Ready, Set, Sketch: Lake Sonoma!

Join us for a fun filled day of sketching! This month, Saturday August 11, we will meet at Lake Sonoma. This overlook provides a special view of the lake, boats, and the dry Creek Valley. There are hiking trails in the area too so you don’t have to stay in one location.

Exit Hwy 101 at Dry Creek Rd. and head west. Just before you get to the Rockpile Rd bridge, turn left onto Skaggs Springs Rd. Then take the first right up to the Lake Sonoma Overlook. I recommend you bring a lunch. There are restrooms available on site.

Please join us! No experience is necessary. All you need is something to draw on and something to draw with. The event is free.

TIME: 10am-1pm

DATE: Saturday August 11

WHERE: Lake Sonoma Overlook, Healdsburg

Hope to see you there!

Ready, Set, Sketch: Oak Hill Farm!

We have a special sketch location this month for Ready, Set, Sketch at Oak Hill Farm this Saturday July 14, 10am – 1pm! Oak Hill Farm of Sonoma is a 700-acre ranch on the eastern side of the Valley of the Moon, in Glen Ellen. This is a great sketching opportunity!

From their website:
The Red Barn Store set in a rustic 100-year old barn among the rolling produce and flower fields at Oak Hill Farm offers the local community and travelers alike an opportunity to purchase our sustainably grown produce, flowers, floral greens and other country effects right on our Sonoma County farm. Seasonal heirloom vegetables, fruit, herbs, lettuces, flowers, and ornamental greens are picked daily and offered along with our handcrafted wreaths and bouquets. Once a small farm stand, now a local landmark, the Red Barn Store has both supported and nourished the Sonoma community for over 30 years.

Please join us! No experience is necessary. All you need is something to draw on and something to draw with (it’s also nice to have a folding chair, some bottled water, and a hat).

TIME: 10am – 1pm
DATE: Saturday July 14
WHERE: Oak Hill Farm of Sonoma
15101 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen, CA
(You’ll know when you’ve reached the turnoff on HWY 12 when you see the tree roots sketched above.)

Ready, Set, Sketch: Sebastopol!

The weather’s looking fine so there’s no excuse not to join us for a fun filled day of sketching! This month, Saturday June 9, we will meet at Taylor Maid Farms coffee house in the Barlow, Sebastopol.

Please join us! No experience is necessary. All you need is something to draw on and something to draw with. The event is free.

TIME: 10am

DATE: Saturday June 9

WHERE: Taylor Maid Farms coffee house in the Barlow, Sebastopol.

Hope to see you there!

Ready, Set, Sketch: Shell Beach!

Let’s escape the heat (it’s coming!) so get Ready, Set, Sketch: Shell Beach!

Beautiful ocean vistas awaits us on May 12, 10am till 1pm.
Please bring a hat, jacket, chair, water, and drawing supplies and you’ll be set.
More information about the beach can be found here: http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/The-Sea-Ranch-Coastal-Access-Trails/Shell-Beach/
Hope to see you there!

Ready, Set, Sketch: Tera Firma Farms!

We have a special sketch location this month for Ready, Set, Sketch! at Tera Firma Farms this Saturday April 14, 10am – 1pm! It’s a 250 acre farm with cows, pigs, chickens, and turkeys. They’ll have free tours and lunch available for those who are interested at $10 a plate anytime after noon. This should be a great sketching opportunity!
 
From their website:
Join us the second Saturday of the month for a BBQ, free farm tour and see where your food comes from! At 1PM we will have BBQ Lunch available, featuring Tara Firma Grass Fed Beef Burgers and different Sausages, with Mindful Meat Hotdogs for the kids.
 
Bring your family, friends, and dogs (on leash) to meet other farm members and enjoy the view!
 
Please join us! No experience is necessary. All you need is something to draw on and something to draw with (it’s also nice to have a folding chair to sit on!)
 
TIME: 10am – 1pm
DATE: Saturday April 14
WHERE: Tera Firma Farms!
3796 I Street Ext.
Petaluma, CA 94952

Ready, Set, Sketch: Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa!

Ready, Set, Sketch: Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa!
Saturday, March 10, 10-1pm
 
The reunification of the Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa is finally finished so it’s time we pay tribute by sketching it!
 
