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Monday, September 30, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 4. Fisherman's Wharf of San Pancho


This area being so touristic is always busy. Lots of people and traffic. It turned out I sat in a busy corner at the opposite corner of this image to sketch it.  The fact that I was smelling of the pollution of the buses and cars passing by, in one of the most ecologically conscious cities in the U.S. was ironic to me. A tourist approached to me to asked me for directions to a place I had never heard of, and my immediate response was:-I'm from Sshikkago. I tried to mimic the Geico Lizard speaking like a Chicagoan. Oh boy! Was it funny! A tourist teasing a tourist! It may be she didn't expect this sort of answer but hey! I was in a good mood. I continued with my sketch with no further interruptions. Click here for Part 5

Friday, September 27, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 3. Para surfing at sunset in the Bay.




No, it's not that I have seen one of the iconic symbols of San Francisco Bay on a magnificent sunset what I will remember every time I see this sketch. It's not the cold wind blowing in my face. It's not that the American Cup was held in the Bay and I didn't had a chance to sketch it. It's not how much it impressed me how these para surfers love doing that despite the cold water. It's not that I had no time limit to sketch without the worry of someone waiting for me. It is, in fact, the phone conversation I held with Bob during the making of this sketch and how much I enjoyed his company at that moment despite the distance. THAT is what I will remember every time I see this sketch. Click here for Part 4

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 2. Sea Lions at Pier 39




Aww! The life of sea lions.... so funny, so cute, but noisy and dangerous! I just witnessed how the biggest male threatened the smallest ones and pushed them out of the raft to claim their territory! I've always had my suspicious about this "friendly animal". They are no different than any other in the animal kingdom. I had the opportunity to swim with them in the wild in Baja, a little one was very curious, to the point that it came so close to us to play that I could have touched it, but I didn't, I was told not to. Once you touch them, they loose the fear of you and can bite you! So here they are, taking the sun in San Francisco, taking advantage of the sunny day, and me? Up in the restaurant sketching them from a safe and comfortable place. Am I missing being close to them? No, not really. Click here for Part 3

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 1. Seal Carving


During my days in San Francisco, CA. I walked the streets of Chinatown,  they say it is one of the most authentic Chinese neighborhoods in the world out of China. I expected just to stroll the streets and get the feeling of being transfer to China by hearing people speaking only Chinese. The town has two main streets, one for the tourist and one for the local Chinese where all they do the daily shopping, and dry washed underware hanging outside the windows. I had nothing planned to buy, I just followed my friends who wanted to explore the town. Suddenly an idea sparked in my head while walking the streets. I've seen several artists who stamp their artwork with Chinese characters in red ink. Ooooooh! It looks so professional. So I decided to ask locals about it. The first person I asked gave directions to John Wong shop. This man is a professional calligrapher. He studied in China. His store had plenty of interesting things, among them a piece of newspaper showing a picture of himself with the mayor of the city of San Francisco. The article describes he was granted with a Certificate of Honor, which I think is a big accomplishment for someone who just came to the United States in 1990. His 9 year old granddaughter was there. She was our translator. I asked for the seal carving work. I wanted my name Adriana carved in the stone.  I chose from several stone blocks with my Chinese zodiac animal on it. The work was going to take about 30-40 minutes. I asked him if I could sketch him while he was working. He said yes. I've never being more comfortable sketching a person, since it is not my forte, he remained very still.  He wrote his name and mine in the sketch and of course Jazlyn wanted to write hers too. I asked him to write the word friends as well. He showed me how to stamp correctly, you can see it in my sketch. John loved my sketch so much he asked me to sketch Jazlyn as well, which I did gladly, she was a good help as a translator and made things easier. In return he gave me a calligraphy piece of paper with my name written in Chinese and free red ink. Fabulous! I told him I would make a print and mail it to him. I think I will never forget my new favorite word: Xièxiè. Click here for Part 2.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Joliet Regional Airport.

I've always wanted to sketch this airport. For some reason I'm attracted to it, like I have unfinished business here. Finally I made up my mind and went to sketch. I was in the parking lot and realized that I was in front of a Cessna, a memory came to me. I was 8 or so when my dad took me to the airport out of the city of Zacatecas, in Mexico. It was a Sunday. Dad managed to make arrangements for some one to give us a flight ride. It felt like any given Sunday day. I sat in the back of the Cessna. It was my first flight ever. It was noisy, but exciting as well. We flew over the city, I want to believe I saw my house from above but I don't remember if I did. Any way, I've think that booking a fly for a beloved one would be a nice birthday or anniversary gift. Some day I might book one for Bob, but shhhhh, don't tell him, it must be a surprise!