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