Sketchcrawl August 20, 2011

We had a great time at the Sunnyvale Farmers' market--there were food vendors, flowers, fresh vegetables, breads and desserts. The market is lined up along both sides of downtown's shady Murphy Street with lots of shoppers and live music to lighten the mood. Despite being a long-time resident, I had never experienced the event and was pleasantly surprised--I'll be back!

Wang:  a musician at play.

Wang: vegetable stall 

    Uszynski: surveying the stalls

World-wide Sketchcrawl #32

Five of us converged at Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto. This lovely garden is maintained by a bevy of horticultural volunteers. It was a beautiful day with cool breezes from the bay to offset the sun's heat. The garden was ablaze with color--variations of green created a background for the myriad flowers. We shared our sketches at the picnic tables underneath the massive old oak that serves as a focal point of the garden. More sketches to come....

Rizzuto: Gazebo and Oak Tree

Wang: Sketch of gazebo

Rizzuto: Top half of 10 foot, blooming cactus 

Wang: Carriage House

Rizzuto: Delicate white blossoms

Sketchcrawl June 18, 2011

A visit to Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, CA is always a treat. This past Saturday was not an exception. It was sunny with a cooling breeze and shaded spots to sit and sketch. I found a bird house installation that circled a tree and a 'Wishing Tree' that featured wishes written by children on tags that fluttered on tree branches. This latter installation is titled, "Imagine Peace", and was conceived by Yoko Ono. 

Rizzuto: "Control Tower" by Cameron Hockenson

Rizzuto-Shadow drawing: "Imagine Peace"/Wishing Tree

Rizzuto: Fallen pedestal covered in moss, near barn.

Sketchcrawl May 21, 2011 RESULTS

It was a beautiful day at Rancho San Antonio for sketching. After circling to find a parking spot, two of us headed over to the Deer Hollow Farm to check out the newest additions to the barnyard. The farm was busy with tours, so we were a bit limited, but we did manage to find a few animals that stayed still long enough to be captured on paper. We found 4 baby goats, pigs, and sheep to draw. Wang caught some of the farm action in line drawings.  One must take to the trails to see the wildlife that inhabits this urban wilderness: deer, bobcat, fox, hawks, quail, blue heron, and the rarely seen mountain lion, etc. We both enjoyed the day sketching in this unique park.


There were at least 10-12 radio-controlled plane pilots flying their aircrafts over the meadow.  Rizzuto's sketch caught Fabian taking his plane to the skies--he kindly offered to bring over his Cessna 128 to be sketched. It is out of proportion to the figure in the sketch below, but details are clearer.

Rizzuto: Fabian and his Cessna 128 

Rizzuto: Kid-about 4 weeks-scratching an itch

Rizzuto: Sleeping sow

Rizzuto: Sheep 

Wang: Sheep

Wang: Kids at play

Wang: Sleeping pig

Wang: Girl in barn

Wang: Bicycle

Sketchcrawl April 16, 2011 RESULTS

Three Silicon Valley Sketchcrawlers convened at Mission Coffee and Cafe for a tasty luncheon followed by an afternoon of drawing at the San Jose Mission Church and its garden. The original church had been destroyed by fire and this is its re-incarnation. The weather was perfect, plus there were lots of visitors there for an afternoon wedding. 

John Ediger: San Jose Mission Church

John Ediger: Coffee roaster at the cafe

Wang: Junipero Serra 

Wang: Garden fountain

Rizzuto: Olive tree trunk

Sketchcrawl 3/12/11- Results

Three sketchers dispersed throughout Saratoga to capture some history of the area. Pierre garnered attention as he sat on a sidewalk bench sketching the 'Pioneer House'. It was a busy afternoon with St. Patrick Day festivities enlivening the atmosphere. Tiny leprechauns were scampering along picking up shiny pennies scattered from a 'pot of gold'. One day we will have to come back to sketch at the Hakone Japanese Garden down the road.

Wang: Saratoga WW I Memorial Arch

Wang: Patron at Blue Rock Shoot Cafe-
a popular restaurant

Rizzuto: Book-go-Round, a used book store
Managed by the Friends of Saratoga Library

Uszynski: Pioneer House and store with western false front 

Sketchcrawl 2/19/2011 Results

Two of us hunkered down to sketch at Coffee & More in Sunnyvale on a cold and rainy day. The cafe is located in the historic Del Monte building that was built over 100 years ago. It served first as a drying facility for the famous fruits of Santa Clara Valley. The products were shipped to San Francisco and other outlets on the nearby railroad. Later the building was used a place for growing seedlings. The city of Sunnyvale maintains a heritage orchard containing apricot trees that previously blanketed the area. The orchard is located next to the Community Center and Heritage Park Museum. http://www.heritageparkmuseum.org/  Seeing the orchard in full bloom, and then purchasing the fruit in early summer is a special treat.

Rizzuto: View from Coffee & More, Sunnyvale CA

Wang: Hardy's Bavarian Restaurant

Wang: Relaxing at Coffee & More

Sketchcrawls April 16, and May 21, 2011

April 16, 2011 1-3:30 PM
World-wide Sketchcrawl Date!


ALERT---LOCATION CHANGE
We will  be meeting 1-3:30 at 
Mission San Jose Church in Fremont
Location: Intersection of Washington Blvd. and Mission Blvd, at 43300 Mission Blvd.
Meet on front steps of church, or meet at 12 for lunch--see below.
http://www.missionsanjose.org/map.html


Across the street is the Olive Hyde Gallery. Their 43rd Annual Textile Exhibit will be on view. These exhibits always receive excellent reviews. Open 12-5 Sat.


