Painted Cats

Veteran's day at the Japanese garden

2011-11-21T23:18:00.001-07:00

We celebrated 11-11-11 by sketching in the colorful gardens for a couple of hours before finally escaping to the warmth of elephants deli.

Did you meet me recently?

2011-07-22T23:18:00.001-07:00

Thanks for visiting painted cats! I'm over at wordpress now. Head on over to see the photos from the International Urban Sketching Symposium in Lisbon.

MOVING!

2011-06-21T13:36:00.002-07:00

I'm moving Painted Cats over to wordpress...please join me over there!
No hurt feelings, blogger, it's just that my new iPad makes it really convenient to blog using the wordpress app.
http://paintedcats.wordpress.com Please change links and bookmarks...and I'm very sorry about the hassle.

Home Sweet Home

2011-06-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

a peek at corners of my home

I like Jack Kerouac's books, and that sign about the hippo? I have to plead the 5th.

a place for found nature items next to a meditating wooden cat

journal, only a few of my many journals

sketchbooks!

a furry loved one:

Multnomah Village

2011-06-10T16:27:00.015-07:00

Portland Urban Sketchers went to Multnomah Village to sketch.
I copied Mike and tried sketching some of the signs

I love eating at Marco's Cafe, so I figured I should try to sketch it.

I don't usually draw hydrants, but I thought I'd give it a shot:

This is one of my favorite sketches....I find that I love to draw people, and especiall trying to draw someone I know! Here's Mike Porter sketching in the Lucky Lab

street scenes

sacrificed drawing, but I figured I'd post it anyway. It was about sitting there, in the sun, pen to paper, definitely not about the end result!

Picnic, happy hour and a latte but not all in the same day

2011-06-09T16:26:00.005-07:00

picnic in the park

muddy rudder for happy hour

starbucks for a latte

Riverplace Sketchcrawl

2011-06-07T17:20:00.030-07:00

Portland Urban Sketchers met at The Riverplace.

Riverplace was developed at the south part of the Tom McCall Waterfront Park after the Harbor Freeway was replaced by the park in the 1970's. It's got a little marina, some restaurants, and some shops as well as apartments and condos and the Riverplace Hotel. The greenway extends north through Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park up to Steel Bridge and, eventually, south through the South Waterfront. You can watch the Dragonboat races from here during the Rose Festival (or watch the teams practice during the year). Riverplace is connected to downtown and the South Waterfront development by the Portland Streetcar.The Streetcar is in Fareless Square - pretty handy. (source: portland-neighborhoods

I realized that sketching these fancy boats are as much fun as sketching cars.

I did get a good likeness of Carrie, sketching happily in the sun.

I'm always tempted to draw these darn bridges we've got everywhere, but every time I curse their complicatedness.

I finished a sketchbook while out, so I started a Flexi Sketch. With its 300 pages, I should be working in it for a while!

I tried to capture kalina in that great hat of hers.

I also tried to capture the sail boat with laundry handing out and man in hammock, a dragon boat, and dogs...

Beachhouse with the Beckwiths

2011-06-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

A weekend at the beach house with the beckwiths = relaxing and sketching

identifying plants

Tandem Sketching

2011-06-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

Tad and I went on a tandem bike ride around Portland. I tried out my ability to sketch and bike at the same time.
thanks to the recumbent bike seat style, I was able to secure my sketchbook.

Sketch with my right hand (which is holding the camera in this shot:)

a rubber band would have been useful....I didn't bring my watercolors, but I couldn't imagine using them anyway!

the sketch with wc added the next day. Biking with mt. hood and the airport in the distance....

Videos of Sketchbooks

2011-06-06T15:41:00.003-07:00

Filled a couple of sketchbooks recently:

another:

Recent sketches

2011-05-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Portland Urban Sketchers met up on Se Belmont for a sketchcrawl. This was my favorite sketch, though more can be found here.

I did some sketches of my co-workers at an all staff. We got to go visit one of our camp properties, and some of us stayed overnight.

we played apples to apples

and had a good time at camp

getting to know folks from different departments or different offices.

i got to share my love of sketching with folks

Tad and I had dinner. I started this sketch while Tad went to the bathroom and then had to figure out where he fit in to the scene...it's not quite right, but good enough for me!

I had meetings in Oregon City with time between the two to allow me a little time at a new cafe.

and a chance to eat supper.

I spent last weekend on the coast at a 'sisterhood retreat' and got in some sketches...

i love the ocean room in the beach house. so peaceful!

we, of course, watched many chick flicks!

Sketchbook Video

2011-04-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

I finished another sketchbook...and even though I didn't need to because I have a plethora of sketchbooks at home, I bought one (and got one free) at Columbia Art and Drafting

Lots of Sketches

2011-04-10T16:09:00.001-07:00

I haven't blogged much here, but I am sketching... here are some of the sketches I've done in the past month or so..

