Category: Sonoma County

Westerbeke Ranch

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Westerbeke Ranch is a hidden gem located a few miles west of the city of Sonoma. Used primarily for retreats and conferences, the property delights guests with its lush gardens and meandering paths amid native oaks. Of particular interest are the metal sculptures scattered across the property that were collected by owners Richard and Muriel Van Hoosear while traveling in Mexico and Spain.

I chose to sketch one of the many guest cottages nestled amongst towering oaks. Many thanks to the Westerbeke Ranch’s staff for inviting our Ready, Set, Sketch! group for the day.

Zazu Kitchen

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The Zazu Kitchen, located in the Barlow section of Sebastopol, is an authentic farm to table restaurant. They grow much of their own produce and put together the menu after hunting through the gardens to see what’s ripe. A great place for lunch or dinner.

Mo’s Bike

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While getting a coffee at Plank in Cloverdale this morning, I spotted this classic, blue bike parked next to a white picket fence. I couldn’t resist parking myself for the next couple of hours capturing it in my sketchbook.

Just as I finished the painting, I man in a cool black hat claimed his bike. After discussing my sketch, he acknowledged he too was an artist and used to teach Design at the College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. Turns out he created the cover for Taj Mahal’s Mo’ Roots album back in 1974.

Redwood Empire Ice Arena

Snoopy Home Ice

Each year I kick off the winter holidays with a visit to Charles M. Schulz’s Redwood Empire Ice Arena. The festive atmosphere is enhanced with holiday decorations, seasonal music, and bundled-up ice skaters, all of which bring back childhood memories and provides a unique opportunity to sketch. But once my fingers get too cold to paint, I head into the Warm Puppy café for a cup of hot chocolate and park myself next to the table where Schulz himself use to sit every day before working on his beloved comic strip, Peanuts.

Union Hotel, Occidental

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The Ready, Set, Sketch! group met today in the beautiful town of Occidental. This tiny town, located directly west of Sebastopol, has a number of good places to shop and eat. One of those places is the Union Hotel and Restaurant.

Back in 1925, Giovanna Gobetti Giovanna sold the Union Saloon to Carlo Panizzera for $2,500.00. Carlo turned it into the Union Hotel, which is still owned and run by his descendants today.

Lately I’ve been practicing sketching without ink lines. Sometimes I feel I’m successful and sometimes I don’t. Ultimately this sketch is overworked, but I picked up some new ideas which makes it all worth while.