San Francisco CA II Part 4 In between workshops.

Pen, ink and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Watercolor Journal 8" x 8"

The week days in between workshops, my husband and I visited other places for the first time..together...how romantic!

But first I'll show you the sketch I did during our flight  to San Francisco. Looking at a couple of passengers from different generations and how do they entertain themselves differently was interesting. The teenager was watching a movie on his phone and a senior woman reading a book.

Pen, ink and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

The next day we went to the Golden Bridge Gate, we had to, since the forecast showed this day to be the only sunny day during our week in the city. Once I found an observation deck, I sketched the famous bridge, at times I could see the top of the towers, at other times I couldn't even see the furthest tower.  It was like the bridge was teasing me, now you see, now you don't. Ha!

Pencil and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Watercolor Journal 8" x 8"

After that we took the bus to make a stop at the Palace of Fine Arts. This time I sketched the whole building.

Pen, ink and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Watercolor Journal 8" x 8"

Next day we took one of the heritage (vintage) light rail to visit the Coit Tower. It was funny to see a driver with the hands off the wheel, because there's none! I was so focused on making a quick sketch that we missed a stop!

Pen, ink and watercolor on WC Moleskine 3.5" x 5.5"

Someone gave us directions to take the steps that would take us closer to the Coit Tower from Embarcadero. At half way up the stairs (or so I thought),  I made a stop to take my jacket off, the hundreds of steps made me sweat, I also took out a pocket size sketchbook and did a quick sketch of the view ahead of us.

Pen, ink and watercolor on WC Moleskine 3.5" x 5.5"

Once we reached the top, we took a brake at the limited parking lot, and from there I sketched the Coit Tower. There's a statue of Christopher Columbus on the right side of the sketch, which I left blank.

Pen, ink and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Watercolor Journal 8" x 8"

Once inside the tower, there was a line to take the elevator to the top, I did another sketch while waiting in line.

Pencil and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

The view of San Francisco from the top is incredible.

After the visit to the Coit Tower we went back down the stairs to the Embarcadero to take another Heritage light rail to the Ferry Building. We were starving so made a stop at Hog Island Oysters. I sketched my food, something I don't normally do, but I wasn't going to let pass the opportunity to sketch this awesome oysters as I missed at the Moran Oyster Cottage in Galway, Ireland. The mix platter came with 6 different species, 3 from the coast of California and 3 from the Coast of Washington State.

Pencil and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

Once outside, at the light rail stop, I made a sketch of the Ferry Building tower. I noticed the clock has old Roman four numbers,  IIII instead of IV.

Pen, ink and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Watercolor Journal 8" x 8"

We ended up that day with a cup of coffee to eat some cookies we got at Miette in the Ferry Building. The Lavander shortbread cookies, the Chocolate Wafers and Rose macarons were outstanding.

At the coffee shop I sketched a homeless person through the window. It's sad to see many homeless people in the streets of San Francisco, a reality that has became known as one the notorious problems of the city.

Pencil and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

Next day we visited a small but beautiful place, the Japanese Tea Garden. There was another sketcher on the bench I chose to sketch this view from, she was very young, perhaps a student. I didn't talk to her, she was so focused I decided not to interrupt her to ask about her work. The huge Koi fish jumped several times in the lower pond and made ripples in the water which I depicted on the lower right of this sketch.

Pen, ink and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Watercolor Journal 8" x 8"

We had a snack at the Tea House, actually several snacks, since they are small. We got Sencha (green tea), Udon (noodles), Arare (savory rice snacks and fortune cookies) and Dorayaki (a small pancake filled with sweet bean paste, not shown).

I went to the drum bridge to sketch it. I started to add the shaded areas in blue purple and left it like this because I liked it, it gives a feel of an Asian drawing....somehow... I think.

Pen, ink and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

Back in downtown, the multiple time I saw this view, I couldn't believe the waiting lines to take the cable car, either Powell-Hyde Route or Powell-Mason Route.  What I did was to sketch it. Ha!

Pen, ink and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Watercolor Journal 8" x 8"

Other day, in our way to the Fisherman Wharf, we took another light rail. One of the windows was open and wanted to close it but I didn't know how, someone told me, because it was a vintage rail I had to use the lever.....above the window! I laughed and sketch it to remember it.

Pen and ink on WC Moleskine 3.5" x 5.5"

We got out of the light rail and we heard a man who was playing beautiful music. He kept saying the cord instrument he was playing was a Chapman stick. His name is Robert Culbertson, if you want to listen to what his music sounds like click here. The music was mesmerizing. 

Pen, ink and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

After we snapped out of it, we went to see the sea lions at the end of Pier 39. The smell to fish became intense as we got closer, but later our noses got used to it. I sketched comfortably watching the animals for more than half hour. I focused on the dominant males and their straight up postures contrary to the laying position of the rest of the sea lions.

Pencil and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

The public and us kept laughing at the behavior of these beautiful animals, one of them was playful and held funny twisted positions. It was by itself in a raft with a seagull as companion.

