SPARROWS !

5  x  7  Micron pen

                                                         5  x  7  Micron pen

Sparrows are so cute. What I like is the fact you can find them almost anywhere.

JURY DUTY !

                                               8  x  11 Pen & Ink with Tombow pens

I got Jury Duty on Election Day at the downtown San Diego courthouse and around the corner is this lovely train station amidst the tall buildings. So after my jury duty I sat a the bus stop and drew. People where very friendly.
On a side note we had a pep talk by the top judge here in San Diego thanking us for our time and saying it was a nice connection doing this on election day but for our information he told us on this day in 196.... Kennedy was at Horton Plaza (which is a beautiful mall a few block from the court house) campaigning for his election and he meet him.
I though it was cool too since my dad had a little time spent with his wife Jackie..........
combing her hair.

"Coronado Cays"

                                                  8  x  11  Pen Ink  & Watercolor

I forgot to post this picture from this weekend in Coronado. This is the island where the classic movie "Some like it hot was made " at the Hotel Del Coronado.
I will have to make some drawings of that place next.

Coronado Bay Bridge

8 x 11 Pen, Ink & Watercolor

I had a chance today to go to the Island of Coronado but to get there you have to take this amazing bridge. The bridge itself underneath is painted Blue which makes it's even more striking.
So here are the sketches done of my time there.

Charming statue !

                                                   8  x  10  Micro ink pen

This sweet statue was perfectly posing for me at the same place as the previous post The Rancho Bernardo Winery in San Diego.
As I said this place is a treasure trove of sights to draw and enjoy.
If ever someone visits SD let me know I will gladly escort you there myself.

The hidden path

                                                    8 x 10    Micro ink pen & Micro brush pen

I just love the Rancho Bernardo Winery in San Diego. There you can find all kinds of treasures to draw your hearts content. This is just as you come in. There is a hidden path that takes you around the main street. I just love the way the shadows where draping themselves on the ground of this path so I started drawing.
(I heard in the background a couple people saying you should go look it's all free hand what she's doing.... =)
it is fun when you are on location for the interaction you get from passer by.

South Park restaurant

                                                     8 x 11  Ink pen

I got the good fortune to spend time with the San Diego Sketchcrawlers this morning. After much deliberation we ended up in South park where I had the lovely view of this restaurant the "Vagabond "
But my pleasure did not end there a block away was a lovely creperie ( yum French crepe ! )   where we ended for lunch. With a beautiful blue sky, my dog, good food and company... fabulous !

Simpson's Nursery- Don't Park here

The San Diego sketchcrawl group went to a local nursery called Simpson's Nursery. It is a very attractive place made by incorporating antique travel trailers, cars and a small little petting zoo. But they have one thing they ask very seriously is that you don't PARK on the left side. One of our sketcher's got told in not so nice a way by the owner which the employee latter apologized for his brash behavior.

20 women and One Buck !

                                                   8 x 10       Pen & Ink

I went on a women's retreat last weekend about 20 of us and this buck was on the wall HAD to draw him too. !!  ( he was a "deer" and posed for me )

Please help !

This is from my daughter Tiffany who hopefully will embark on an incredible life giving trip to HAITI if you can help please do.
She is trying to raise the money to go.
You can send your donation using the button in the side bar 

Hi my name is TIffany Neal,
I've been blessed with the opportunity to go to Haiti for 3 weeks to help restore the community and bring hope to its people....
Our purpose for Haiti is to transform Jeremie, the city & it's 35,000 people, into a vessel of hope for the nation. The recent earthquake didn't just devastate Haiti, but also revealed to the world the devastation that was already present. Haiti is currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere & 40% of it's population is under the age of 15.
Our Plan Of Action - is to conduct a Hospital Outreach, Orphanage Outreach, Town Square & Playground Renovation & Water Infrastructure Revitalization.
We have a great opportunity to bless the people and impact their lives for good.
If you can help in any way financially please donate to..... no donation is too small :-) The trip cost is $1500 and is due by Monday evening.
Thank you so much!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_5mb1CGViw

HEAL HAITI - Reconnaissance Feedback

www.youtube.com

This video was created to give viewers an accurate picture of Haiti's condition both in Port-au-Prince, and Jeremie in anticipation for the June Haiti trip IMPACT 195 students will have the opportunity to embark on.

She WAITs !

                                                                  
                                                                    GRACE
                                                           Pen, Ink & Watercolor

My chocolate lab is often in this position waiting for me to go somewhere. She loves to ride in the car.
But this time I had to draw her. She is the sweetest dog ever.

MUSIC to my EARS

MUsic you ask.......... well yes when you can draw and be entertained I call that music to my ears.
Here is one of the most beautiful building there is in Balboa park BUT drawing it is a bit difficult.
So I only took a portions of it. It is the BOTANICAL BUILDING in San Diego.

