Shirley (Paper and Threads) was visiting San Francisco this week and Martha (Trumpetvine) and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon sketching with her in the park. Poor St. Patrick’s Catholic Church isn’t really falling over despite the many earthquakes it has weathered over the years. It’s just my usual wonky drawing. Martha and Shirley will post their drawings on their own blogs eventually but here is a snapshot of our work lined up together.
And here we are lined up, with me a head taller and trying to take a photo and holding my iPhone at arm’s length.
We were joined virtually on our little art blogger sketchcrawl by phone from Lisa in Texas and via Facebook (where I posted an update and photo while we were sketching) by Marta (MARTa’s Art) and EJ (Rose-Anglais) .
After sitting on cold concrete steps to sketch we were ready to warm up. We walked back to Shirley’s hotel, and she treated us to a glass of wine on the 39th floor of the Mariott Hotel (also known as the “Jukebox” building because of its unique architecture). Here’s the view from the bar just before sunset.
It was such a treat to spend a Friday afternoon with these two very talented and beautiful women. After the sun set in golds and pinks, and the lights of the city came on, I had to leave while they went off in search of dinner. I BARTed to Oakland for the monthly Friday night “Art Murmur” gallery walk where my sister and niece had pieces in a show. Walking from BART I passed the grand old Paramount Theatre and set my camera to “burst” mode so I could capture the changing lights of the neon marquis.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
10 replies on “Sketching with Martha & Shirley (St. Patrick’s San Francisco)”
This is a great post Jana. I’m going to link to it on Twitter later.
Best wishes from Wales
Michael
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And there was a glass of wine with a beautiful view and friends too!!! I bet I could have hopped a flight for this one! LOL! It was nice to ‘join you’ via facebook. The sketches are great and your individual styles didn’t need description. Hope you are having a great weekend!!!
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What a lovely day you had. Way to go. Enjoy the friendship of other artists and have fun.
w.
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Jana! You certainly know I was there in spirit and fantasy! Thanks for the LIVE pics, so I felt less like I was missing out. I can just imagine the great energy there was between the three of you. So easy to pick out who painted what–such distinctive styles/personalities you each have!
Lisa
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That sounds like a perfect afternoon! Thanks for sharing it.
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Casey, Will you be here soon? Martha and I would love to meet up with you if you are!
Jana
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This sounds like the kind of day that makes all the trials and tribulations of plein air painting worthwhile!
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Jana,
I just woke up – after my “red eye” flight back from SF. And as I tried to catch up, I found your blog post of our wonderful afternoon together! I need a copy of the photo of the 3 of us! Next time New York City!
Shirley
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Oh I am so jealous, No fair, we should all be there – I have had the pleasure of sketching with Shirley , next stop CALIF!!
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I attended “Wonder Con ’09” across the street at Moscone Center South. Just this weekend. That’s San Francisco’s Comic Book Convention. It brings in 30,000 people from near and far. Anyway, upon the closing of this event on it’s last day. I heard the bells ringing atop “Old St. Patrick’s” as I walk out away from Moscone with everyone else. I decided I needed to go to mass. Too bad I wasn’t still dressed in my “Naruto” costume…….It’s gives one hope to see this great edifice still standing. Rebuilt at least once or twice due to fires and earthquakes. Having stood up to many other quakes as the author has aid above. Now it seems sqeezed and perhaps even threatened by all the overtly expensive and overly modern “redevelopment”. That’s enveloped it on all four sides. I remember seeing the “South of The Slot” neighborhood, now called SOMA around ten years ago. When all this redevelopment had just started. It was sad to see the “unchecked” capitalism that has now led us down this path of recession /depression destroying a historic district. That was home to many immagrant communities and rich in the city’s history. None the least of which were the Phillipino and Irish Communities……..I wish I could find the misslete that I brought back with me. The message on the front page spoke of this, but in a hopeful manner. Welcoming all; conventioneers, professionals, businessmen, visitors, tourists, immagrants, and old locals. It was a very nice welcome, but with a hint of sadness as to the old neighborhood being destroyed and the old locals and immagrants being given the bums rush by the powers that be!!!! But, it did speak of hope. So we always got that don’t we? Take care for now and thanks for reading my ramblings!!
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