Pencil and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

We entered the Aquarium Bay to see the local sea life. The two underwater tunnels were the highlight of the place. This is not one of my best sketches.

Pencil and watercolor on WC Moleskine 3.5" x 5.5"

We took the cable car from Fisherman Wharf (which waiting lines are shorter) to Chinatown. We stopped at Chong Qing Xiao Mian for supper, authentic Chinese food which specializes in noodles, made on the spot. The visit is worth it.

The last day we went to mass to the Grace Cathedral. I didn't sketch it, I was running out of gas, but I have a beautiful photo of us for you, ha!

After mass we explored the cathedral, it's worthy to see the framed single sheets of different Bibles, the labyrinth and the replica door of the Baptistery of St. John in Florence. 
Minutes later I made my last effort and sketched this view of Powell street through the window of the cafe were we had lunch.

Pencil and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

And the last sketch is from Union Square which I finished it at home, I couldn't even color it, I was tired, and also I needed to catch the Bart train to the airport.

Pencil and watercolor on Winsor & Newton CP paper 6" x 8"

It was great week in San Francisco!

If you want to see sketches from my last visit start here.

San Francisco CA II Part 3 Places revisited.

I think it would be fun to share with you the sketches I did of the places I visited five years ago and compare them with the sketches I did this year. Do you notice any difference? 

2013 Golden Gate Bridge, view from San Francisco Bay Trail

2018 Golden Gate Bridge, view from Battery E Trail

2013 Palace of Fine Arts close up view

2018 Palace of Fine Arts Panoramic view

2013 Pier 39 Sea Lions aerial view

2018 Pier 39 Sea Lions Ground level view

2018 Pier 39 Sea Lions Ground level view

If you want to see all the sketches I did of my previous visit, here are the links.

2013 Seal carving in Chinatown
2013 Sea Lions at Pier 39
2013 Golden Gate Bridge
2013 Fisherman's Wharf
2013 Painted Ladies
2013 Palace of Fine Arts

San Francisco, CA II Part 2 Expressive Figures Workshop

Pencil and Watercolor on Winsor and Newton (old, really old) CP paper 8" x 6"

The first workshop I attended during my visit to San Francisco was How to Draw Expressive Figures with Oliver Hoeller at Mission Dolores Park. The first thing we learned was how to hold the pen/pencil. We should hold loose the pen in the middle and let only our pinky finger touch the paper for support. We compered the drawings of hands we made before and after learning this technique. 

Ink on Stillman & Birn Alpha Series 8" x 11"

Then we were asked to be aware of the contour of the shadows, the boundaries between dark and light. We also tried blind contour, that was hard, but should be a practice to exercise contour drawing keeping our eyes mostly in our subjects and not on paper.

Next we were told to contour the shadow also.

Next we sketched body parts from different people, this will lead to his Frankestein method, putting body parts together to complete a figure.

Next he talk about forming an opinion of the figure, what was the feature that was attractive to us and draw it first, perhaps exaggerated. What is the person doing, catch the figure in action. 

This is a how the brain that is pushed to think differently translate on paper, specially while people is moving.

Add context, or some indication to where the person is or what is the surrounding. Oliver came and looked at this couple sketch and asked me what caught my attention here. Then I realized I went back to my old easy way to sketch people, still people, not moving, really, not much going on here.

He challenged me to sketch people in motion.

The times Oliver checked on us, he told me that not only the line in the drawing could be expressive but color also and all of it is planned, before you put the brush on the paper. He suggested to use contrast color where we want the focal point to be.

Knowing how to holding the pen loosely really stuck with me. The sketches of the following days would prove it. The technique really helped me to do quick sketches, it kept the pressure off my shoulders, it switched my overwhelming fear to sketch people to an enjoyable process which I look forward to do from now on.

Color added later.

Thanks Oliver for such a great workshop and fun time!

San Francisco, CA II Part 1 Mission Dolores Park

Pencil and watercolor on Arches CP paper 16” x 8”

This is my second visit to San Francisco city. I signed up for two workshops in two consecutive weekends, the first one with Oliver Hoeller and the second one with Maru Godas. During the days beetween workshops , I’ll try to revisit places and go to places I haven’t, there’s so much to see. This time we are using the city’s public transportation MUNI. It takes you everywhere but it took me a while to figure it out. Meanwhile I share with you this view of the Mision Dolores Park where the first workshop was held. More of that in my next post. There was a statue of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the Father of Mexican Independance. I have to find out the history of this place and why this statue is here, if you know, please comment below! I cannot wait to keep exploring the city and take the other workshop this weekend. Click here to go to Part 2.

🎼Easy as Sunday morning🎼

Pen, ink and watercolor on Handbook Travelogue Journal 8” x 8”

Easy as Sunday morning, stay at home sketch. This is an rare opportunity to use this turquoise color in my pallet. A chair in the spare room with a colorful Mexican hand embroidered pillow.