Here is one of the orchids displayed inside.
But you ask where is the music... I'm getting there. You will have to click on this link to find out.
We are finding out that we don't just have talented artist but UKELELE musicians in our group of Sketchcrawlers so without further words here are 2 of them. HERE

Sketches done with Micron 005 pen and Watercolors.

Balboa Park

                                                  8.5  x  11  Pen , Ink & Watercolor

In Balboa Park at the moment there are so many trees in bloom, it's really pretty.  They have these clusters of small white flowers ( don't know what kind of tree they are) and when the wind blows gently many petals fall in slow cascading effect. It looks like a magic carpet fit for a wedding.  It is so lovely to be there at this time.

Nancy's house

                                      
                                                8.5 x 11  Pen , Ink & Watercolor
This is the first drawing I did today with the San Diego sketch crawlers. This was inside Nancy's office with a lovely view of her garden yet I wanted to focus on this little beauty.

                                                  8.5  x  11  Pen & Ink
This is her front gate coming into a lovely courtyard. The view is from the inside looking out.

                                                8.5  x  11 Pen & Ink

This one is inside the courtyard looking toward this lovely guest house where the pool is. We had a big group today. We battled hot and cold weather through out the morning. I felt I was having hot flashes !!

Sunshine Award

 I so love Flowers, so when I got this award I was even more delighted as it is a gerber daisy...yea
I have Pam Johnson Brickell to thank for this. I so appreciate it.
There are rules to it but you have to choose who gets it and I can't... so anyone that thinks they deserve it please come and get it and link to me.
Thank you Pam please check her website it is fabulous !

Up, Up and Away...

                                                
                                                                  8.5  x 11    Pen & Ink
                                                        Balboa Park The Persian Garden

Why you ask this strange title well Lydia has done it again but now she is making us jump, literally.
One of the fun things I enjoy is sketching with this friday group when Lydia is with us for she is the Queen of  U-Tube videos and she's made a great one again but this time it has a twist to it. She found a blog called  Jumping in Art Museums where you can send them your pics of jumping for art so with this in mind we practiced at our sketching location since we were going to the Timken Museum to view the prints of Rembrandt but No Cameras allowed so just the practice jump was posted.
Here is the link of our exploits : HERE

Rembrandt's Recession: Passion and Prints
in the Dutch Golden Age

January 22nd through May 2nd, 2010
At the Timken Museum in Balboa Park

http://www.timkenmuseum.org/1-exhibition.html

OLD TOWN

                                                       8 x  10    Pen, Ink & Watercolor

Yikes I miss calculated the top of this bell tower it is not in my picture. I really dislike it when that happens.  Maybe I'll make another one of this one day. This was done with the weekend Sketchcrawlers.
This is in the Old Town of San Diego " la casa estudillo " It's a beautiful place especially inside with a lovely courtyard but I had Grace ( my dog) with me so I was not allowed in   :(
It's a good thing because a member of our group was late and only found us because I was sitting outside drawing while everyone was inside that courtyard.

      
                                                       8  x 10 Pen, Ink & watercolor
This is across from the other building and it had this delightful yellow cream colors on the facade.
It was a nice time with every one but we escape the rain, it started as soon as we left.

                                  
                                                   8  x  10 Pen, Ink & Watercolor
After I left the group of sketchcrawlers I walked in this garden store that was filled with fabulous pieces. This is a large old seed cabinet with on the front of each drawers a picture of what is inside.

ALCAZAR

                                     8  x  8  Graphite & Tombow Pens

ONe of the fabulous perks of sketching with the week day sketchcrawlers is the U-Tube videos Lydia makes. This time you get an extra treat, a nose kiss from Grace so here it comes.........KISS
This sketch was done looking at the arches in the Alcazar Gardens of Balboa Park here in San Diego.
On a side note, literally, we got some live Organ music with our time there that morning. That's what I call a great time.

BARN OWL with a mouse

                                                        
                                                          8 x 10    Pen & Ink

This was at the Vista Nature Center in Oceanside with the weekend sketchcrawlers .
This is one pretty bird. I always have been fond of owls so I had my chance to draw one again.

OLD GLOBE PLAZA in Balboa Park

                                          
                                            8.5 x  11  Pen, Ink & Watercolor

This was done with the week day Sketchcrawlers of San Diego. I always wanted to draw this building and this past Friday I had that opportunity.......YEA !
It was such a lovely day and my dog Grace was part of the assembly of enthusiast sketchers since she had company too in a lovely dog name MoNi belonging to an other sketcher.
I am so thankful to live here.
Lydia Velarde was one of the sketchers with us and made a fabulous uTUbE ViDEo of us posted on her blog check it out.

" The Flying Moleskins "

Come check out and be a follower in the new collaborative blog I started called

" The Flying Moleskins "

Some will have themes so it's going to be lost of fun seeing what is created in them.