Lunch: Mission Coffee & More--gourmet soups, sandwiches & salads. Receives 4-5 stars in reviews.
Located next to Olive Hyde Gallery on Washington Blvd.
I suggest meeting at 12 N for lunch, and then proceed to sketching in the area.
    
May 21, 2011 10-12:30 PM  
ALERT--Time change for warm weather

Rancho San Antonio

Cristo Rey Drive

Cupertino CA

Meet at first upper parking lot on your left.

Directions:    http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks (search for 'rancho san antonio')

Free Parking

Sketching suggestions:

• Plenty of scenic views
• Walk about a mile to the Farm--goats, pigs, chickens, sheep, rabbits.
• Wildlife: if we are lucky, deer, hawks, coyotes, blue herons. 
• Warm weather alert: watch for rattlesnakes

World-wide Sketchcrawl 1/22/2011 RESULTS

The largest group since our inception met at the Stanford University Campus. New sketchers from the San Jose, Berkeley and Santa Cruz joined us to capture the varied features of the campus. Thanks to John who photographed the group and its creative efforts. Rizzuto and Wang were there in spirit and their sketches are included. Several of the participating sketchers are also part of the Urbansketchers-Bay Area group. You can view their drawings at  http://urbansketchers-bayarea.blogspot.com/  See entries dated January, 24 and 26, 2011. It is wonderful that we are seeing crossover between the 2 groups--enriching for all of us! 

Sketchers enjoying a bite to eat before sketching for the afternoon. 

It was a beautiful sunny day at Stanford, and a very productive day for everyone. A good time was had by all!

 Suhita: Memorial Church, Stanford University, Palo alto CA

 Suhita: Hoover Tower and students using 

their favorite mode of transportation around the large campus.

 Suhita:  Palm trees and architecture at Stanford University.

 John Ediger's rendition of one of the statues at entrance to Cantor Visual Arts Center.

 John's sister who came from Marin county to join the fun.

John E.'s sketch one of the many sculptures in the Rodin Sculpture Garden.

Wang: Monterey Canning Co.

P. Uszynski: Bronze in the Sun

Rizzuto: Rodin Sculpture Garden

Sketchcrawls February 19 and March 12, 2011

February 19, 2011 1-3:30 PM 

Sunnyvale CA Downtown

Meet at Coffee & More in back room

100 So. Murphy St. Sunnyvale CA 94086

Located in the historic Del Monte Building

SKETCHING IDEAS

Arrive early and catch some Farmers' Market action 

Historic Murphy Street: Local shops, cafes. 

For Chocolate lovers: Chocolatier Desiree, 165 So. Murphy

Plaza del Sol across from Caltrain Station

Parking available behind shops and at Macy's in the shopping center--this is your best bet because the Farmer's Market will be winding up. 

March 12, 2011 1-3:30 PM

Historic Saratoga California

Meet at Blue Rock Shoot in back room

14523 Big Basin Way (Highway 9)

Saratoga CA 95070

SKETCHING IDEAS

Check out the views from downstairs deck of Blue Rock Shoot

Stores, cafes, restaurants

Try a Walking Tour of Historical Places: download the map at 

http://www.saratogahistory.com/

Saratoga Historical Foundation 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Rd. 

The museum also has lots of 'old stuff'. It is located in a Western Falsefront building.

Book-Go-Round www.sflonline.org

14410 Oak Street at corner of Saratoga-Los Gatos Rd.

Designed by notable California architect, Eldridge Spencer. The old library is operated by the Friends of the Library  who sell gently used books. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Madronia Cemetary (end of 6th street at Oak St.) founded 1854

Best parking between Third and Fourth Streets behind stores.

NB: We will save Villa Montalvo in Saratoga for April's warmer weather.

World-wide Sketchcrawl on January 22, 2011

World-wide Sketchcrawl Day 1-3:30 PM

Stanford University Campus 

Stanford CA

Free Parking on Saturday in front of Cantor Center for Visual Arts

located at Lomita Dr. at Museum Way

Convene at: 

Cantor Center for Visual Arts in the front lobby (if raining), or front steps. Only PENCIL sketching allowed within the Cantor Center. Cafe and restrooms located within the Center.

What you will find:

• Hoover Tower Observation Platform: 285 foot high with panoramic views
• Cantor Center for Visual Arts Museum and Andy Goldworthy land sculpture across from the museum
• Rodin Sculpture Garden to the side of the Cantor Center Museum (world-renowned collection)
• Thomas Welton Stanford Art Gallery (off Palm Drive at 419 Lasuen Mall)
• Memorial Church
• New and old architecture
• Gardens 
• Sculptures scattered throughout campus (get map at the Cantor Center)
• Frank Lloyd Wright House (have to drive to this site and walk a bit, but worth it if you are a fan of his architectural works)
• Stanford Family Mausoleum

Note: For those unfamiliar with the campus it is very large. Plan to sketch within walking distance, or study the maps if you want to drive and explore more.

Visitor info: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/visitorinfo/

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/visitorinfo/plan/maps.html

Downloadable map: http://transportation.stanford.edu/pdf/visitor-map.pdf 

Save the dates:
Sketchcrawl on February, 19, 2011 1-3:30 PM. Sunnyvale's downtown area
Sketchcrawl on March 12, 2011 1-3:30 PM Saratoga's historic downtown area
Watch for details.