Bringing a much-traveled book home

This weekend I had a very important mission, to return a book (Runaway horses by Mishima Yukio) that has stayed and traveled with me for the past 8 months back to the East Asian Library. My progress through the book was so slow so I insisted on taking it with me on every trip because of the guilt. In the end, I estimate that it has clocked up 6 round trips to Asia with me. 4 of them to China, 1 to Taiwan, and 1 to its homeland in Japan. The book probably has never returned to Japan since it was published in the Showa period...so it is always interesting to think how the book might end up after this.

I picked my previous spot along the slopes of Hearst Avenue. Even though I walk pass this location every day on my way from between my apartment and the lecture halls, the way the streets split up and curve up never fails to captivate me. The shadows casted by the greens and colours of the retro apartment buildings are also fun to watch.

After my emotional farewell with the book, I noticed the long shadows behind the East Asian Library itself (the dark shape to the left) and the building behind it. The Sunday is quiet at Berkeley because it was the last day of Spring Break and students usually don't come back until late evening. As I had the walkway and warm sun to myself, it was truly an enjoyable moment...except that I am starving (it was close to 1pm and I didn't really have breakfast) So I was glad when the sun helped out and dried the paints for me with extra swiftness! Then there was the long walk downhill to where I parked my car (I was still recovering from my trauma the day before venturing into the hills of San Francisco downtown)

Trees of the Bay

Trees at UC Berkeley (North gate) When I was there... to return an overdue book ;A;

It took me 3 hrs on Bart / bus to get back to Cupertino

Trees in West Sunnyvale at sunset, right across from my office. Friday is always the best time to do some drawings while waiting for the shuttle~ I thought I lost my drawing kit after this, but it turns out I dumped my palette in an open suitcase after I got home, and then proceeded to put more clothes on top. After I found my drawing kit, I found out that my pen was missing. I was almost ready to give up and order a new one, when it just fell out of the blue when I unfolded a pair of pants while getting ready for work on Monday. Such drama :P

Sunset at Berkeley - Last day as a student!

Campus - downtown Berkeley entry point, also where the semi-official "University of California" sign is located.

Wanted to draw the spiral coloured tree trunks on campus for a long time! The wooded area has the best view during sunset too! since it faces the West. Still need to figure out what kind of tree they are though lol.

No longer a university student from today onwards. It's been a good 5-year!!

Sunset at Doe Library, UC Berkeley

Finally found the motivation to hike up to campus just around sunset to draw the central library (the sun never shines there during the day...orz) Plenty groups of students taking graduation photos in front of the library and on the glade, guess this is my way of commemorating my graduation. 

One week left! 

Now that Summer is Almost Here...

Right next to bustling downtown Berkeley, the walkway to central campus is quiet and shady with overhanging branches and shadows. A very enjoyable walk, that is, after you get used to the occasional smell of marijuana in the background and stop distressing over the ever-so-weak flow of Strawberry Creek under the bridge...

Le Conte / Birge Hall (Physics building) Loved the glass walkway here since 1st year college!

Snapshots from Robotics Competitions

The student organization I originally belonged to held its annual robotics competition over the weekend. Since I had no duties anymore, I just stood and sketched staff / students busy at work! 

MC, photographers, and onlookers. I love sketching photographers in events, because they never show up in their own photos!

Judges (easily spotted from their distinctive uniform) + students + audience (mostly parents eagerly watching their kids compete)

Field Control table

I was squeezed against one aisle because there were so much traffic in and out of the auditorium (where the competition was held) There were constantly teams getting in and out, audience members moving down the rows when it was their team's turn on the stage. Plus my fellow club members running up and down the aisle with errands. It was my first and last time watching the competition properly, since my duties mostly lead until the beginning of the event. Glad I get to document it one last time.

CalDay 2015!

Since this is going to be my last CalDay (university-wide open house for prospective students, communities, visitors alike) as a student, I went around campus sketching people!

First off, North Gate. There was a small info tent. And the enthusiastic girl was busy answering questions while munching on her lunch sandwich in between. That's some work ethics right there!