We’ll meet at 10am on the north side of the square then disperse around the area to sketch. We’ll meet back at the same place 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!).
Hope to see you there!

Ready, Set, Sketch: An Olive Odyssey at Jacuzzi Vineyards!

Saturday, February 10, 10-1pm

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, 24724 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, CA 95476

This month we have another special location selected (thanks Linda!) at Jacuzzi Vineyards located in Sonoma.

There is no cost to attend the event. . . the grounds open at 10 – (the olive event begins at 11). We’ll sketch from 10am till 1pm, then share our sketches.

Seeking more information about the olive event? Click here: https://www.anoliveodyssey.com/

We’re allowed to bring chairs and stools, but no easels or oil paints.

From their website:
“Don Landis of Don’s Olives presents an all things Olive experience at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma, CA. All your senses will be stimulated! Savor unique Olives, taste delicious Olive oil and have Olive inspired food for snack. Feast your eyes on Olive art served up by ceramists, photographers and painters. Have your thirst for Olive knowledge quenched by Olive tree experts, notables from U.C.Davis and local folks. Enjoy fabulous Jacuzzi Family Vineyards wine…attendees can enjoy a special 15% discount on wine (wine tasting fees apply) and Olive oil in The Olive Press and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards gift shops all weekend. Tour The Olive Press Olive oil mill, browse the gift shops and relax in the beautiful courtyard with Italian music in the air…its entertaining, delicious and fun.”

Hope to see you there!
Richard

Ready, Set, Sketch: Green Music Center!

We have a special two part sketchwalk this Saturday, January 13, at the Green Music Center! 
 
We’ll meet at the entrance of Weil Hall at 10am at Sonoma State University and sketch around campus until 1pm when we’ll meet up again to share our morning’s work. Then at 2pm, for those who are interested, we’ll be sketching the symphony rehearsal inside Weill Hall. If you haven’t yet seen a symphony rehearsal here, it’s a real treat.
 
Parking is located across the street from Weill Hall at the Green Music Center and may be accessed by the main entrance on Rohnert Park Expressway. I have never encountered a parking fee on the day of the symphony rehearsals.

If you plan on attending the rehearsal,  tickets are $17 (plus any convenience fees) and can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Ticket prices may be slightly higher on the day of the event. I suggest bringing a sack lunch to be eaten before entering the theater since no food will be allowed inside (though snacks and drinks can be purchased and eaten in the lobby).
 
The program is as follows:
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Performer: Orli Shaham, piano
Program:
HAYDN : Symphony No. 100
MOZART : Piano Concerto No. 21
BARTÓK : Concerto for Orchestra
 
NOTE: While sketching inside the music hall, I recommend using only pens and/or colored pencils. A small watercolor set using a waterbrush might be acceptable but please note that food and liquids are not allowed inside the concert hall. We want to be respectful and keep the Hall clean while sketching. Also, we don’t formally have permission to sketch in the auditorium but a number of us have sketched there several times without any trouble.
 
DIRECTIONS: The Green Music Center is located on the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway & Petaluma Hill Road in Rohnert Park. It is located on the campus of Sonoma State University.

From The South
1. Head North on Hwy 101
2. Take the Rohnert Park Expressway exit
3. Turn right onto Rohnert Park Expressway
4. Turn right into the Green Music Center’s main entrance

From The North
1. Head South on Hwy 101
2. Take the Rohnert Park Expressway exit
3. Turn left onto Rohnert Park Expressway
4. Turn right into the Green Music Center’s main entrance

Ready, Set, Sketch: Petaluma!

The weather is looking perfect so come join us SATURDAY December 9 at 10am-1pm in Petaluma for the next Ready, Set, Sketch meet-up!

We’ll meet at 10am at Pete’s Coffee (5 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma) and then disperse around town to sketch. We’ll meet back at the same place 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!).

Hope to see you there!

Ready, Set, Sketch Postponement

Hello sketchers!

I know it’s been a difficult week for all of us in dealing with the fires. Some more than others, I’m sure but I hope you are someplace safe and your family and friends are all accounted for.

After careful consideration, I’ve decided to postpone this month’s sketching meet-up. It seems this afternoon that more evacuation notices have been handed out to Geyserville and now parts of Healdsburg too. I certainly hope all these fires get put out soon.

Please heed any warnings to evacuate if you are advised to do so!

Richard