time to join the EBPAP, I was waiting for the AAA truck! I amused myself while waiting watching the local kids flying their kites nearby.

After my car was charged up (by driving to have lunch at El Pollo Loco - yum!) , I headed over to 9th Street and Camelia where the East Bay Landscape Painters were gathered for their paintout. I was able to park a short distance down the street and captured this view of the Oriental Rug Company. A fun end to a adventursome day!
"Oriental Rug Company" - 12"x 18" pastel on black paper

Calistoga with NBPAP - March 27, 2011

CASTELLO DI AMOROSO - Calistoga, CA

Check out the paintout on the NBPAP Blog and for more of my photos of this venue see our MeetUp Page! (More below)

This winery just outside of St. Helena is amazing with dungeons, sheep, chickens & peacocks on the property. There is an entrance fee and a separate tour and wine tasting fee. The day of the paintout with the North Bay Plein Air Painters, it was rainy and drizzling. Artists from all over Northern CA and as far as Chicago came to paint with us. Although most braved the elements that day, some of us paper artists fled to the dry interior of our cars to sketch the scene.

GOLDEN GATE PARK, SF - December 12, 2010

End of the Year Paintout with the NBPAP - Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park

Music Concourse

De Young Art Museum

(Watercolor pencil sketch -Artist Janice L-H)

(View Toward the Japanese Gaardens - watercolor pencil sketch - Artist Janice L-H)

A great venue for the End of the Year Paint-out. The hot dogs at the cart were good too (The Chowder guy left by the time I got over there). Lots of statues, fountains and trees of all kinds. I would have liked to go over to the Conservatory of Flowers if I had gotten there earlier. See the write-up on the NBPAP Blog: http://nbpleinair.blogspot.com/2010/12/21st-nbpa-results-san-francisco-ca.html

Jenner with NBPAP - July 18, 2010

Check out the story about the painting trip to Jenner, Goat Rock, Duncans Mills, Christopher Queen & Quercia Galleries on our Meet-up page: http://www.meetup.com/North-Bay-Plein-Air/photos/992571/

This was a winner paintout with the North Bay Plein Air Painters. Good views of the hills and the Russian River as it goes out to the ocean. Nice sunsets. It does get cold and foggy in the AM but sun comes out by noon. Views along the road to Goat Rock and pullouts along Hwy 1 have parking for a couple of cars. Good eats and shopping in Duncan Mills and Monte Rio...

("Arch Rock - pastel 12" x 18" - Artist Janice L-H)

("Goat Rock"- pastel 12'x 18"- Artist Janice L-H)