SKETCHCRAWL JULY 11

This is the 23 Sketchcrawl where fellow artists from all over the world sketch where they are and what they are doing that day.

I started out with a walk to the nearest coffee house for a cup of coffee and a quick sketch. Then walked back home to get my car to drive to the train station to pick up a friend.

I stopped to do a quick sketch of Harbor Blvd. a main street in downtown Fullerton.


I captured the El Camino Real sign and the bell that is displayed along this famous old trail. It is a 600-mile (966-kilometer) California Mission Trail, connecting the California's 21 missions.

Then off to the Fullerton train station for a few quick sketch of people, luggage and umbrellas.

I ended my day with dinner and one last sketch at Bucca di Beppo, an Italian food restaurant.

Coyote Hills

This area is land that the oil companies have worked and owned. The area is slated for development (houses and probably more stores) and the Save Coyote Hills group is trying to stop the development and the destruction of yet another open wild life area. It is hills of California native shrub, prickly pear cactus, eucalyptus (not native to California) and many animals. I drive there in the early morning, just at sun rise and then Ivy and I walk the area. I have seen opossums, skunks, coyotes, all kinds of raptors (hawks), mice, many kinds of birds, and insects. It's a lovely quiet place.

LAMP POST and WALKING TRAIL

My moring walk started with this Narnia like lamp post.


I walked to the bridle trail with ivy and then found this path to a corral where Ivy always says hi to the horse. Or should I say the horse bends it's big neck down so that Ivy can smell it's nose.


This sketch was in my book from last week so I finished it when I came to this spot. The sun comes through the trees burning out the lights and making the darks darker. The grasses and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are really tall now.

SUNSET

Sunset after a day of June Gloom. I couldn’t tell what colors I was using but it turned out OK. This is my favorite time to walk. A late summer day, cool and not full of mosquitoes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, yet!

MORNING WALK

This is a stand of Eucalyptus that is on a hill. From this hill you can see Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. These trees are so interesting and the way they march up the hill stops me and makes me want to sketch or take a photograph every time. I have walked by these trees for 30 years and still I am sketching them.

GREYHOUND PICNIC

Food was on the top of the list for all.

Yesterday was the Greyhound Picnic. Since Ivy is a greyhound I went and had a great time. It is a different experience to see 100's of people with 100's of greyhounds all in the same park.

Some people had more than 3 dogs; there were dogs for adoption and dogs with broken legs and dogs with grey noses from age and more. I got a new leash and collar for Ivy. She is styling now.

NEIGHBORS HOUSE #33

Rainy day painting. We are having a summer storm moving through Southern California, but I am continuing despite the painting is taking forever to dry. The rain and lightening is sporadic but I am cozy in my car.

STAIRS

I was helping a friend with her Rummage sale. The first couple of hours we made 25 cents. What do people do when they have time to do nothing? My friend took a nap. She was selling a huge old overstuffed lounge chair. I sketched these steps to the backyard across the street. The air was cool, birds were singing and I could hear the neighbors getting ready for church. I love to just observe nature and experience the morning.

Neighbor's House #17

I haven't been posting the house paintings. I had to wait till I got the new journals I ordered so all the houses will be on the same paper. I have walked through the neighborhood and numbered all the houses. I am not painting them in order. So that is why the numbers seem out of order.

Ivy

Ivy-graphite on cream paper
Ivy is my brindle colored greyhound. She was rescued from the Agua Caliente race track in Mexico two years ago and has been in her forever home (my house) ever since.

GREEN SCENE FULLERTON ARBORETUM

The Green Scene is a plant and garden show at the Fullerton Arboretum in California. Many vendors and many gardeners and plant stuff everywhere. It was 97 degrees, with a dessert like breeze that just made it all bearable. I got several new Iris, 3 kinds of melons, (yellow water melon!) something called Mon Cherri and veggies for my garden. It is going to cool down by Wednesday so I will plant them then. That's the thing about California gardening. If you don't like the weather just wait 3 days. It will change.

My models kept moving so sometimes they had many noses all on the same face. I enjoy sketching the activities of people. Isn’t it fun being a people watcher.


This grandmother was just barely keeping it together. The little girl was enjoying her shaved ice and was ignoring grandma’s rant.



Well this lady, what can I say. If you live anywhere near this lady you will not need to plant your own tomatoes because she is going to have enough for you and every neighbor in a 4 mile area.

Neighbor's House #28

This is the last of the sketch crawl drawings, I think. Still working on the others. My dog, Ivy, is complaining because I keep stopping or even worse going on my walks without her now. She isn't very good at sitting and waiting when we are supposed to be walking.

Neighbor's House #189

This cute little blue one has a great dog named Alice inside.

NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE

This house has these wonderful Jacaranda trees that have these purple blooms. The flowers drop and cover the street with purple. The contrast between the orange red terra cotta tiles on the roof and the purple of the tree was too beautiful to pass up.

NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE #113

One more house. Let's see if I can do them all.

NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE #137

Here is another house on my daily walk/sketch.

Neighbor's house #150

I painted the sketch I did on Saturday. The rose arch is just starting to bloom. I think I will have to do this again when the rose blooms.

NEIGHBORS HOUSE #160

Here is another of the paintings from my morning walk. I thought I would add some watercolor. Of course it turns into a morning walk and sit and walk. I plan on doing as many as I can. One house at a time. I can do anything, if I take it one step at a time.

SketchCrawl #21

I like the idea of setting a day

aside for something special.

Here is my first SketchCrawl day.



Drawing





Listening

Just observing each jewel of a house.

They always call to me to

take the time to draw and share them.

Here they are. Enjoy.

A neighbor's home

This is a house I see on my daily walks. Yes I am walking again. Not very far but my foot is healing. The roses are blooming and the new leaves are that wonderful spring green. It's still cold and foggy, but just being out of the house is great.