What inevitably happens when I draw skies...Concorde!

At first I was just practising drawing skies (and clouds) on the new watercolour paper...but every white space under the sky is tempting me to add something there...and what inevitably happens is...Concorde! Of course :P

Biking and Sketching @ Sunnyvale and Mountain View

One good thing about biking with sketching gear is that I could stop at any location when I find something interesting. Which is the case here when I just stopped dead in the bike lane on Miramonte Avenue when I came across this interesting building. Since there was no non-trespassing signs on the gate, I just walked straight in. The courtyard was quaint and quiet and nicely shaded, a direct contrast with the rushing traffic outside. I further googling, I found that this complex has been serving as a senior care community for over 50 years, funded by a Christian society. A staff came and said hi when I was sketching (didn't surprise her at all, I'm probably not the first one to sketch here) According to her, the buildings themselves are actually over 88 years old. Impressive for Mountain View!

Just time to catch the sun setting behind Washington Park when biking back through Sunnyvale!

Coit Tower & Filbert Steps, SF

A PG&E walkin van stopped right in front me when I was just starting to put in the colours. I was mildly annoyed at first, but one of the drivers promptly greeted me as he got off the van and had a very nice attitude. So I decided to draw their van in as well (I couldn't really remember the details of the car...but the blue stood out!) Lots of tourists coming and going, but I found an empty spot in front of a garage door to spread out my supplies.

The Angel's Trumpet blooming half way down the Filbert Steps made such a impression that half of the sketching group included them in their drawings. I had to kneel down the entire time to get the bridge to line up with the flowers (note to self: tired and shaky knees are not a good idea when you're sketching on a steep slope)

Final thank goes to my employee badge, which stood in for my bulldog clips that I forgot at home.

Sunshine and palm tree in Sunnyvale, CA

Drawn to be sent as a postcard. I actually got lost on my way to my original sketching destination, but thought that this place looked pretty good already! (and the tall palm tree was perfect for the postcard) I can feel the heat that noon coming straight out of the drawing... almost got a heat stroke on my ride back lol

Bay trail - the unpopular section

Drawn at the Sunnyvale Baylands section of the SF Bay trail. I only ran into...one lady and her dog the entire time I drew this. Couldn't really blame the south bay-ers of ignoring this trail though...there is a water treatment plant right next to it...and most of the waters are stale because access to open sea is blocked off by salt and water treatment ponds... A much different view of the Bay...but man do I wish I'm back at the Berkeley marina

Jump, Salmon! @North Vancouver

Finally visited the salmon hatchery at Cleveland dam at the right time! The salmons are just swarming into the ladder at this time of year. So much energy and perseverance...which leaves me a bit inspired...but in the end, I'm just getting hungrier staring at my favourite seafood lol

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