Powerscourt Manor, Ireland

 

I spent a couple hours drawing and painting this view out an upper floor window from the Powerscourt Manor in Ireland.  I was all by myself so I could spend whatever time I wanted and only did this one little picture.  The colors were amazing, the view was amazing, it was heaven.

"Columbia River from Howard Amon Park"

 

Though it is cold and rainy, there are still opportunities for sketching here in the Tri-Cities. Today, I drove over to Howard Amon Park in Richland, WA., parked my truck backwards in the turn-about so I could capture this scene through my window, and through the open window enjoyed the sketching. I did get a bit moist as the gently falling rain did find its way in, but it was worth it. Home now and getting ready to go see the movie, "Searching for Sugar Man." 

"Turk and Market, San Francisco"



"Turk Street, San Francisco"



After purchasing a new car for my wife, we decided to take it on a roadtrip to California.  First we drove to San Francisco (after an overnight in Weed), then down to San Jose where we met up with my friend, Ney Wang, who I met in Santo Domingo last July.  With Ney we joined Connie Rizzuto for the 37th World Wide Sketchcrawl in Los Gatos.

From there we drove to Lincoln and spent a few days with friends, Terry and Elaine Banderas.  Terry and I spent the next three days sketching his hometown Auburn, then the town of Napa and Napa Valley.

This sketch is "Turk Street" in San Francisco.  I love these city canyons with the tall buildings and perspective.  I captured the building outlines and general perspective in about 5 minuts then added the details and color later in the hotel room. 

To see the other sketches, click on the picture. 

"37th World Wide Sketchcrawl - Los Gatos, CA"

What a treat today to spend some time with my friend, Irene Wang, and new friend Connie Rizzuto in Los Gatos for this 37th WWSk!  Irene and I met last July when we were both in Santo Dolmingo at the the Urban Sketchers Symposium.  It was great to meet up with her and her friends Jack and Alice, who were also in Santo Domingo, for breakfast this morning; then to spend the day with Irene.




We started at the Old Grist Mill in Los Gatos this morning. You can
see Irene in this sketch.  She is in front of the car.

This old Cletrac tractor, rust and all, sits along the wall just outside
the museum in Los Gatos.  



The "Old Town" area of Los Gatos is made up of some of the
old buildings, but something tells me none of these are much like
the old buildings they used to be.  Bill Clinton visited here
when he was campaining way back when.



This was on the way back from Los Gatos to San Jose.  It is the Mission in Santa
Clara.  It sits on the beautiful campus at Santa Clara University. 
 



37th SKETCHCRAWL - IRELAND

This morning I spent in Dalkey, Ireland at my grandson's soccer practice.  It was bright and sunny but windy and COLD!!!  I escaped after only half an hour to a building nearby to get out of the wind, sit down and sketch.  Ah - so Irish is the background!

This was at the same soccer field.  There is a wall that lies along one side of the field and these very typical homes peek out between the green.  Happy Sketchcrawl Day to all!

"37th World Wide Sketchcrawl - October 13th"

The 37th World Wide Sketchcrawl will be held across the entire earth tomorrow, Oct. 13th.  I am in San Jose, CA., this evening so will not be able to be with any of you who want to participate. 

"Pawn Shop on Columba Avenue, Kennewick"

 

This is exactly what I had in mind when I drove down to the old Avenue C in Kennewick this morning: this old building's storefront.  I don't know the age of the building, but it has that orginal look of early 1900's with that structure up above the signage (can you picture a hitching post out front?).   The avenue was one once heavily frequented by high school kids back in the 60's as their favorite hang-out is just off to the right, on this side of the street: "Zip's". 

I like old storefronts and have had a difficult time finding any that are suitable for sketching.  Most of our storefronts are too modern in appearance, or just plain and without character.  This may be the best one in the tri-cities. 

Had a ton of fun drawing it.  Sunday mornings are real quiet and I had the parking area across the street all to my self.  Oh, and since it was Sunday the shop was closed.  I had to make up some things to put out front, including an Open sign. 

"Kennewick's Sax Man"

The day was too beautiful to stay home and mow the lawn, so knowing that there are a few things down toward downtown Kennewick I've been wanting to draw, I headed that way this morning. 

This guy isn't one the things I had in mind.  He just happened to be there on the corner where he likes to hang out and I was able to find a good parking spot where I could draw in a clandestine fashion.

I think I'm a bit like him, I love to hear the echo affect he gets off the surrounding buildings.  I wonder if that is why he usually chooses this particular corner to work his wailin' sax?  I bet it is.  

Listening to him you often hear familiar tunes, but more often than not he's improvising and he's pretty good at it. 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmgarner/8064790154/in/photostream/

Shaynie's Drawing

Drawing bit my grandaughter and this is her painting of the NYC skyline while sitting in the glass dining room!

IRELAND!

This is the view from Rebekah's glass enclosed dining room over the Irish Sea.  It is a place you can sit 24/7 as they say.  Everywhere I turn around this place is a fabulous water drenched view of green and blue.  I suppose, later in the year, when the sun shines rarely and the days are short, it may get a bit gloomy, however - NOW? - fabulous!

"Fun Drawing at Kiona Winery"

I had a lot of fun drawing Kiona Winery because this is one of the wines I buy and drink most. I’ve been in love with Kiona’s wines for so many years. Oh my goodness, it could be more than twenty years! I even loved their Rose which was discontinued some years back.
 

 First some quick thumbnails;

 

Then a greeting card thumbnail;

 

 

 

 

Then a final drawing.

 

"Kiona Winery: Red Mountain"

We drove back out to Red Mountain at 8am this morning to find a winery we have yet to sketch.  We had one in mind, but it turned out to be private property with a "do not enter" sign; so we found Kiona Winery.  Kiona was one of the first and one of the premier wineries in this region of the state. The folks working there were very cordial and invited us to come inside to use the facilities, and to view their galleries.   

Here are a few of the images captured:

L to R:  Jim Bumgarner, Dave Lapoynte, Jean Fu.  John Werner
joined us today, but wasn't available for the group shot.




Jean and Dave discussing the fine points of landscape sketching.

Dave at work in the sagebrush. 

These storage tanks out behind the winery caught my eye. 



"Friday Morning Sketchabout"

More Wine-Country Sketching this Friday at 8am.  We will meet in the parking area behind the gas station between McD's and Freddy Meyers in Richland and head out at 8am.  Hope you can join us!