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

Sakura-Con, Seattle

Hopped over to Seattle over the weekend to attend my first anime convention! So many people, so much talent, so much positive energy! No wonder conventions can get addictive! I managed to squeeze in a few sketches between listening to panel discussions and strolling around artists' alley.

1st panel of Day 2 (Saturday): Live Sculpting with Max Watanabe & Masaki Asai (Max Factory)
Mr. Asai was busy working on Z-brush on the left, while Max-san (middle) chats with the audience through his interpreter (right), apparently also a regular at the conference.
The sculpting skill on display was quite phenomenal.

Ikebana demonstration! Great to see that the convention included many cultural panels

Here & There in Toronto: AGO and ROM

Art Gallery of Ontario

Works by J.E.H Macdonald of the Canadian Rockies. The pinkish clouds in the smaller painting is especially captivating.

The part that I found most captivating in Rubens' Massacre of the the Innocents. Since it is on a large canvas, the painting is much more powerful than reproductions in print. Clever lighting also make the painting take on a 3D effect when viewed from the right angle.

Royal Ontario Museum

Bird specimens on display. I found the Secretary Bird on the right especially amusing~

Dinosaur bones on display. The museum has a very impressive collection of dinosaurs, but I didn't have enough time explore them all... and also fell asleep while sketching the birds because of food coma from lunch

Here & there in Toronto: the Cat

The cat who was greatly disturbed by my taking over his couches at night...but I just enjoy looking at the layers of fat and fur pile up as he curls up. After sharing the couch with me for 2 nights, he gave up his spot and lodged himself on top of my friend's red suitcase.

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!

Fabrics Section, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store, El Cerrito

Probably my most colourful sketch to date! After finishing the first row of fabric rolls, and with a already muddy water jar and 80% covered palette, I realized what I have gotten myself into... at least the last row didn't turn out looking muddier. Usually I finish my sketches with a used jar of distinctive hue, but this time it was a completely neutral grey! Probably meaning there is indeed a comprehensive selection of fabric colours~

(with Bay Area Urban Sketchers)