Some sketches from the week

Now that my Delta Workshop show is hung, I am moving on to other projects including creating new work for another solo show in December, constructing new bags, and starting some new to-be-announced projects. This week, I had some time to paint in my sketchbook and here are some sketches I made with the little downtime I had. I've been obsessed with gouache and watercolor lately and I kind of feel like it won't go away anytime soon.

This plant is a hanging philodendron. They are the best houseplants since they are so easy to grow and get nice and long so you can get creative with how you hang them.

Darondo passed away this week and I was sad to hear about that. The Bay Area soul singer performed a few years ago in San Jose and it was amazing. You can hear one of his songs here.

I also painted some golden objects around the house including a lamp, a globe and a beer stein. This one definitely spawned a new project that I will be announcing in a few weeks!

Delta Workshop Art Show in Sacramento

I am really excited to head up to Sacramento on Saturday for my art show opening! I'll have paintings on exhibit throughout the summer at Delta Workshop. The opening is on June 8 from 5-8pm. I will also be carrying art prints, journals, bags and brooches in the shop. They just opened up yesterday, so if you're in the area be sure to stop by!

The Delta Workshop space just opened up.

Today only! Splash Into Summer Sale 40% off in my shop

Today I'm participating in the SF Etsy Splash Into Summer Sale. Everything in my shop is 40% off if you use the coupon code SFetsySplash40 at checkout. Bags, art prints and even custom portraits are discounted for this special sale. Also checkout other participating shops with the SFetsySplash40 tag in the search bar on Etsy! One day only!

Mendocino Getaway

Sometimes I get so busy that the only solution is to just stop and get out of town. After spending weeks on boring old taxes and finances, it was time to go. Living in California, the best way to gain some peace of mind is to drive a few hours out of the Bay Area and into the country. Last weekend, I ventured north with my boyfriend to Mendocino.

Late last year, my friend Jennifer Sullivan opened her dream business, the Hopland Ale House, in a cozy and historic building in Hopland, CA. She is an excellent cook and just an all-around fascinating person. For the first leg of this getaway, I was ecstatic to visit her and enjoy great conversation. We actually arrived at night and the building was very inviting, glowing with a warm and welcoming feeling. I smiled wide, stupidly staring at the ale house. I was very proud of her. 

​Hopland Ale House, run by Jennifer Sullivan in Hopland, CA

The building was as she described to me in conversation over the phone: brick, with pressed tin walls, exposed beams, archways and the bar inside is an incredible piece of art. Handmade by a local carpenter, Tom Carter, it moothly holds layers of different woods and is apparently much photographed by visitors. You will have to stop by yourself to see the interior. I ordered the Pastrami, my boyfriend ordered the Chicago Style Hot Dog and we shared a spinach salad with a spectacular homemade vinagrette. It was seriously incredible: fresh, flavorful and unlike any bar fare you are familiar with. We paired the food with a couple of pints of Death & Taxes, quite fitting for the just shy of April 15th trip. If you are ever in the area, it's a definite must, especially since Jennifer will be opening up the beer garden in the coming months!

id-meal, we totally lucked out because the bar carpenter, Tom Carter, and his wife showed up. Each of us ordered a slice of Jennifer's superb cheesecake and we talked about Tahiti and the visual result of grafting in woodworking, amongst other things. It totally made me want to up and move to the area.

We drove on up to Mendocino that night to our awesome cottage at the Cottages at Little River Cove. Our cell phones didn't have service. I LOVE it when this happens. In the morning, we drove to Mendocino and walked down to the beach to this view...

​Mendocino Beach

We stepped down the pathway to beach and found a man playing flute, a driftwood hut and sea caves. It was super cool and reminded me of Oregon coastal trips I went on when I was a teenager. 

A little flute to liven up the scene.

​A nicely constructed beach hut. Apparently the locals sometimes build these and have a bonfire in the evenings.

After the beach we headed to Patterson's for food. The calamari and clam chowder were insanely good. Then, we headed to Dick's Place for a few hours, where Bryan put in plenty of change in the jukebox. Neil Young, Creedence, Bowie, Al Green and the like kept us company while we filled our sketchbooks.

​Dick's Place, a great local bar with an ocean view.

​Even the public bathroom's are quaint in Mendocino.

All in all, after spending weeks on finances, taxes and painting under deadlines, Mendocino was just what we needed.

This little inlet led to a sea cave!

​A sweet sunset, such a nice end to our trip.