An improvised sketchwalk in downtown Palo Alto

I went to downtown Palo Alto for lunch with a friend yesterday and saw this street scene. At the time I didn't have my sketch kit with me so I went back today fully equipped.

 It wasn't easy for me to draw a busy street scene but to be honest, I was quite happy about how the sketch turned out. I felt good while applying watercolour on the paper. The mix of colours didn't turn into muddy puddles in the process.

Just when I felt it was time to call it a day, I rode pass the Apple store. At the time I thought it would be a good idea to sketch the store as the modern glass building looks quite different from the other brick buildings. Alas, what a mistake! The sketch looks dull and the glass house doesn't appear to be as shining as it is in real life. Oh well, at least one of the sketches for the day was satisfying.

The tree and the sketch itch

I've sketch this tree before. It stands on the street corner located about 10 metres from my house. I drive and ride pass it everyday. I do wonder if the owner of the house planted all the flowers around the tree and fire hydrant deliberately. The composition is just lovely. Most of the time the sun is already high up or down when I pass the street. The other day I was out early in the morning for an appointment and wow, the morning sun made the spot so attractive that I promised myself that I had to go sketch it one day.

After sketching this tree, I felt the itch to sketch more. I got on my bike and rode around to see what caught my eyes. Well, in the end it was my stomach got caught. I wanted to have a slice of pizza for lunch so I stopped at a pizzeria which is on a plaza. With my sketching kit and a slice of pizza, my hunger and sketch itch both faded away in the California sun.

Another flea market, more people watching

Coliseum Meet and Swap isn't really like what its name suggests. There is no swapping for sure. Most of vendors there are selling new goods instead of old, secondhand stuff. Nonetheless it is a great place for people watching, perhaps more so than the other markets I've been to. Many men (and little boys!) wear a mustache, cowboy hat and pointy leather boots. There was even a rodeo bull, which I sketched while watching people falling off it :)