Monthly Sketch Project - June 2010 #2

5 in x 7 in Strathmore 140 lbs CP watercolor paper, Daniel Smith watercolors

Created for Monthly Sketch Project from one of my photos.

This is a good luck dragon from the town of Locke, California which is looked on the Sacramento Delta. Locke is a Chinese town founded in the early 20th Century. We were there last year. The photo was composed in camera despite being digital. I learned photography back in the day before Photoshop.

Google Peg Man only views the front of the building, but the statue can be seen behind the pergola.

Virtual Paintout - San Francisco Bay Area - San Rafael

7 in x 9 in Bristol Board, Daniel Smith Watercolors

Another submission for Virtual Paintout this month.

This building is known as the San Rafael Improvement Club. Located at 5th Street and H Street in San Rafael, it is now under private ownership. It is one of two remaining buildings from the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco (FYI-the Wikipedia entry is incorrect about only one building left).

The building was located in at the Exhibition at the Palace of Liberal Arts which seems to be where all the current technological pavilions were located. This building was the Victor Talking Machine Company exhibit and moved to San Rafael after the Exhibition was over. The building is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Virtual Paintout - San Francisco Bay Area #2

9 in x 12 in Arches 140 lbs watercolor paper, Winsor & Newton and Grumbacher watercolors

Here we are on the other side of Larkspur for my second Virtual Paintout of this month. It is the Alexander Ave Train Overpass looking towards Mt Tam. A very easy bike ride from where I live and one of my very favorite places. Today instead of Northwestern Pacific trains and track it overlooks a walk-bike path and is part of the Baltimore Park station area.

As the bridge is over 80 years it needs retrofitting. Unfortunately some of the designs proposed completely destroy the look of the bridge. Yes, if you walk underneath it you can see it needs help. But it is a beautiful and unique bridge and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Catching Up on Sketches

I am catching up on sketches I wanted to do. Last year I took several pictures I wanted to sketch and finally have done a few.

Jackson, California - Kennedy Mine
4.5 in x 6 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, Winsor & Newton and Grumbacher watercolor

Locke, California
9 in x 12 in Strathmore Recycle Sketchbook paper, Pentel Color Brush

Cathedral, Lake Merritt, Oakland, California
9 in x 12 in Strathmore Recycle Sketchbook paper, Pentel Color Brush

Donkey, Children's Fairyland, Oakland, California
9 in x 12 in Strathmore Sketchbook paper, Pentel Color Brush

Virtual Paintout - My 'Hood

9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lb Cold Press watercolor paper, Winsor & Newton Gouache
I had this "feeling" last week the next Virtual Paintout would be the Bay Area. I was right.

I loved Corsica the subject of January's Virtual Paintout. I explored nearly every inch of the island that I got to recognize the locations of the paintings people created. But the place where you were born and raised and lived your whole life - hmm a real challenge since I know it so well (I forget how stunning the Golden Gate Bridge is especially since I commuted over it twice a day every weekday for years).

As for subjects - Google Maps does have the street views of both DH's and my cars parked at work. Not the most scenic views of Oakland and San Rafael.

I decided to keep within a mile or so of where I live. Unfortunately the Google Map of our street and apartment is not so exciting. I went for the statue of Sir Francis Drake located on Sir Francis Drake Blvd at Larkspur Landing just down the street a bit. Mt Tam is located in the background. Very,very local. I have written about Larkspur Landing previously. The statue is by Dennis Patton who created another sculpture a couple of blocks from our home which is also on Google Maps (I may paint her).

Sir Francis Drake is said to have landing briefly here and left a bronze plaque.

Welcome to my Bay Area ,Virtual Paintout folks! Have fun and visit often. Let me know if you need directions.

Gold County Part 2

We returned to the Gold Country for a couple more days this past week.

Craig wanted to see an undergroung natural cavern. We went to Black Chasm Cavern in Volcano. We got there at 9 am. No one else was there so we had a private tour with a very young, very nice, tour guide who had only worked there for nine days.

Picture taking

rare helictite



We then drove to Columbia. This has been a state park for decades and both of us remembered it as more touristy when we were there as teenagers (long before we knew each other).

Engine Company No 1 firehouse


Carriages

We stayed in Jackson again but mostly ate in Sutter Creek. We had the most amazing dinner at J&D Steakhouse. Craig had the prime rib that was gigantic. He rated it as one of the best he has had. I had Black and Bleu Steak Salad - Blackened steak and bleu cheese crumbles in a lettuce bed. Including tip - $46.00.

