Category Archives: Albany

The Pub on Solano: A Cozy Spot to Sketch

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

The Pub on Solano near the border of Albany and Berkeley is a hidden-away, cozy place to sketch, play chess, or chat with friends or friendly strangers while sipping espresso, beer or wine and hang out as long as you … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Ink and watercolor wash, Interiors, People | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Sketchcrawl 38 and Urban Sketchers Show

Posted on January 24, 2013 by

We had a fantastic time hosting sketchers from around the Bay Area at our sketching event last Saturday. There were at least 30 sketchers and a total of around 100 people who joined us at the reception for the show … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Building, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Pen and Ink, Places, Sketchbook Pages, Urban Sketchers | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Airstream Trailer Coffee Kiosk at Flowerland Nursery

Posted on December 17, 2012 by

Lately food trucks pop up all over the Bay Area; former roach coaches are the new gourmet dining spots. But this is the first vintage Airstream trailer food truck I’ve seen and it doesn’t travel. It’s set up on blocks … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Drawing, Gardening, Ink and watercolor wash, Outdoors/Landscape, Pen and Ink, Places, Plants, Urban Sketchers | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Sketch Rendezvous at the Rendez-Vous Cafe

Posted on October 3, 2012 by

I wasn’t feeling well the night we sketched at the newish Rendez-Vous Cafe-Bistro and it looks like I sketched my feelings onto my friend’s face. She was cheery and having fun but my pen gave her an expression reflecting how … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Drawing, Pen and Ink, Sketchbook Pages, Urban Sketchers | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Hotsy Totsy Club’s Hot Stewsdays

Posted on September 6, 2012 by

We started our Tuesday evening sketching outside the Hotsy Totsy Club in Albany. I had trouble with my watercolor Moleskine paper kind of pilling up when I tried to put another layer of paint on the shadow side of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Building, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Painting, Pen and Ink, Sketchbook Pages, Urban Sketchers | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Evening Outside the Burger Depot

Posted on October 4, 2011 by

Trying to get in one last outdoor evening sketch session of the season, we sketched at the bottom of Solano Avenue in Albany. I stood under a street lamp and by the time I finished drawing it was dark out. … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Building, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Pen and Ink, People, Places, Shop windows, Sketchbook Pages | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The Pub/Sketchcrawl Continues: The Pub, Albany

Posted on May 2, 2011 by

The Pub in Albany was originally an old house and though long ago it was (minimally) converted to a pub, it is as comfy as hanging out in my living room (except a lot more interesting). People come to drink … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Interiors, Painting, Pen and Ink, Places, Sketchbook Pages | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Sketching at Target (?!)

Posted on February 25, 2011 by

Yes Target! Although we’ll be so happy when we can go outside for our Tuesday evening Urban sketching again, sketching at Target was a lot more fun than you might think. I had fun sketching the silly high heels and flip-flops … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Life in general, Painting, Pen and Ink, Places, Sketchbook Pages, Urban Sketchers | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Santa and Christmas Sleeping Rough in the Park

Posted on December 24, 2010 by

People are living in the park known as the Albany Bulb again. On a walk we saw more than a dozen homemade shelters, tree houses and tents hidden away in the brush, this one complete with Christmas tree. Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Life in general, Oil Painting, Painting, Places | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Urban Nature: Swimming Rats, Smiling Cats

Posted on December 1, 2010 by

    It was a rainy Sunday morning and at first glance out my window the world looked gray and bleak. Then a flock of seagulls swirled by in the clouds and I looked a little closer. A dove sat … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Animals, Cats, Drawing, Ink and watercolor wash, Landscape, Life in general, Painting, Pen and Ink, Places, Rat, Richmond, Sketchbook Pages | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Cool News (Urban Sketchers) and Albany Hill Sketch

Posted on August 28, 2010 by

Our Tuesday night sketch group is now an official Urban Sketchers group, known as Urban Sketchers SF Bay Area. If you’d like to visit our Urban Sketchers blog, you’ll get to  meet my fellow Bay Area sketchers and see the … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Building, Drawing, El Cerrito, Ink and watercolor wash, Landscape, Outdoors/Landscape, Painting, Pen and Ink, Places, Plein Air, Sketchbook Pages, Urban Sketchers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Church on the Corner

Posted on May 20, 2010 by

On Solano Avenue in Albany to do an errand I looked up and saw the bell tower of this church against the very blue sky and was sorry I’d accidentally left my sketchbook and paints at home. Fortunately I did … Continue reading →

Posted in Acrylic Painting, Albany, Art supplies, Landscape, Painting, Places | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments