More from Costa Rica

Here are a few more of my sketches from Costa Rica with Jan Yatsko . This one was a creativity exercise called draw your breakfast. It was a fun challenge. I don't think I have ever drawn sliced fruit. Do you know how many colors are in a slice of papaya? And how good in pineapple jam?
We spend a day with the Maleku, an indigenous tribe of Costa Rica. There are only about 600 in the tribe and they teach their children the Maleku language and Maleku customs in school. We took a walk through their rain forest. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the medicinal plants and we tasted and smelled many of them, most of them were not enjoyable! As we were leaving the rain forest we got the added blessing of being rained on. It was the best, I loved it!
After a very satisfying lunch made by our guide's wife, we were treated to their fire ceremony called: God, Nature and Man. It was a beautiful ceremony with fire, words, song and dance. Afterwards we all got the chance to dance with them aound the fire. It was a great experience.

Returning to our hotel, I walked the gardens and quickly sketched some of the flowers. At the fire ceremony we were given the words to the prayer in English. I used these two pages to write these words in my sketchbook. This was one of my most favorite days in Costa Rica. I will always remember the Maleku and their generous loving spirit.

Robert Bateman Sketchbook Pen and Watercolor

Costa Rica - Sketch Adventure

I am back from a fabulous trip to Costa Rica! I
signed up for a sketching tour in Costa Rica with
Jan Yatsko and "Wow" what a great way to see the country. It was a small group of four participants and we had lots of fun, laughter and creativity. Jan does a fantastic job with setting up the tour arrangements and getting those creative and artist juices flowing. This page is the first day around the hotel before dinner.

There were creativity exercises for each day, they were fun and made you think. This page was the result of sitting for 10 minutes and really taking in your surroundings. I awoke one morning to the birds singing. Laying there in the early morning light I tried to separate each bird's song and then translated those sounds into words. Most times you can hear the birds but not see them. The songs seem to be coming out of the trees.

One day we took the tico "local" train to the beach from Atenas. It was a little over two hours and lots of fun on a rickity tickity train with the locals. There was singing and dancing as well as beautiful scenery. A pulperia is a snack shack. We also stopped by a fruit stand on the way back. Did you know you only get one nut from the fruit of a cashew?

Don't forget those postal cancellation stamps.

Jan has a wonderful driver, Adrian. He has been with her for five years and is a wonderful addition to her tour. This is my drawing of our van. I added stickers of some of the places and cities we went to. "ATW" stands for all terrain women as we were ready to go no matter the road! After the tour my friend, Dianne and I spent four more days on our own. We hired Adrian as our driver for our last day and were so glad to spend more time with him. What a gem of a man! Robert Bateman Sketchbook Pen and Watercolor

Fullerton Arboretum

My friend and sketching buddy, Ginger, is back in town for awhile. We spent a lovely afternoon on Friday sketching at the Fullerton Arboretum. I thought I would sketch more of the plants but the rooster was so colorful and who could pass up a sunbathing turtle.
We followed the path around and found another enticing place to sit for a spell. It was another of the ponds and as we sketched, the water birds and ducks flew in and out making wonderful splashing water sounds. After awhile it was time for lunch and margaritas.
A very enjoyable day.


Pen and Watercolor in a "new" Robert Bateman sketchbook

Remembering Provence

I found a new magazine, La Vie Claire. I am not a big magazine girl but my good friend, Mari Le Glatin Keis, was interviewed for the Spring 2008 issue. It was a lovely article about Mari, her ideals, and her workshops. The magazine is beautiful with wonderful pictures and articles. It comes out four times a year and is $6.99 an issue. I may have to subscribe to this one. It's a mini relaxing vacation.

Reading about Mari made me remember the very special time I had in Provence with her last October. I decided to post a couple more pages from my sketchbook. These are images from the dining room at the Domaine. We were served breaskfast and dinner in this warm cozy room. I loved the use of the old scale as a place to hold some bright flowers.

This is the last page done in Pont Saint Espirt before returning to Paris and our flight home. One more walk down the lane along the Rhone River to record the wonderful peaceful feeling of this very special place.

I can't wait to join Mari in Astoria, Oregon this August. My sister is joining me on the trip and I know we will have another amazing adventure with Mari. Check out Mari and her wonderful workshops at her website:

http://www.artraveljournals.com/index.html

A Day in Riverside

Yeah!! I finally got to meet up with Marta ! We met at the Riverside Art Museum for the Watercolor West Show with some of my friends. After we all had lunch, Marta and I stayed a little longer and sketched. We sat on a wall in front of the library and enjoyed the sunshine, a little talking and this pagoda. Mine looks like it might fall down any minute but I assure you it is solid. I ask you, is perspective really all that important? It was a really fun day and Marta and I hope to get together again soon.

Going along with the Asian theme, I decided to post this little sketch from my sister's house in Washington. I like to draw objects but I really need to work on my buildings and structures and that perspective thing.

Only one more page in this Robert Bateman Sketchbook. I already have the next one ready to go.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Sunday was my birthday but my kids took me to dinner on Saturday. We had a great meal at Bayside in Newport Beach and then went back to my daughter and her husband's place for surprises! Instead of a cake, they got yummy cupcakes from Sprinkles. There was a variety of flavors so we picked four, cut them in quarters and enjoyed a sampling paired with pink champagne.

The apartment was glowing with all the lights and decorations for Christmas. It all made for a very fun, tasty, and might I add classy celebration. Those kids are so clever.

A champagne toast with Jason.

He gave me a very stylish water decanter and glass for my bedroom. Another way to go green, no more plastic bottles on the nightstand.


Cuddles with Sarah and Pedro.

They bought me a new game, "In a Pickle", which we played after the cupcakes. It was lots of fun and we shared many laughs.

A fun birthday night. Thanks guys, I love you.

Sketching at the Zoo

Nathan and Matthew, my eight year old twin nephews, came for a two day visit. It was an art trip to play in my studio. On the second day we decided to venture out and sketch at the Santa Ana Zoo. Now I thought, "Okay, this is good for maybe an hour." The boys really enjoyed sketching at the zoo and we were there for over two hours. Good job, guys!

It was fun but those critters are not easy to sketch when they are on the move! I think I need a little more practice on animal body shapes.

One of the things the boys were excited about was the fact that I was sketching them while they were sketching. I have heard they have continued sketching. Next time they are over I will have to share some of their drawings. It was great to see their enthusiasm for sketching.

Robert Bateman Sketchbook

Pen and Watercolor

Graber Olive House with Tania

I got an email from Tania about a sketching day and of course I was in! Tania teaches botanical drawing and is putting together artists and gardeners in wonderful settings. You can check out the happenings at http://www.artplantaetoday.com/ Saturday we all met in Ontario, CA at the Graber Olive House for a tour of the packing plant and then some sketching. Someone said they thought this was an old olive press. I don't know I just thought it was a big cool rusty thing.

There were some great old pieces of equipment, wagons, bells and stuff around the place. When we first got there at 10:00 a.m. Dori didn't think there was too much to draw and we would be done early, well.......our little group of four didn't leave until 4:00 p.m.

There is nothing like a rusty bell....except for maybe an old broken down wagon......or maybe.....

After the tour and lunch I went on a little sketchwalk. Just strolling around and sketching what ever caught my eye. On the sun dial were the words, "Count only the sunny hours", now I think this has something to do with how one reads the sun dial but what a great philosophy! Another great day with Tania. Thanks to Dori, Kamillia and Levana for following my lead and coming along.

Robert Bateman Sketchbook with pen and watercolor.