I got caught sketching! Someone standing behind me must have been watching me, cause he said, Are you drawing him?? and the guy I was drawing must have overheard...it was slightly awkward...but no big deal..

etch-a-sketching

2011-02-15T17:46:00.002-07:00

etch-a-sketching

From the old days

2011-02-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here's some of my drawings from when I was little. Self portrait!

Finished another skethcbook!

2011-01-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

Video of sketchbook I kept from september 2010 to january 2011

Worldwide Sketchcrawl, January 22, 2011

2011-01-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

We met at Boyd's in SW Portland to do some sketching of downtown. We were lucky to have sunshine and blue skies, though it was still quite chilly to be out.

I attempted a tree, but it was quite huge and complicated. I also attempted a map, but that too was complicated

This was my intended subject. This was as far as I got before my bum got too cold and I needed to seek shelter.

We found an inside location with a view. I wasn't impressed by this attempt, but I liked being warm!

I captured Deb sketching on the stairs. I forgot my camera, so this will have to do!

Ten of us met for lunch and to show off our sketches. There were a couple of others out sketching, too, but they didn't join us for lunch.

I went back out for a little more sketching. This was done in the south park blocks.

I liked this fountain.

It was a great Portland day for a sketchcrawl. We usually have a really good turnout at our sketchcrawls, which is a lot of fun. It is so great to see what other people can do in the same amount of time in approximately the same location. We have some VERY talented people in our group. Kudos to all the Portland Urban Sketchers!

Martin Luther King Day sketchcrawl

2011-01-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

I met up with Marco and Kalina for some sketching in Northwest Portland. We met at Anna Banana's but I haven't included the couple of sketches I did there in this post. I have finished two sketchbooks recently so I got to start this new stonehenge pad that I got fromt he symposium. I'm already loving the paper. Here are a couple of sketches from 21st Avenue bar and grill

We then went to The Canvas and met up with more urban sketchers, had dinner and sketched the costumed figure model.

I usually work on Monday nights, so when I have a free monday, I like coming here! The food is great and it is fun to draw the model in such a wonderful atmosphere!

From the archives: drawings from the 1990s

2011-01-22T21:43:00.005-07:00

last ones....

From the archives: more drawings from the 1990s

2011-01-21T21:28:00.004-07:00

from the archives: more 1990s drawings

2011-01-20T21:25:00.004-07:00

From the archives: drawings from the 1990s

2011-01-19T21:20:00.002-07:00

From the archives: 1990s

2011-01-18T21:14:00.004-07:00

I've enjoyed going through my journals and finding my doodles and sketches

and scanning them all in there.

some of them are pretty random

but I like them.

from my archive: Sketched in Tucson

2011-01-17T21:09:00.001-07:00

I found this sketch in my journal, done in 2004.

Finished a sketchbook

2011-01-16T22:05:00.001-07:00

This video flips through the sketchbook pretty fast. there were lots of pages and my camera only takes 3 minute clips. i was relieved to get through this sketchbook cause i wasn't crazy about the paper.

From the archives: 1990s

2011-01-16T21:14:00.002-07:00

I'm pulling some little drawings and sketches from old journals from the 1990s

not many are done from real life

Rainy Sketchcrawl

2011-01-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

Portland Urban Sketchers at Lovejoy Bakers

I did venture out to get one sketch outside by Tanner Springs.

but mostly, I drew people at the bakery and at Deschutes

view from the bakery

From the archives: sketched in the Peace Corps

2011-01-16T09:04:00.001-07:00

I found some sketches I did in the Peace Corps that never made it on my blog...

my cat, Billie

blue cat doodle

goosie

more of a doodle really

orange cats

It's been a long time!

2011-01-10T22:28:00.001-07:00

Wow, it has been a really long time since I last posted to this blog. Let's see, I missed Halloween-New Year's....

I will make up for it by posting sketches from my most recent sketchcrawl. These are in reverse order...but that's fine. I ended my sketchcrawl day at the teahouse at Lan Su chinese garden. It was my first time there. I had eight treasures tea which was really very good.

a very quick sketch at Lan Su

Bill Sharp...messed up his eyes, though. Oops

People at Backspace and Marco, sketching

Backspace cafe barista...I think i made his hat too pointy. He didn't look quite so gnomeish in person.

It was great meeting up with folks. For the first time since I started the group, we had more guys than gals!

I've really been enjoying myself at sketchcrawls....but unfortunately i have not been as in to blogging. I would like to post at least monthly from here on out!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl: St. John's Bridge

2010-10-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

We met for the Worldwide Sketchcrawl at the Cafe Under the Bridge and had our youngest ever member (5 years old).

with some great views of the bridge and its proximity to Cathedral park, it was a great place to sketch and the weather was beautiful.

I mostly stayed inside doing some sketches from the window.

