We are often characterized as the city lover (Bob, my husband) and the nature/country lover (me). So when we go on vacation together we try to cover both interests. This year was our 25th wedding anniversary and we celebrated with a week split between the Monterey Bay area and San Francisco.
I had treated myself to a new set of gouache paints which I put in the travel palette with my usual watercolors and brought my Handbook brand watercolor sketchbook, which I love for it’s cloth-bound cover and built in elastic to keep it closed. It’s full now and I love that it has that “real” book look (even if it’s pretty grimy now)! However I found it awkward to have two pages to deal with and the wind would “rattle” one side while I tried to paint on the other. I think I’ll switch back to the spiral bound style sketchbook now.
It’s funny how memory works. I tend to fix an experience in my memory when I sketch it and forget it quickly if I just take a picture. While we were driving up Hwy 1 we got caught in a traffic back up at dinner time while approaching Moss Landing. When I saw the twin towers of the power plant which is the outstanding landmark there, I remembered a sketch I’d done 6 years ago on vacation with my family. On the page were the two towers and the name of a fish restaurant we enjoyed. (I’m the only one in the family who remembers this!) So I turned down the road to the fishing marina, and there it was!! as remembered in my sketch.
Here’s a sampling of a few of my pages from the week.
We stayed at a rented cabin in the redwoods up the bumpy road from The Mystery Spot (which we never visited)
Bob is not a sketcher, but he is willing to put up with my sketching in restaurants while we wait for food.
I spent a glorious morning on the pier with this handsome gull who kept moving closer to me as others walked by, and such a good model he was.
Can you get more chill than these dudes?!! There were over 100 sea lions lounging under the pier, and I got more and more relaxed just watching them.
Next leg of the trip. . . stay tuned for San Francisco
A most happy 25 th…..you only have 25 more to go to experiencing the joys of 50 years like us! Love the sketching…wish I could be as prolific as you…congratulations,
Judy
Sent from my iPad
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You are prolific as well, in art as well as years of marriage!
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May you have many more joyous years together. Always love your sketches, Susan.
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And I always appreciate your visits and comments Maureen!
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I love how you captured the Gull’s personality! Any plans for a sketch class in the Fall?
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Thanks Cathy! No time to teach a sketch workshop this fall, but email me and I’ll refer you to some wonderful local teachers you may or may not know about.
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