Watercolor and Micron Pigma Brush Pen in Raffine 6″x9″ Sketchbook
Yesterday I’d planned to spend the day in the studio but it was such a surprisingly nice day that I decided to go sketch at the dog park which is only about a mile from my house. Pt. Isabelle is a 23 acre park where dogs are allowed off leash and can run, swim and play. It’s on the S. F. Bay with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. I sat on a bench along the path and watched the passing parade of canines and their owners. One very large dog turned out to be a miniature horse, the size of a Great Dane, and she caused quite a stir. I overheard her owner telling the gathering crowd that they take her places in their mini-van and that she sleeps outdoors but comes in the house and hangs out with the family. That brought back fond memories of my favorite childhood book, Pippi Longstocking, whose horse lived with her indoors.
Every dog that passed by took a turn peeing on the post beside my bench but none would hold still long enough for me to draw them. I filled several pages with partial dogs and then switched to doggie stick figures, just trying to capture their gestures and shapes. It was a hoot eavesdropping on the conversations I heard with owners and their dogs: “Now, Isis, I told you not to do that…stop it now Isis or else you’ll be sorry when you get home, Isis, stay, no, stay, I told you to stay….” It reminded me of the Far Side cartoon that goes:
What you say: Oh Ginger, that was a bad thing. You’re a bad, bad dog, Ginger.
What a dog hears: Blah Ginger, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, Ginger.
After I’d finished the second picture it got really windy and foggy so I headed home, happy to be in the studio having enjoyed what may have been the last nice day before winter hit. Today it rained all day.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
9 replies on “At the Dog Park”
sounds like we both had a go at trying to capture constantly moving subjects today, I can sympathize! maybe not the details but you definitely captured the fun!
LikeLike
FUN sketches, Jana! And what a hoot to listen — I so agree that these conversations can be hilarious! GOOD JOB on the gestures of those running canines!!!!
LikeLike
OH yeah, I spent a lot more time outdoors over the weekend than I’d meant to, too. It was cloudy but WARM. This morning it’s 50 degrees out but it still feels good sitting on the deck with the visiting kitty. If it were 50 INSIDE, I’d be freezing!
Love the dog park sketches…looks like a wonderful place!
And oh, love your picture faves, too! Is that a new thing from WordPress?
LikeLike
a park full of dogs…it’s like a nightmare to me i’m afraid. still, nice location by the look of it. I like the conversation those two brown/orange dogs seem to be having.
LikeLike
This was a fun memory. We went to a dog park for the first time last weekend. I began to wonder if you lived nearby, but it must be that dog parks are pretty much the same regardless! Nice, playful sketching!
LikeLike
Lovely sketches Jana! And clever observations 🙂
LikeLike
I like when you use the brush pen with color. I don’t know which comes first, but it creates strong images.
LikeLike
I love the everydayness of these sketches. And the evesdropping conversations are such a hoot!
LikeLike
I love the farside comment! How I miss Garry Larson’s wit! Nice way to capture a lovely afternoon.
LikeLike