Here is a peek into my sketchbooks:

September 25, 2010--Sketching in the park and garden; 2 cities, 2 states

2010-10-01T17:06:00.002-07:00

First city: Vancouver in Washington at Esther Short Park

We met in Esther Short Park in Vancouver, WA, to show some love to our northern neighbor. It turned in to a gorgeous day! Colin (above), Tony, Jennifer, Abby, Anne, Deb, Janene and I turned out to sketch.

Our sketching results

my sketch of the clock tower.

another sketch in Vancouver

Urban Sketcher, Tony, illustrated

Colin, Urban Sketcher, in action

Second city: Portland in Oregon at Lan Su chinese gardens

I headed over to Lan Su Chinese Garden (free admission day!) to continue sketching on the beautiful day.

the bridge, Hall of the Brocade Clouds and buildings behind.

Lan Su can be translated as Awakening Orchids. It is a wonderful place to sit and sketch on a gorgeous day.

this was actually my first sketch in the garden.

Video of August 2010 Sketchbook

2010-09-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

I took a video of my August 2010 sketchbook.

Vacation Illustrated

2010-09-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here is my vacation, illustrated.

this is probably the most sketching I've ever done on a vacation. It sure was fun to do lots of sketching!

Epic Adventure: Illustrated

2010-08-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Symposium Sketching, part 2

2010-08-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

...more sketching during the symposium. I realize that I'm not really posting these in chronological order...and you'll have to excuse the photos of sketches with weird lighting...

it was dark during this lecture, so all I could sketch were silhouettes.

I also drew on the bus each day, as I decided I didn't want to worry about paying for parking while I was so focused on sketching

It was fun to draw the participants who were often drawing as well!

my schedule for the 3 days and a photo of lapin cut from the PNCA booklet.

We went to Bridgeport on Friday night and, of course, continued the fun of sketching

I attempted to sketch my fellow sketchers

and, of course, more on the bus and waiting for the bus:

I tried to spend a lot of time sketching...including during the welcoming remarks

On the last day, I went sketching with Lapin, to focus on Urban Line

It's a bit wonky, but oh well!

It was fun to sit near Lapin & sketch, especially because I have followed his work online for quite awhile now!

then, I went out with Jason Das to focus on Urban Color. Our first assignment was to draw a scene using a non black line.

Then, we were to go out and draw the same scene twice, but one scene we colored it 'normally' (with colors close to the real colors) and the second one we could color it however we wanted to. I really liked the second one. It was fun!

Our third assignment was to draw something and then give it to your partner to color. I drew this scene from a pet store and it was colored by another:

and I added color to this sketch:

and now some of my favorite photos from the symposium (either taken by me, or found in the flickr pool for the symposium):

sketching on the streetcar

Sharing our work and learning from some pretty incredible artists:

Meeting so many cool people

And the exhibit at the end!

Sadly, the symposium had to come to an end. However, the Portland Urban Sketchers have been coming together to sketch and chat quite frequently this month. AND, we've gotten quite a few new members to join our group! Yay!

Symposium Sketching part one

2010-08-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

I've finally decided that now is the time to blog about my experience at the Urban Sketchers Symposium that was held here in Portland July 29-31.

We were given lots of goodies. I started in on my Moleskine, accordian style, sketchbook. I doodled during the lectures.

Lapin's presentation was interesting and talked about his experience drawing a city in 10 days.

I resonated with Gabi's remark that there are three types of people out sketching: architects, artists and journalists. I think I fall in to the journalist, or "storyteller" category.

Veronica's presentation was super emotional. During 9/11 she drew as she was witnessing the twin towers falling in NYC.

Sorry, Simo, this is an awful doodle of you, but I definitely liked your presentation and the energy you put in to collaborative projects!

Matt Brehm's lecture on Sketching as a social activity really resonated with me. As someone who has actively organized a group of sketchcrawlers, I recognize the importance in my life and find it interesting that it's not necessarily a new idea.

the lectures were spread out over three days and during the three days, we had field sketching sessions. I first went out with Veronica Lawlor to work on Urban People. As it was Thursday morning & streets were deserted, we had to find the people, so we headed to Powell's. I started sketching my usual ways, despite Veronica's tip to use thumbnails.

so i stubbornly continued randomly placing sketches on the page

until I decided I better listen to the tip, as it might help.

and I think I did get a little bit better!

I went out with Simo to explore urban architecture.

but i of course got bored with buildings and went in search of some people to draw instead.

but I did try again to focus on the architecture around me.

in between field sketching sessions, I found lots of opportunities to keep sketching!

...even on the streetcar as urban sketchers crowded in!

I went with Gabi to Pioneer Square to focus on urban composition. Thinking about the story I wanted to tell.

So I sat and sketched the set up for Flicks on the Bricks, which would happen later that evening.

and since Pioneer Square is known as Portland's Living Room, I couldn't help but capture this guy:

I also went out with Frank Ching to focus on architecture some more, as I know that's were I need a lot of practice!