Sutter Creek main street


Sutter Creek - the creek


Of course I had to visit yarn stores. I purchased some recycled silk yarn from Lofty Lou's in Placerville. I picked up some Queensland Sugar Rush and Cascade Eco Alpaca at A Hole Affair in Jackson.

The major downside to the whole trip was that it was hot (high 90s). Had we gone the week before or this weekend it would have been at least 10 degrees color. But we had a swimming pool at the Jackson Lodge where we always stay. It wasn't heated so it reduced your core temperature substantially.

Where Did June Go?

Somehow June went by and I missed it.

On the belly dance front, Rising Stars performed at Aneena's student night one of my favorite shows and for the first time at the Marin Art Festival. We sort of have an official photographer. We saw his pictures of us on flickr from Rakkasah West this year and who came to the Festival just to take our pictures.

Craig's Aunt Bea was in town from Boston. Being Puerto Rican, Craig's parents took Bea and the two of us to Sol Food. I worked a block away from Sol Food and we were always ordering takeout. Even if you only get the limeade it is worth the expense.

Last week we took our first vacation in six years! We went to Sacramento to the Aerospace Museum of California, the California Railroad Museum and California Auto Museum (planes, trains and automobiles).

And of course, Suzie Burger located in a converted gas station. At least they spelled the name correctly.

We traveled Highway 49 through the Mother Lode from Auburn to Coulterville. In my continuing support of the LYS, I stopped at Auburn Needleworks in Auburn and By Hand Yarn in Sonora. I did pick up a small skein of alpaca and wool grown, dyed and spun by a local artist, Mountain Lady.

We stayed overnight in Jackson,

did a side trip to Volcano

And also found the Lincoln Highway marked in Vacaville and Auburn.

Sun and Fun

Yesterday was a busy day for us. We did an eleven mile bike ride at Rush Creek, went swimming and had dinner at the in-laws.

Views from the bike trail.

We decided to take a rest today. Other than being a little tired and sore, it is foggy and cold today.

I went to the Belly Dancer of the Year this afternoon (plus a bit of shopping at the East Bay art supply stores). This year is a new location in at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center in San Ramon. This is not an area of the East Bay I have been to previously. All new buildings, homes, golf courses, schools and roads. I had to leave early, so I don't know who the winners were. Hopefully, it will be posted soon.

Tribal Fest 9 and Treasure Island

The past weekend was Tribal Fest 9. I have been going every year (and performed once) for several years. This year the weather was the star. In the mid 90s. As the vendors are primarily outside - in the sun - it only took a few minutes before I was sweating. I actually found a good seat inside and stayed put for about three hours.

Fellow Rising Star troupe member, Teresa and her wonderful solo.

I want these costumes:

Unfortunately, not a true color, they were gorgeous shades of teal.

On Sunday, we went to a "conversation" with Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter as part of a series honoring the 70th anniversary of the Golden Gate International Exposition. I have now found the idea place to beat the heat right here on Treasure Island.

Golden Gate Bridge from Treasure Island.

Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter was one of the "Pirate Girls" for the Exposition. She was the most photographed person in the world in 1938-39 and was recently voted an "aviation legend" by the Aviation Hall of Fame. She was absolutely fascinating and talked for over an hour. I am sure she could have gone on longer. She has had the most interesting and intriguing life.

Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter

A display from the museum to represent what Zoe Dell's dressing room would have looked like.

Pan Am Terminal at Treasure Island, San Francisco

Yet More Fetchings and a Trip to Sonoma

I gave two of the "Fetching" gloves away last night at rehearsal. Receipants are alway surprised that you knit things yourself. I really should make a pair for myself since I gave away all three pairs.

Since I hadn't knitting up a pair of socks in two weeks, I took these on. It is On Your Toes yarn. A bit splitty, but the colorway is interesting. I have another skein of this in Black Brown combination.

Mom and I went to Sonoma last week. Drove by the HGTV Dream Home but couldn't see much as there was a tour group all over the yard and pouch. Very nice home from the outside.

We visit Sonoma frequently - I love the historical aspect of the town and it is a pleasant short drive.

Adobe Structure that was once a hotel:


Mission San Francisco Solano (Sonoma) and the evil prickly pear cactus:

Statue representing the Bear Flag Republic:

Base of the same statue: