Security

I didn't expect to be asked to go through security screening at a comedy club. As the Manchester attack only occurred a couple days ago, I couldn't help wondering if the procedure was just implemented. I asked and was told that the screening was introduced at the beginning of this year. It is to make people feel safe while being in an indoor space with others, they said, but that wasn't how I felt after walking through the beeping frame.

My old travel pallet

James got me this Winsor and Newton Cotman Travel Pallet as a Christmas gift in 2014 but I only started using it outdoors regularly after I moved to Seattle and joined USK Seattle. The pallet has been great for outdoor sketching. It has endured many modifications during my sketch-kit DIY process.

2 pieces of magnetic tape were added on the case

Today I got my newly purchased Portable Painter Pallet, which will be my main outdoor pallet for now. I'm not ready to put my WN pallet away forever yet. I'm still thinking how I can set it up....

Rainbow Pool day use area

  

We randomly found this spot to stay for the night as all the campgrounds in Yosemite Valley were full. It turned out that this day use area is a popular fishing spot. On the first night James cast the line 4 times and caught 2 trouts. The next morning he didn't catch anything but I completed my sketch, ha.

We then drove to Cherry Lake to have a look. James found a small broken tree trunk for some shade. Knowing a red-head aussie can never stay in the sun for too long, I quickly sketched James with my Kuratake brush pen before he decided to move on.

Yosemite Valley

 Last time when I visited Yosemite National Park, I was with my sister and nephew. I loved having my nephew around and enjoyed visiting the park with him even though I didn't get to sketch much. James and I visited the park again this weekend and I got a chance to sketch Yosemite waterfall as well as other views.. I think I can sketch this breathtaking valley again and again.

 

A warm afternoon

Whenever I sketch on University Avenue in Palo Alto, CA, I feel a bit self-conscious. I'm not sure why. Maybe the fancy shops and people make sitting on the curb for sketching out of place. Anyway, I don't sketch in downtown Palo Alto often. But this afternoon I knew I had to stop to sketch when I saw the beautiful afternoon sun shinning on the square. 

I drew the umbrella first and I think it reflects how awkward I felt at the beginning of sketching. I felt better once I was absorbed in drawing and the music from the busker. Hmm, a nice warm Californian afternoon.

Han and bubbles

Legion of Honor, San Francisco

James and I went to see an exhibition of Monet's early years at Legion of Honor, San Francisco. After a great docent tour, we spent some more time at the exhibition and then moved to other galleries, where we enjoyed an organ jazz concert.

Platinum Carbon Ink Pen; Koh-i-noor ink

It was a gorgeous afternoon so we decided to take a stroll around the museum. There were many people with formal evening gowns/suits taking photos in and out of the museum. I found a spot to sketch the view. The image of my back was probably in many photos taken there. Well, no one asked me to move! :)

A weekend at Yosemite

My sister and nephew came to stay with us for a couple of weeks. San Francisco was definitely on the list but I also took them to Yosemite National Park as I think national parks are the main attraction of the USA. 

Snow is a very rare thing in Taiwan and we were lucky that there was still some snow left in Yosemite even though the weather was nice and warm. I was busy playing with Han and didn't think to pull out my sketch kit. I managed to do one sketch at lunch. (Han loves food and he can sit for at least 30 minutes at meal time!) To save time, I used waterbrushes but the result wasn't that satisfying.

The next morning I got up early, brought a cup of coffee with me and sat outside of the cabin where we stayed for the night. I thought about sketching our cabin but the neighbor's house attracted me more with the mountains as its background.

A lady on the shuttle bus told me that we came to Yosemite at the right time as the winter rain and storm had brought lots of water to the valley. Last year  Mirror lake was complete dry but now it's full. Perhaps James and I can plan another trip back for sketching...

With my gorgeous nephew, Han, at Mirror Lake