I approached the scene as normal (for some reason I can't get it to orient the correct way)

And Frank came to give me some tips on how to approach the scene. Following his advice, Here's what I managed:

From his advice I got some tips for future sketching, which I think will improve my sketches.

....more in next post!

End of the Symposium

2010-08-01T11:11:00.001-07:00

pdx9
Originally uploaded by lapin barcelona

I really enjoyed every day of the symposium. Here is a photo taken by Lapin of me and part of the group sketching.

Urban Sketching

2010-07-31T07:13:00.001-07:00

IMG_1135
Originally uploaded by Urban Sketchers

The Urban Sketching Symposium has been wonderful so far. I've really enjoyed being with so many other people that just love to go out and sketch! Gabi sneaily took my photo here at Pioneer Square, where we were working on urban composition. Gabi had given a great lecture on the Artist as Storyteller, so we were thinking of the different elements that make up a good composition or story.

When this is all over, I'll be sure to post some of my sketches. I can't say that I think they are fantastic sketches, but the learning and the enjoyment that went into them was fantastic!

Urban Sketchers Symposium- Day one!

2010-07-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

Today was the beginning of the Urban Sketchers Symposium.

it was pretty exciting to check in and get our goodie bags and see people i've known in the blogosphere!

I started with the Urban People session with Veronica Lawlor.

we went in to Powell's where you can always find lots of people, even at 9 am on a Thursday morning.

robbie and i got caught sketching

and as you can tell, we're all bloggers around these parts!

My second session was architecture with Simo Capecchi

many of us took refuge in the shade

until we went up on the roof of the ecotrust building!

Stay tuned...more symposium fun to come!

Sketchcrawl: First Presbyterian Church

2010-07-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

Kalina organized the sketchcrawl at the church where we practiced our urban sketching. I joined in on the fun after a full day of leading girls through tie-dying. (Maybe you can see my dyed thumb holding my sketchbook?)

I desperately need help with sketching urban landscapes, so getting in a little practice before the upcoming symposium was much needed!

If you were to open up my sketchbook, this is what you'd see...

2010-07-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

For some reason me and this current sketchbook aren't totally feeling the love and I'm ready to finish it up and move on to another sketchbook!

But, I thought I'd dump some sketches onto this blog for you to see what i've been up to lately. Unfortunately some of the images got turned the wrong way during the upload. Wish I knew how to prevent that, but when I upload them they are the correct orientation.

Well, Enjoy.

Happy Fourth of July

2010-07-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here's to a great summer! My bike...I need to add some color to this sketch!

World Cup

2010-07-03T21:49:00.001-07:00

Thanks to a houseguest who wanted to catch the game, we were at Bakery Bar at 7am on a Saturday to watch the World cup.

Bakery Bar has some awesome pepper biscuits which was awesome for breakfast, and while the game was fun to watch, I also had fun drawing all the people!

Desk items, laughing planet and a new bike

2010-07-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

it's kind of slow at work, so I took a few minutes to draw what's on my desk at work

waiting for our food at laughing planet, I started to draw the buildings, but they're fast there, so I didn't finish

Tad went over to Brad's to put together my new bike!

i was there for moral support and to draw

zoe dog kept hanging around just enough for me to want to finish a sketch of her

King Market sketch crawl

2010-07-01T21:22:00.002-07:00

My first sketch of the day at the market

it turned in to a drizzly day, and pretty cool but I managed to keep my pen moving on paper and stay mostly dry

this little girl stopped by to draw with us and later her mom brought us a crepe to share!

an unfinished sketch, it seems

maybe because I started trying to sketch umbrellas

but unfortunately, the umbrellas were attached to moving people

I sketched the gal at the Master Gardener booth who I ran into later that night at a solstice gathering.

hooded sweatshirts were all the rage at the market

despite the rain, the market was well attended

which was good for people watching and attempting to sketch them

Boat races and birthdays

2010-06-30T21:07:00.003-07:00

I haven't yet added color to this drawing of boat races on Westmoreland park casting pond. It will probably add a lot to the sketch!

Birthday sketch of a birthday boy

and his dad

Melissa and Bozeb (I even got the Winco grocery bag in the sketch!)

and the birthday boy's mom

Vehicle views, strawberries and radio shows

2010-06-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

Early to my appointment, I drew from my van

driving to the u-pick farm

sketching the berry picking

more sketches of Tad and his mom picking strawberries

then, we drove over to the highschool

to watch the community choir perform a 1940s radio show

Urban Sketching: riding Trimet

2010-06-29T20:30:00.001-07:00

Tad and I rode the bus one day for an urban adventure. I love riding the bus for all the sketching opportunities!

and not just riding the bus, but waiting for the bus, too!

Spring 2010 Sketchbook video

2010-06-11T15:25:00.002-07:00

I finished another sketchbook. I'm not sure how many of the sketches i've actually posted on this blog. I'm getting lazy at posting, but I do like to take video flipping through the pages of the sketchbook to post. So, check it out!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl Today!

