Samurai Exhibit

Back for a visit to our great little Bowers Museum.  This time I went with Penny to view the Samurai Exhibit.  As you entered there were two cases with the Samurai Armor,  I don't know how they could move let alone ride a horse in all that gear.  It was fun but challenging to sketch one with all the layers and textures.

There were beautiful swords and mountings.  Most of the handles were made of shark skin which were very bumpy. Oh, how I wanted to run my fingers over it!  These beautiful little cases were for medicine, held closed by the cord they had layered compartments. They eventually became fashion statements. 

Robert Bateman Sketchbook

Pen and Watercolor

Sketches of Spring

I got a new computer and it took awhile to upload files and photos and then figure out the new scanner but I'm back! 

 This first sketch is from Ensanada.  Cactus, aloe, flowers and vines.  The rooster is a metal sculpture that was on the garden wall.

My friend, Liz and I went down to the mission in San Juan Capistrano one fabulous spring day. The sun was out, it was warm and the flowers and cactus were beautiful.  The hand stamp that day was the blue bell so I asked for one in my book and turn it into the El Camino Real bell.

On another beautiful Sunday, my friend, Penny and I went down to Carlsbad to the flower fields.  It is so awesome to see the fields of color.  They also have a sweet pea maze which we stood on the outside and sketched some peas.  The little stamps are from different areas of the fields where kids can stamp their "passport".  We got the maze, the rose garden, art station and of course the runnuculas.

5" x 7" Robert Bateman Sketchbook

Pen and Watercolor

Boxes

The semester is almost over in my experi- mental painting class. The third project was Boxes. This was a box with a very rustic finish that I added some mixed media ATCs to the outside and inside of the box and then did some groupings in each of the cubbies.

I found the little aliens in tubes of slime at Target and couldn't resist them. All of the other objects have personal meanings and represent something in my life. The yellow smilely face guy was from an Arby's kid meal about 25 years ago. It was fun to play with all my little momentos.

This "box" is a shrine or collection holder. It is made out of foam core, covered in rice paper, painted and collaged. The idea was from the book, "Crafting Personal Shrines" by Carol Owen. It was great fun to put together and decorate.

The box in the center was a notecard box with a magnetic closure. I added the little shelf.

I was surprised how sturdy it turned out to be. A group of my friends and I are planning a "shrine making workshop this summer". What would you put in your shrine?

Washington DC

Went to Washington DC to visit my son, Jason, for a week. My friend and travel buddy, Dianne, joined me for the trip. We had a fabulous time, saw the sites, ate way too much great food, walked more miles than I want to count and really enjoyed our time together.

It was Cherry Blossom Festival and boy is that a beautiful sight. On the weekend we went to Georgetown and walked around the Dembarton Oaks Garden. It was sunny day and the gardens were lovely even though a lot of the flowers were not in bloom yet.

We made our way to Jason's apartment on Saturday and he made us a delicious lunch and then we walked around his neighborhood and all the great brownstones. We sat outside at a local coffee place and worked in our sketchbooks.

Thanks Jason and Dianne for a great trip!

Robert Bateman 6"x9"Sketchbook

Pen and Watercolor

Saturday at the Arboretum

Saturday my friend, Liz and I went to the Fullerton Arboretum for a few hours of sketching. It was still a little cool and even though Spring has not sprung quite yet there were some beautiful flowers. I was happy to see the sweet peas in bloom. They are one of my favorite flowers. They are so soft and delicate and I love their sweet smell.

I think these are snapdragons but the petals had lots of ruffles. The little sculpture was hanging in one of the garden plots. It was the first time Liz had been there and we plan to go back when the weather warms up and the flowers are in full bloom.

Robert Bateman Sketchbook

Pen and Watercolor

B/W Watercolor Study

Here is my black and white watercolor study. This was very challenging for me as I really enjoy working with color and I had trouble getting started with layers of greys. All the same it was a good lesson and I should really do more black and white or value studies.

Ah......the list continues to grow.

Here come the Buoys!

Finally! Finished this last week but couldn't get it posted. One of those "life got in the way of my schedule" things. Once I got the layers done on all the buoys and floats, my background was too light so I added another wash and that really helped. It was a fun assignment. Working on a black and white only still life right now. Not so fun.....yet.