ROBOCOP sketch

Warm-up sketch of the 80's superhuman, cyborg,

ROBOCOP

(3" x 3" markers on post-it notepad)

Darth Maul's Birthday

Happy Birthday to Ray Park!

He's played quite a few movie characters such as Snake Eyes (G.I. Joe) and Toad (X-Men), but his ultimate role was playing the secret Sith Aprentice in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace..... better known as,

DARTH MAUL!

(Markers on 3" x 3" post-it notepad)

Deadpool TGIF

It's Friday... we made it!!!

Morning warm-up sketch of everyone's 

favorite mercenary anti-hero... DEADPOOL!

(markers on 3" x 3" post-it note pad)

Shark Week!

Shark Week is going strong!

So it's only right I sketch up a SHARKTICON! 

Razor sharp teeth that can tear through solid steel...Yikes!

(3" x 3" markers on post-it note pad)

©2014 Gerald de Dios. Posted image may not be used or duplicated without artist permission.

COWABUNGA!

Warm up sketch from this morning..... 

Cowabunga Dudes and Dudettes!!!

(Pen and Marker on 3" x 3" post-it note pad)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Weekend!

Porto Bodega Marina

Driving up to the Bodega Head was fun... but the parking lot is small.... and filled up rather quickly! It was a bit crowded due to the Summer time visitors. I'll have to revisit again in sometime in the Fall.

So I decided to drive back down the hill and over to the Marina. Didn't find anything that caught my attention at Spud Point Marina but found a nice spot at the Porto Bodega Marina. I had set up my gear .... and it suddenly started to RAIN! Typical weather along this part of the coast.... So I packed up, parked and painted some studies from my car. 

(top) View at the entrance of  Marina - a boat parked in front of large lush trees. 

(bottom) Squeezed in one more study of a hillside behind one of the vacation homes.

(Gouache studies 4"x6" each in sketchbook) 

Well that was my plein air adventure along the northern California coast! 

I may try for another farm or maybe winery next paintout :)

The town of Bodega

Decided to go on a day trip to the town of Bodega with my wife. We left early in the morning with intentions to sketch and plein air paint at Bodega Head. Just like most road trips... taking a break is in order. But in our case... a sign caught our eye when reaching Bodega. A bright neon sign that read "Big Book Sale Today". Luckily we didn't have to drive far at all... it was easy to find.

There's never a guaranteed to find a gem at each book sale. But one person's trash will eventually become another person's treasure. In our case we each found a couple items that we just had to purchase! 

As my wife quickly found 2 intriguing books, I ventured off to the Arts and Media tables. I don't collect much VHS tapes (wait, what's that?) but a particular box caught my eye... Flipped it around and immediately noticed the sticker price.... only a dollar? Hold on, Are they just selling an empty box?

I guess luck was on my side because the extra collectible contents were included! I have to say the best part of this find was the "Art of Episode I" which is filled with Concept Art from some of my favorite artists!

Full Details: 

1 - VHS Widescreen edition w/ behind-the-scenes documentary.

1 - 35 mm Film Strip consisting of 5 consecutive frames from actual theatrical print.

1 - Collector's book (48 pgs) excerpted from "The Art of Episode I", filled with conceptual paintings, storyboard drawings, and developmental artwork exploring the creative impulse behind the film's astonishing designs!

I later walked over to the Fine Arts table and found several art book based on Impressionist Painters! Most were huge coffee table sized books but I wanted something that I could easily read before going to bed or maybe for a weekend getaway. And that's when I found this...

Although it was published in 1999..... I got it for 2 dollars! It's packed with painters and paintings I absolutely admire! With images of Manet's Olympia and Renoir's The Path in the Grass! It's a 2 part book. The first half discusses the Impressionist movement and the second half gets more personal about each individual artist life and works.

Both great finds! One to enjoy during my stay in Bodega and the other one to enjoy at home while watching Star Wars in the background.

Next post I'll share my paintout at Bodega Head. Stay Tuned!