2010-05-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

This was the biggest group of sketchcrawlers in Portland since I've been organizing it! We had 11 folks join us. We kind of had a 12th, but she was having a frustrating kind of day and didn't end up joining us.

We had some new folks join us and Portland's own Bill Sharp!

It's nice to have such a big group. Every body shares their favorite tools of the trade.

and we enjoy talking about sketching.

we also get to meet new folks, which is always nice.

But mostly, we sketch. Here are mine:

My bagel and Deb sketching on the Morrison Bridge, looking west.

this one I actually did after the group dispersed. I went down to the south waterfront and sketched the Sellwood bridge off in the distance.

I put my feet up and decided to sketch what I saw. On the Morrison bridge:

more morrison bridge views..

It was a great sunshiny day here in Portland and I had a fun day of sketching. Gearing up for the big Urban Sketchers Symposium in July. Before that, though, the group is planning to sketch at King's Farmers Market on June 20. Come and join in on the fun!

Meeting Notes

2010-04-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

sketches and doodles with an occassional note.

Ace Hotel Sketchcrawl

2010-03-28T17:37:00.001-07:00

The Portland Sketchcrawl group (six of us!) met up at the Ace Hotel for some sketching fun.

I decided to try and use a wide variety of supplies....since I carried them with me, I might as well, right?

The guy with the curly hair was definitely my favorite person to draw today! What big hair he had!

i drew a lot in pencil which is not my usual tool to use on sketchcrawls.

but i think it's good for me to get out of my comfort zone...

and try a bit of everything...but for the last sketch of the day (view from Powell's cafe), I went back to my trusty Pitt brush pen...

Past week...

2010-03-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to stay busy sketching various goings-on at home. Like buying a video for the kitty boys and sketching the critters in the video and the kitties themselves. I've also been watching Texas Ranch House. I did some sketches while watching...and while it was paused so T-boy could run out for some chips.

I've also done some sketches while sitting at Palio, a cafe in Ladd's Addition. I like doing charcoal portraits from photographs. They are such great practice and I love the results!

and, of course, sketched at home...

Latest Sketchbook

2010-03-20T20:26:00.002-07:00

i love finishing a sketchbook! That means I get to buy a new one! :)

2010-03-14T22:04:00.001-07:00

more sketches!

some more sketches!

2010-03-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

more from the sketchbook

2010-03-11T21:44:00.001-07:00

another look

2010-03-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

into my sketchbooks

not sure why blogger insists on turning my pics the wrong way!

Peek into my sketchbooks

2010-03-05T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a few sketches I've done...

2010-03-02T21:47:00.001-07:00

I finished a sketchbook!!!

worldwide sketchcrawl in Portland, OR

2010-03-02T21:15:00.006-07:00

These aren't in order, but here are my sketches from our day at and around the Ecotrust building, downtown Portland.

stupid blogger turning these around...

while out on the sketchcrawl, I finished a sketchbook! A video to come soon!

Worldwide SketchCrawl!

2010-02-28T21:54:00.002-07:00

I met up with 5 lovely ladies to sketch in the Pearl. We met at the Ecotrust building and sketched there and around. we were lucky to have a rain-free day!

(more of my sketches to come!)

Drawing Class

2010-02-07T19:25:00.006-07:00

I took a drawing workshop on Saturday at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. It was a lot of fun and got me all excited to start taking more classes! The end of the 6 hour class we played the portrait game. This is the portrait that was created collaboratively by 5 artists. we learned about facial proportions

we drew the rest of a face

I drew both sides of Fredrick Douglas

we practiced drawing negative space

and used gesture to quickly get the feel of objects

drawing a teapot 10 minute study of teapot

first 10 minute study of teapot

15 second gestures of teapot

after class, I had drawing fever and went home and kept right on drawing using the vine charcoal and graphite sticks

i practiced using gesture, fast moving Xiao Mao was a good model

Sagis was a good model as well

I thumbed through the National Geographic to find faces to draw...

We talked about the magic of drawing. It was refreshing to hold charcoal and get my fingers dirty while I made marks on paper. I usually draw with pen, so this was a nice change.

Looking forward to my next art class....whenever that may be!

Last weekend

2010-01-31T18:21:00.002-07:00

I met my Portland Sketchcrawl group in the Laurelhurst neighborhood. We were lucky to have a gorgeously dry day complete with sunshine! I had spotted this church one night and just knew I had to try sketching it!
It was definitely difficult, and I made quite a few attempts!

I also attempted the Laurelhurst theater but wasn't crazy about the results...

despite the sunshine it was chilly outside so I escaped into the warmth of Whole Foods, and sketched Kalina who was sketching various bottles of hot sauces and olive oil.

in the back of my journal, I tried sketching the kitty boys using a brush pen.

and did this doodle while watching movies.

also in my journal...warming up before the sketchcrawl...

Sketches-around home and around town

2010-01-18T23:50:00.004-07:00

The quality of the image is poor, but you'll get the idea of what i've been up to recently!

in my journal...

sagis looking out the window the futon with xiao curled up on the blanket; the rocking chair and cat structure

watching a netflix movie on my laptop

Xiao likes to sit real close on or near me.Kitty boys, nap time

nap time, both boys on my lap.

saturday sketching down in Sellwood. At the Blue Kangaroo:

An expensive lamp at an antique store.

we wandered through two antique shops, drawing what we could see.

I also did some sketching at home, trying out my new water soluble graphite pencil.

"home is where the cats are"

coffee and cats
Sunday sketching at the train station
It was raining all day, but at the end of the day, I sat in my car and drew the train station, adding it in on this sketch of people.
the train station is a good place to draw people!

12 of January 12, 2010

2010-01-13T06:41:00.001-07:00

5am, getting ready 6am dropping T off at the airport

7am home. coffee. Journal.

8am sellwood. Grand Central Bakery for a cheddar egg biscuit.

8:45 driving over the Sellwood bridge.

noon. Lunch of Trader Joes green chili & cheese tamales.

2pm still working.

5:30pm home. dinner eaten, tea.

6pm. two cats chilling. (can you spot black cat, Xiao Mao?)
7pm more computer time at home.
7:30 movie
10 pm bedtime, pjs and slippers
Good night!

Recent work

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Oh, Blogger, why are your turning my images sideways?
Okay, everyone, get ready for some neck stretches. Tilt your head to the right, hold,
Tad's brothers during Thanksgiving. keep holding it to the right, Tad's dad relaxing...

now, stretch it to the left, and back to the right...a spread I did at the Portland Art Museum

close up

otherside..

okay, tilt your head to the left. and hold.

now straighten up...

nice.

stupid blogger!

this is a sketch I did at home, in my slippers with a cat near my feet.

12 of 12 December 2009

2009-12-13T11:00:00.005-07:00

first things first, about 9:30 am Kitty love joins me once I get all settled in to the rocking chair, about 10 am

Serious bird watching goes on for atleast an hour before nap time

11 am breakfast of waffles. Photos of pumpkin waffles with strawberry sauce and whipped cream. delicious!

driving to sherwood

at the Ice Skating rink but no one else from the family was there...

1:30 and we decided to skate anyway, even though I've only skated once before, when I was real little, I decided to brave the slippery ice.

we had fun once I learned to let go of the wall.

3pm, Tad skating his last lap
3:30 "lunch" at Izzy's
5pm Gathering at Tad's Aunt and Uncle's
9pm the drive home in the cold dark night.

End of another 12 of 12 year. how fast the time flies. Thanks, as always to Chad Darnell for his 12 of 12 project

sketches!

2009-11-22T21:34:00.003-07:00

I like sketching....

at work... at restaurants

in the car

during meetings

especially loooooooooong meetings

again, at restaurants

at viewpoints when i've forgotten my camera

as a way to warm up before a sketchcrawl

other artists' work

the view of downtown portland

at the Portland Japanese Garden

in beautiful places

at gorgeous times of the year

when we have visitors in the house

bridges in Portland

and much more!

25th worldwide sketchcrawl!

2009-11-22T21:14:00.005-07:00

I had to work at a conference the day of the actual sketchcrawl, but I got in a couple of sketches: but because i bascially had the same view all day, I got bored of it and only did those two sketches.

I met up with some Portland folks on Sunday at the Kennedy School

it's a great place to sketch!

with lots of interesting things to see and draw:

and it's all inside, warm and dry with hot beverages, too!

Home

2009-11-14T23:26:00.000-07:00

i'm still here. Sketching occasionally, too.

Sketchcrawl Portland group

2009-10-26T08:14:00.004-07:00

...got together to talk about sketching, share inspiration, pass around favorite books, talk about art supplies...and finally do some sketching!

Sketchcrawl!

2009-09-20T19:45:00.004-07:00

I had to work on the actual day of the Worldwide Sketchcrawl, so I sketched during training.

This morning, before meeting up with the Portland Sketchcrawlers, I sketched Tad at Mocha Mama's

We went to the Portland Japanese Garden

we started out as four we later found two more

and stumbled upon two more sketchcrawlers!

it was great to see a larger group of sketchers!

here are my sketches:

it was a beautiful day for a sketchcrawl!

Randomness

2009-09-15T21:07:00.001-07:00

in my Journal....

tidbits from nine months of livin My Hands

collage...

Sketches from Idaho

2009-08-20T21:58:00.002-07:00

Cooler temps and even a rainy day in McCall, so I sketched more It was really nice to take the time to myself to focus on drawing.
and it's a fun way to capture memories
especially of this rainy afternoon moment, of naps.
and this one of chatting outside

Video of my Moleskine sketchbook

2009-08-01T11:49:00.001-07:00

another video of a sketchbook!

Lately...

