Hello everyone.
I haven't posted in a while but I continue to sketch and walk daily. I noticed that many of you have taken a step back from your computers for the summer also. Just why I don't have the time to post daily is a baffled to me but I keep thinking that I will get my life back soon and be doing just what I want to do. Paint and sketch, Paint and sketch and then Paint and sketch some more. Here is some of my work from the last week.

Have a great weekend.


I found this Giant Bird of Paradise plant to sketch while waiting for someone to get out of the doctor's office. Finally it wasn't me in there. She was getting a Colonoscopy. This is such an important test for anyone over 50. The test showed no cancer or polyps or anything bad. Next test will be in 5 years for her. What better reason to have the test then to prove that your health is good.

Bird of Paradise graphite on paper

These ducks were so interested in what I was doing. I had walked around Balboa Island, sketched a in a few different places and found that they had followed me the last few drawings. Do you think it might have been the sandwich I was sharing?

Mallards graphite on paper

I have been working in my garden in the early morning because of the heat of the day. My first pumpkin has grown and turned orange now but this one is the smaller one and is still yellow. The same color as the blossoms. I have been using these leaves for the cement leaf workshops I have been having. Great fun and so easy to do. I am going to be making many birds very happy with all the bird baths that are being made.

Pumpkins with Blossoms watercolor on paper


tomatoes graphite on paper

I have been harvesting tomatoes twice a week and the crop is enough for a few families. Composting and worm composting really works.

This is my Sketchercise sketch for this morning. This is on a hill in Fullerton looking toward Knott's Berry Farm amusement park. The morning was a little hazy today, over cast because of the marine layer coming in from the beach. It cools the air, keeping the heat down. Today it was only 83 degrees and that is bearable. OK, have I mentioned that I don't like the heat?

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!

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.

COMPUTER AND PHOTOSHOPED

I wanted to show how fun it is to change a very poor photo into a painting.


After using several filters and adjustments I got the picture with the rainbow, no telephone pole and brighter color.


The original image and the completed image are placed close together for comparison. I use photos like the original to Photoshop because, well, look at it. Telephone pole, uninteresting color, poor exposure, etc.