About ten years ago, the city of Cloverdale built a train Depot on the east side of town anticipating that the SMART train would someday be extended this far north. I’m not holding my breath with all that’s going on these days. This was the first time I saw the depot up close and was very impressed with it’s design.
One of the more popular outdoor activities here in the Northern California, besides the obvious wine tasting, is cycling on a warm summer day among the grape vines.
Episcopal Church on Broad Street Cloverdale, CA.
Another great jazz performance at the Art Alliance here in Cloverdale, California last Thursday, this time featuring the Jacob Szekely Trio. Lately I have been monstrously busy with work but managed to duck out for a couple of hours and check out the show.
Cloverdale’s Antique Car Show is hands down the most fun I’ve had all year sketching. What’s not to like? Antique cars and enthusiasts everywhere. People eager to have you sketch their car as they tell you all the nitty gritty that went into the restoration. Passers by seemed as interesting in our groups sketches as they did the cars. Top that off with a Pizza (last year) or Thai food (this year) and the day is complete.
Tonight Carolyn Cooke and Randall Babtkis read selections of their published work at the Books on Stage (Produced by Janet Vail) event here in Cloverdale. Carolyn’s novel, Daughters of the Revolution, was named one of the best books of 2011 by the San Francisco Chronicle and The New Yorker Magazine. Randall is a published poet, a performance art impresario, and director of a graduate writing program. After the reading, Carolyn and Randall shared their numerous insights on how they weave their writing and marriage together. After a round of questions from the audience, wine and cheese was served in the lobby. A great evening all around!
Working in a new style today. Partially successful and partially not. But overall, I’m happy to have learned something new. This watercolor sketch is of an Episcopal Church on Broad Street here in Cloverdale.
Pick’s was originally opened in 1923 as a Reed & Bell Root Beer Refreshery and has been a local favorite in Cloverdale ever since. Serving much of the same menu it did when it opened, “Big Daddy” cheese burgers, french fries, grill cheese sandwiches, and milkshakes, the quality of the food as notably gone up since David Alioto (Healdsburger) purchased the restaurant last year. It’s great to see a classic independent eatery with great food and a friendly staff hold its own in this corporate 21st Century world.
I started this sketch standing across the street from the Drive In until the rain drove me indoors to finish.
Watercolor on Arches hot press paper and uni-ball Signo white ink pen.