2009-08-01T10:59:00.002-07:00

..i've been finishing up some sketchbooks
it helped that I was on vacation on the coast for the weekend
and felt inspired to sketch
and didn't have access to a computer
and had time to wait
and doodle
and do quick scribbles
my latest sketch
with an excerpt from gary snyder's poem about avocados.

A sketchbook video

2009-08-01T09:33:00.002-07:00

Take a look at a little video of my watercolor sketchbook...

Guest Artist

2009-08-01T09:14:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty sure this Daya will be worth money someday!

What do you think?

She definitely loved painting and I liked watching her finish her beautiful painting.

Yard Sales

2009-08-01T09:00:00.003-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, on my no-plan weekend (where I have no plans for the day and just do as I please.), I rode my bike around, stopping at yard sales. I spent the little bit of cash I had with me, and bought all of this stuff: $2 for these 4 necklaces. One is all paper beads, which is a project I've wanted to do...especially now that I see how cool they look!

$1 for this awesome journal!

it did have pages torn out of the front...but it is still very cool and totally worth one dollar.

a book for 50 cents

another book for 50 cents

and a very cool glass bottle that was in the 50 cent box but I got it for a quarter!

and replacement canvas for the sling chair I bought last year at a yard sale for $5. This cost me $1

A good haul, i think!

We recently acquired a twin bed (mattress and box spring) and 3 wooden chairs with cushions all for the low cost of FREE!

in my sketchbook

2009-07-19T20:21:00.001-07:00

Sketchcrawl July 11, 2009

2009-07-19T20:09:00.003-07:00

Four of us met up for a sketchcrawl...Anne is checking out Linda's sketchbook.

(crappy photos of my sketches, unfortunately, but you'll get the idea)
warm up doodles first sketch, buddha in the Powell's window

on Hawthorne

the Bagdad theater...my favorite sketch of the day

working on perspective

definitely need practice!

12 of July 12

2009-07-13T16:07:00.005-07:00

Following Chad Darnell's idea for 12 photos on the 12th day of each month, I give you my 12 of 12: 1. 8am. morning latte in Eugene, in a friend's beautiful garden.

2. 8 -ish, cute kitcat follows me around the garden, plays chase. 3. 8:30-ish, yummy waffles with strawberry mash, blueberries and yogurt. 4. 10:30-ish. Waiting to enter the Oregon Country Fair, I sketch, Tad reads. 5. noon-ish; As we walked through the gates, the thunder rumbled and down came the rain. My toes were getting cold, wet and dirty 6. noon-ish, but we were still having fun. 7. 2pm-ish and the puddle got bigger, the trails got muddier and my mood went up and down.... 8. 4pm-ish. My toes got muddier.9. sometime during the day. We saw fun performances...10. ---and great singers.

11. 8 pm-ish, we drove back to Portland after I had cleaned the mud off my feet and put on dry pants and a warm hoodie. Unfortunately, I had no clean shoes, so T and I shared his clean pair of slip on sandals when we used the rest area.

12. 10-ish- showered, warm with a book and hot tea, I was happy to be home

bonus shot: Xiao Mao says "why you gotta leave me? Stay home. Please."

7-8-09

2009-07-08T20:11:00.001-07:00

A few shots while walking to the farmer's market this evening.

Opening up my Moleskines

2009-06-30T20:28:00.006-07:00

Updating the blog.... pictures of my sketches...

Lake Michigan water in my waterbrush, and sand glued on....Sitting on the beach with my sketchbook...

Travels

2009-06-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

on the El in Chicago on our way to Union Station, we had a portrait party

more sketches to come soon (I hope!)

12 of June 12, 2009

2009-06-12T23:01:00.003-07:00

here's my offering for June 2009 12 of 12 Thanks to Chad Darnell!

1. morning drive to work, 9:30-ish

2. scenes from my drive (oaks Park in the distance, there.)
3. I like this mural in Sellwood:

4. Arriving at work

5. my parking spot, by this tree, who keeps on eye on the caravan

6. Lunch, Trader Joe's gnocchi al gorgonzola

7.checking my agenda to make sure I've done everything I need to do!

8. leaving work, I'm excited to see my shadow

9. Look up to see beautiful blue sky (which isn't the way the sky looked over my house.)

10. met up with Tad and his brother...walked to QFC, wish I had a pic of the wine sampling (5 different wines.) and the cheese samples...instead I got this shot of the purchasing of doughnuts.

11. at home, we made dessert first: banana splits! Yowzer!

12. to make up for it, I made an awesome salad which included fresh herbs from the garden, veggies, avocado, black olives, sunflower seeds, cashews and yummy vegan ceaser dressing.

the bonus shot: Xiao Mao looking out into the rainy evening.

I also made this..

2009-06-07T17:17:00.003-07:00

Today, I took a workshop on how to make herbal tinctures. As part of the class, we each made a tincture of lemon balm. Nice!

