Sketching in Graton

Graton_sThe town of Graton, just north of Sebastopol California is home to several notable restaurants including Willow Wood Cafe and Mexico Lindo. This morning our group of nine met outside the Cafe, artists lining Graton Road well into the afternoon. After huddling around a bench to review each other’s work, we enjoyed a tasty late lunch at Mexico Lindo, followed by a quick stop to check out local artists’ work at Graton Art Gallery. What a great day!

Sketchy, Starry, Starry Night

Sketchy, Starry, Starry Night
Tuesday November 26 is Charles Schulz Birthday and I’m planning on going to the Peanuts Museum at 10am to see Starry, Starry Night exhibit. Then afterward, I’ll have lunch in the Warm Puppy Cafe located at the Snoopy Ice skating rink. While there, I plan too sketch the table that Charles Schulz himself used to sit at every morning. Then I plan to sketch the ice skaters. Open skate is between 12:30-4:30 that day so there’s plenty of time for sketching. Anyone who wants to join me for a day of everything snoopy and sketching, is welcome. Although we are likely to be sketching indoors, the ice rink is cold so dress warmly. There is a $10 charge to get into the Museum and sketching the skaters is free (unless, of course, you want to skate then admission is $9). Please come and go as you like throughout the day. Hope to see you there!

Ready, Set, Sketch: Graton!

Screen Shot 2013-11-09 at 10.43.22 PM

Come join us Saturday November 30th in Graton for the next “Ready, Set, Sketch!” group outing!

We’ll meet at 10am in front of Willow Wood Market Cafe (http://goo.gl/maps/ZoWxa), then disperse to sketch around the area. We’ll meet back at 1pm to share our sketches.

All you need is something to draw on and something to draw with (it’s also nice to have a chair to sit on!). The event is free.

Here’s a Google map link: http://goo.gl/maps/ZoWxa

Hope to see you there!

South A Street Santa Rosa

Thanks to all who came out today for Ready, Set, Sketch: South A Street! There were 12 of us who met out front the restaurant Spinster Sisters at 10 am, then dispersed around the area for sketching. At 1pm we reconvened at the same location to share our days work. I was amazed at the quality of work! I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again next time and watching our group grow.

SOFA skretch group

Here is my sketch for the day:South-A-Street-SR_sLooking for a little creative lift? Look no farther than South A Street in Santa Rosa. This quirky, burgeoning arts and culture district is home to a number of art galleries, artist studios, bakeries, and artisan restaurants. Check out Spinster Sisters for brunch and have a Croque Monsieur or Rancho Gordo Bean Tostadas. Then head over to Undercover Baking Agency for a sweet treat and americano coffee. Art galleries round out the afternoon with local artists satisfying most art lover’s appetite.

Ready, Set, Sketch: South A Street, Santa Rosa!

South A St.

Come join us Saturday November 9th on South A Street in Santa Rosa for the next “Ready, Set, Sketch!” group outing!

We’ll meet at 10am in the area of The Spinster Sisters Cafe at 401 South A Street, Santa Rosa! (http://goo.gl/maps/u8gtk), then disperse to sketch around the area. We’ll meet back at 1pm to share our sketches.

All you need is something to draw on and something to draw with. The event is free.

Here’s a Google map link: http://goo.gl/maps/u8gtk

Hope to see you there!

Howard’s Station Cafe, Occidental, CA

Howards Cafe_s2

Occidental is a small Northern California mountain town founded in 1876. The cafe I sketched there, Howard’s Station Cafe, is named after William “Dutch Bill” Howard, who supposedly was not really Dutch, nor was his name William Howard. According to the restaurant’s website, “He was in fact, a Danish sailor named Christopher Thornassen Folkmann, born in 1823. Folkmann was serving as an able bodied seaman on the U.S. Ship St. Mary, which dropped anchor in San Francisco Bay in 1849.”

Howard granted the North Pacific Coast Railroad right-of-way across his land to connect the nearby town of Cazadero to Sausalito on the San Francisco Bay. In return, he received a lifetime railway pass and the station was named after him.

The Howard Station Cafe serves delicious organic breakfasts and lunches. On weekends, there is always a wait to get a table so come early (before 9am)—or late (after 1pm).

Our Ready, Set, Sketch! group met at 10 am in front of Howard’s Cafe Saturday and sketched the area.  At 1pm we shared our sketches and then had lunch at the Cafe. A good time was had by all!

This sketch has been published in the Press Democrat online edition and in the Dec 21, 2013 edition of the Towns section of the PD.

Ready, Set, Sketch: Occidental!

Come join us Saturday October 19 in Occidental for the next “Ready, Set, Sketch!” group outing!

We’ll meet at 10am in front of Howard Station Cafe ​located at 3611 bohemian hwy, Occidental, CA

All you need is something to draw on and something to draw with. The event is free.

Here’s a Google map link: http://goo.gl/maps/0XY9O

Hope to see you there!

Pick’s Drive In

Pick's_sPick’s has been a local favorite in Cloverdale since it opened in 1923. Serving much of the same menu it did when it opened, bacon double cheese burgers, french fries, grill cheese sandwiches, and milkshakes, a few notable things have changed. Today all the burgers are made with hormone free Niman Ranch meats and veggie and black been burgers have been added to the menu for the health conscious. Although chain restaurants have recently created business competition, it’s great to see that a classic independent eatery with good food and a friendly staff can hold its own in this corporate 21st Century world.