Hospital Emergency Room

Emergency Room

Ink on Paper

Feeding the ducks

Tri City Park

Ink on paper

I was sketching this location after walking around the lake a few times when this lady walked into my field of view and started pouring some grain from a large bag, for the ducks.  Of course shortly after that there were far too many ducks but I did manage to put the lady in at the last moment.

Wilshire Street, Fullerton

Wilshire Street, Fullerton

ink on paper

This is the street I sketched, that I forgot to post, that is next to the Rialto Café. My Bad!

Breakfast at the Rialto Cafe

Rialto Cafe

Ink on paper

This morning Ivy and I went for breakfast at the Rialto Café. It is next to the street drawing I did a few days ago when I was across the street having another cup of coffee. Rialto’s coffee is much better. Don’t tell the people across the street I said so!

Hiltcher Walking Trail

Hiltcher Walking Trail

Horse Stable

Ink on paper

This is a horse stable that I walk by on the Hiltcher Trail. There is a small structure for chickens and the stable with the corral attached holds two horses. Ivy is interested in the chickens but the horses just aren't interesting for her, well except for the time the black one got loose and ran down the trail with his owner walking behind him to eventually put the harness (that he was carrying) on to guide him back to the building. Ivy just looked longingly at the running horse wishing, I am sure, that she could run free, too. Ivy is a greyhound and loves to run fast, but at 45 miles an hour she could be a mile away in a minute and not know where she was or how to get back home. So she is never off leash unless she is in an enclosed yard.

 

Roses

Roses

Ink on paper

My yard has been neglected and now it is time to get serious about rescuing the roses and my poor vegetable garden. It is hard to garden in the extreme heat we have had. I planned on pruning (or cutting back anyway) the roses in August and here it is almost August. Where does the time go? I have to start by removing the weeds and that is a never ending task. This little sketch came after I had filled my compost piles and filled a few trash barrels full of unwanted stuff. Apples are falling to the ground and the tomatoes are so abundant right now. Plenty for drying and I have filled my freezer with applesauce and tomatoe sauce.  My neighbors have all they need, too.

Muckenthaler

Muckenthaler

Ink on paper

I have sketched this particular view several times and each drawing/painting is always different. I love the horizontal banding of the shade and sunlit grass.

Condiments

Table Top Condiments

Ink on paper

So often I sit somewhere like under a tree, or on a park bench or at a table waiting for my breakfast order to arrive and I pull out my ink pen and journal and get lost in a line drawing of anything. It’s so mesmerizing just to allow the form to materialize on the paper. No thought to thin and thick or light and dark or any other design rule. Just ink flowing out of the pen tracing a line of what I am looking at. Like an ant walking around the edges of what I see. To me it is the most calming thing I can do. Like a brain vacation. No vocabulary, no explanation, no critique just movement like a dance. It just feels good.

Walking Trail

Walking Trail

Ink on paper

I have continued to sketch and walk as an exercise program. The group I belong to, as I have mentioned before, is called Sketchercise. I tuck my journal in my backpack, then Ivy and I walk a few miles and then I sketch with ink, graphite and/or watercolor and walk home. This particular area is behind a hospital in Fullerton and at the end of a golf course. I love just walking with no goal in mind other than to explore and find something new to sketch.

Dana Point, Califronia

Dana Point, California

Ink on paper

I have been away for a month and really have so many sketches that I haven't posted so I will just put them in as I remember them. This one was done on a day that was over cast, with a dappled sky that let light through periodically. I remember that this was a great for just sitting and sketching.

POPPIES

POPPIES

Watercolor on paper

The Last Winter Poppies

Poppies

Watercolor in Handmade Paper Journal

This is the last entree in the last signature of my handmade paper journal. I have been working in this journal all winter and enjoyed this wonderful paper and how it takes the ink from my Lami pen and watercolor. Now all that is left to do is to finish stitching and adding it to the other signatures in my journal. Then it will be closed and placed on the book shelf with all the other journals only to be looked at (probably) when my children go through my things for the garage sale when I am moved into that old folks home or after I die. That sound a little too honest for the light of day but I am afraid it is the truth. How many of you artists out there in Virtual Blogland, that make journals, actually share your drawings with real live people?

ROSES AND POPPIES

Roses and Poppies

Watercolor on Paper

I worked in my garden for a few hours mostly chopping back the undergrowth. It has been a week since I have been able to weed and they have taken over. I am always so surprised to see how fast things change. I usually spend a little time in my garden everyday but with the other things that are going on I have neglected the weeds and they have taken advantage. After filling my compost piles to the brim I came across this collection of mingled roses and poppies and that was it. I stopped to paint and take a break. The poppies are almost gone. I love my poppies. People ask me, 'What is my favorite flower?’ I always say the one that is blooming of course.

Laguna Lake, Fullerton

Laguna Lake

Graphite on paper

Walking journal

Pasadena Street

Pasadena Street

Ink on handmade paper Journal

Night Drawing

Night Drawing

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I happened to find this scene that begged drawing.  I have looked at the way the street lights stand out at night and wondered about sketching them.  I worked on this until my pen ran out of ink.  I couldn't really see it that night and looked at it this morning.  I like the way it has only taken up some of the page.  I may work on it more but for now I like the way it looks.

Restaurant and Bakery

Restaurant and Bakery

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I had the opportunity to wait for a friend in this delightful place full of goodies for the eyes and the scences.  I never mind waiting if I have a sketch book with me.  In fact I have been known to feel a little disappointed when they show up on time.

Fullerton Arboretum

Tree at the Fullerton Arboretum

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I started this April 17 during the Fullerton Arboretum's Green Scene weekend.  I  had an opportunity to go back and finish it last Friday.

Just another parking lot

Parking lot

Ink on handmade paper Journal

It seems like I spend a lot of time sitting looking at parking lots. I think the real situation is that there seems to be parking lots everywhere, at least where I live. When I am painting my trees and trails it’s because I am looking the other way or simply leaving out the cars and people and putting in only the trees.

Salad Bar

Salad Bar

Ink on handmade paper Journal

One of my favaorite places to eat are the places that have salad bars.  I am a slow eater and when I sketch and eat I get even slower.  If I can get to the restaurant just after the huge lunch crowd I can sit and chew and chew and sketch and sketch until the dinner crowd comes and I need to give up my table.  Pluse I like to keep an eye on the dishes so when they come out fresh from the kitchen.