Happy Sketching in the New Year

Just a few days into the new year, I was at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, CA.  Here's my sketch made in the Petting Kraal (corral), where goats roam around and kids can pet them or brush their hair.  The goats seem to like it and the the kids love it.  I had this multicolor pencil for years, but never used it.  Then I saw someone's sketch on the Urban Sketchers website that used it exclusively.  Before, I would've never thought to use it to sketch, but I found it does have a neat effect.

The next day I went to the coast to downtown Carlsbad, where I had previously spotted this unusual building with a gothic-style water dispenser kiosk in front.  It's the Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa.  The story is that a well was discovered in 1882 by Captain John Frazier.  The water was found to have health benefits and locals decided to name the wells after the healing waters from Karlsbad, Bohemia.  The Great Depression put an end to the well.  It was rediscovered in 1955 and not until the 1990s was it revived back into use.  The spa is in the larger building, a partial replica of a 650-year-old building from Hamburg, Germany.  The water kiosk (open 24 hours/day) is partially hidden behind a tree from my vantage point.  There is a statue of the founder, Captain John Frazier, holding a refreshing glass of water, and you can see the two large holding tanks behind him.  Touting a Ph level of 8.76, which is apparently a good thing, I filled up a water bottle too. 

One of my resolutions this year is to draw everyday and improve over time.

Printmaking at the Mall

On December 14th I went to the Carlsbad mall, not to shop, but to check out the Oceanside Museum of Art's Exploring Engagement project called "Winter Wonderland" by artist Armando de la Torre .  That day they were offering a free card and wrapping paper workshop, open to anyone who stopped by.  The space was a creative workshop in action and I enjoyed every minute.  I decided to make a card and came up with a deer head design that I cut out on a sheet of foam "paper".  One of the participating artists found me a piece of wood scrap that I used to mount (peel and stick - so easy!) the foam "stamp".  I rolled brown ink on the deer stamp and went to work.  It was fun, and the artists there were enthusiastic and encouraging. 

Here's a photo of the printed cards.  I didn't think the brown would show up that well on the navy paper, but it actually it does stand out.

They had a variety of printing inks available for people to use.  The wrapping paper project is a very cool idea using cardboard mailing tubes and foam sheet cutouts to make printing rollers.  My cards are at the bottom; at right is my mounted block with deer stamp.

I chatted with the lead artist, Armando de la Torre (below), for a bit - nice guy with a great concept: get art into the community.  What better place during this time of year, than the mall?

Some Recent Sketches & Carved Stamps

In October I met up with the San Diego Urban Sketchers group at the Fiber Arts Fest at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine (outdoor) Museum in Vista, California.  If you want to go back in time to see lots of antique vehicles and farm equipment, this is the place.  There is also a building filled with looms that weavers still work on.  The festival even had the yarn suppliers - alpacas - in attendance.

 

An inexpensive and easy way to carve stamps is to use erasers.  I made one for my "logo" and another for the Day of the Dead, using a star-shaped eraser.

 

In November I met up with the San Diego Urban Sketchers again for some sketch time at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe in Vista, California.  This is one of the historic original ranchos that predates California statehood.  This sketch was done using a black ink pen, color pencils, and watercolor pencils.

Doodle

On Sunday I went to an art show put on by the cool - and nice (it's always great to feel welcome at an art show when you don't know anyone there) - folks at Hill Street Country Club in Oceanside, California.  Art and photography by Carla Roque and JT Rhoades, respectively.  The show was held at Apotheque/Succulent Cafe in downtown Oceanside.  I didn't know how much I love succulents until I went to Succulent Cafe - this place is a gem of a little open-air coffeehouse where you're surrounded by these beautiful little cacti.  The show had a station where kids of any age could color/collage/whatever on these semi-blank cards.  While I was waiting for one of the gallery spaces to open up, I decided to sit and doodle.  Is this what is referred to as "zentangle"?  Apotheque Spa had a bowl of Mary Jane candies and I couldn't resist sampling one due to the cute packaging.  Why not glue it to my doodle?

Leo Carrillo Ranch

I did this sketch in July at the Leo Carrillo Ranch, a public park in Carlsbad, California that was the former home and working rancho of the Hollywood actor it's named for.  It's a beautiful place with peacocks freely roaming the grounds.  That's a real peacock feather in the bottom right.  This sketch outing was a San Diego Urban Sketchers meet-up. 

Queen Califia's Magical Circle

I went to visit this Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture park in Escondido, California but it was closed for construction.  So I sat outside the fence and drew from a shady vantage point.