As requested, Some more information:

Here's the gist of what we did. We went out in to the garden and identified the Lemon Balm herb. We then harvested the leaves of the plant and brought it inside. We, then, 'garbaled' the plant, which means we sorted through the harvested leaves to make sure everything looked healthy, to take off any 'woody' stems and to save any bugs from drowning in alcohol. We then chopped the leaves and stem as fine as possible. We then filled our jars wiht the chopped lemon balm. We filled the jar (so that all the herb was covered) with a menstruum of 66% alcohol (this was made from a bottle of 190 proof alcohol mixed with water...)We capped the jar and wrote out the label! I'm shaking the jar daily for a few weeks. I'll then strain the mixture through a cheesecloth and maybe a second time through a coffee filter. I'll pour the finished tincture into a special dark bottle to keep for years!

What will I use this tincture for? lemon balm can treat emotional stress, wintertime lethargy or depression. it's a gentle sedative and is also a celebrfated anti-viral. It can shorten the duration and severity of cold sores and herpes outbreaks. It can also treat an overactive thyroid gland. It's also a good anti-inflammatory, great for seasonal allergies. Happy herbaling!

Now, I'm shaking the jar every

Sunday morning sketches

2009-06-07T16:57:00.002-07:00

in my small Moleskine water color sketch book i really like how the view out the window (on the left) turned out.

avocado pits in water (a bit blurry)

Saturday

2009-06-06T20:23:00.004-07:00

I sketched my new shoe this morning! and then played with words cut from magazines.

took pictures of words together

and pictures of other things- like sagis' arms, the hair growing back in, so lightly, from his IV.

gorgeous flowers. I should know the names of these. Are they gladiola??? Snapdragons...thanks, Virginia!

and interesting patterns on a tree.
I hope you are enjoying your creative Saturday!

Total love fest

2009-06-05T16:33:00.002-07:00

The kitty love fest went on for a few minutes before it turned to biting and slapping.

Sketching in Oregon City

2009-06-01T10:40:00.002-07:00

On Saturday, I arrived in Oregon City a bit early, so I decided to sit and sketch for a few minutes. the Municipal elevator and the view was a good spot to sketch...
it's hard to see the sketch, but I'll add some color to it later and post it on the blog soon.

they do do more than sleep...

2009-05-29T17:34:00.001-07:00

I just capture them sleeping...they move too fast otherwise! especially Xiao Mao (why is this one upside down???)

(stupid blogger, messing up my photo orientation)

more from my sketchbook

2009-05-27T17:30:00.002-07:00

(I don't know why the sketch is uploading on its side...and I don't feel like messing with it, so take a deep breath, now tilt your head to the right,

and straighten back up again. breathe.)

in my sketchbook...

2009-05-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

Painted Cats

Veteran's day at the Japanese garden

Did you meet me recently?

MOVING!

Home Sweet Home

Multnomah Village

Picnic, happy hour and a latte but not all in the same day

Riverplace Sketchcrawl

Beachhouse with the Beckwiths

Tandem Sketching

Videos of Sketchbooks

Recent sketches

Sketchbook Video

Lots of Sketches

etch-a-sketching

From the old days

Finished another skethcbook!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl, January 22, 2011

Martin Luther King Day sketchcrawl

From the archives: drawings from the 1990s

From the archives: more drawings from the 1990s

from the archives: more 1990s drawings

From the archives: drawings from the 1990s

From the archives: 1990s

from my archive: Sketched in Tucson

Finished a sketchbook

From the archives: 1990s

Rainy Sketchcrawl

From the archives: sketched in the Peace Corps

It's been a long time!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl: St. John's Bridge

September 25, 2010--Sketching in the park and garden; 2 cities, 2 states

Video of August 2010 Sketchbook

Vacation Illustrated

Epic Adventure: Illustrated

Symposium Sketching, part 2

Symposium Sketching part one

End of the Symposium

Urban Sketching

Urban Sketchers Symposium- Day one!

Sketchcrawl: First Presbyterian Church

If you were to open up my sketchbook, this is what you'd see...

Happy Fourth of July

World Cup

Desk items, laughing planet and a new bike

King Market sketch crawl

Boat races and birthdays

Vehicle views, strawberries and radio shows

Urban Sketching: riding Trimet

Spring 2010 Sketchbook video

Worldwide Sketchcrawl Today!

Meeting Notes

Ace Hotel Sketchcrawl

Past week...

Latest Sketchbook

some more sketches!

more from the sketchbook

another look

Peek into my sketchbooks

worldwide sketchcrawl in Portland, OR

Worldwide SketchCrawl!

Drawing Class

Last weekend

Sketches-around home and around town

12 of January 12, 2010

Recent work

12 of 12 December 2009

sketches!

25th worldwide sketchcrawl!

Home

Sketchcrawl Portland group

Sketchcrawl!

Randomness

Sketches from Idaho

More videos to share!

Video of my Moleskine sketchbook

Lately...

A sketchbook video

Guest Artist

Yard Sales