Next I went up to my own department's building. No matter what the events are, we always have the competition vehicles (SAE, solar vehicle) up front to attract the visitors. The labs downstairs were also filled with people, reminding me how I spent my entire afternoon in the basement too last year.

Lastly, the iconic Sather Gate. The flow of people just never stopped during the day! Had a quick chat with a pair of passer-bys when I was almost done with this painting. And one of them left me with, "Never stop drawing like that!" Much gratefulness for the kind encouragement!

More! Spring at Berkeley

Quaint little house a few blocks uphill from my apartment. Glad to find flowers in full bloom when the campus is already shifting into (all-green) summer gear. According to Yelp, this house belongs to a reputable local dentist.

I always liked the way the 5 palm trees cut the sky into sections. Makes the wait to cross the street a little more interesting, since I do need to make this trip at least 4 times a day. I have poured my lunch money relentlessly into the red-tiled cafe on the left for the past 4 years :D

Spring at UC Berkeley (contd.): Haviland Rd in the Engineering Quarter

I pass by here almost every weekday to go to class! (but usually paid too much attention to the traffic lights to the left than to notice the spring blossoms...)

Spring at UC Berkeley

Young cherry trees that line the entrance to the university. Can really feel the youth of the trees by how the flowers blossom upwards and refuse to scatter the petals in the Spring breeze!

A few weeks ago this tree was still all flowers on bare branches, but by Spring Break this week, I can barely notice the flowers if I'm not paying attention to them. Kudos to the few flowers that persisted until the official start of Spring on campus!

Point Emery on a Windy Afternoon

Was biking along the bay trail scouting for location to sketch. It was so windy that when I flipped open my sketchbook, before I knew I was chasing all over the place after the postcard I inserted between the pages. The drivers stopping at the stop sign right beside me probably had a good chuckle ;A; The blue-ish shape in the background is a relatively carelessly drawn GG bridge.

Sunset in Berkeley (Wellman Hall)

Sunset at Wellman Hall, over the gentle hills of the north side campus. Same of before, pencil lines only

Early Cherry Blossom in Berkeley

Got distracted by the row of cherry blossoms while biking down to the marina. Some other popped up further down the hill. Sure is a nice change of scenery after the miserable rainy weekend last week! (Experimenting with pencil instead of pen drawings)

Boathouse, Aquatic Park, Berkeley

Finally got around to sketch the colourful boathouse! I swore I'd come back with colours when I first started out with sketching in ink (black and white). First time attempting reflections in water too! And as I was looking at the water, I realized that I forgot to bring my water jar...(as always happens when I try to pack for more than one thing) So I had to make do with my spray bottle...because I wouldn't forgive myself if I bike home with a black and white boat house lol!

Marin Circle Fountain, Berkeley

Lived my fifth year at Berkeley yet haven't seen this landmark up close before. (Since it is in a purely residential area) The vague shapes on the fountain are bears standing side by side (with holiday red ribbons around their neck) To bad the sun shone through for only about 3 one-minute sessions...which means my fingers and knees were freezing after this 1+ hr session ;A;
Thankfully a handful of kind passer-bys offered their compliment :D

Sunset before Thanksgiving!

I used to get restless during sunset everyday because I could see the setting sun getting reflected by the building across the street from my apartment window. Now I need to get out of my apartment building to get any decent sunshine...
Some rare splashes of autumn colours in Berkeley!

Pyramid Alehouse, Berkeley

Went for another Thursday night sketching with the Bay Area Urban Sketchers. I was the only one who braved the chilly night outside (need to keep watch over my bike), which wasn't bad at all since I had my bike helmet on. But there was some people idling around on the other side of the street...with hard metal music thundering through...that was interesting. But for the palm trees outside, it's all worth it!

There was no one on the 2nd floor, so I took a sneak peak into the kitchen from above :P

Lunch break scribble!

Did this quick scribble while munching on my lunch sandwich. Since the cafe is right across from the crosswalk, I basically take a bite while the light is green (while people is walking) and as soon as the light turns red, I identify a target to sketch while he/she is waiting for the light~ Timing is perfect!

SF bay sunset (outlook from downtown Berkeley)

Genetics and Plant Biology Building + Stairs to Oxford Street, UC Berkeley