Tips for Drawing at the Protest

Last Saturday, I participated in a peaceful No Kings protest in the Bay Area. There were many people, dogs, music, and of course, I drew there!

I found a nice corner with some shade, and because it was a corner, there were people coming from many sides, and there was a traffic light where they would stop for a little bit, so I had a few extra moments to draw. I took with me a minimum amount of tools - see my sketchbook with a little pen pouch attached to it with an elastic band. When drawing a crowd, I apply the following techniques: 

• drawing some of my subjects in whole, especially if they talk to someone near me (that duck suit with a lady who gave me a button);
• combining some people out of many looks at them as they stand, talk, and walk (three people who were actually waiting for the light to turn green - on the second sketch, or a group on the corner (first sketch, right side)
• putting together some figures out of several people (little humans near the tree), plus adding notes and taking a break to draw something else from time to time (like trees). 

My Radish-Growing Update

After devouring my first radish, I was looking forward to the continuation of the season. But it proved to be quite short! The second radish was pretty cool and deserves a few of portraits (I used thicker gouache with this one and tried different techniques of applying paint while waiting for lunch time). But since then, we had a heatwave, and I believe the rest of my plants promptly decided to "bolt" - meaning they now have beautiful flowers and no edible root. The Internet is full of ideas about why and what now, but I think I will enjoy drawing beautiful plants instead of beautiful roots. 

Fremontia at Google Campus

I ventured to the google campus to draw this beautiful sprawling Flannelbush also known as Fremontia. It is a native plant (Fremontodendron) within the same family of plants as Mallow and Hibiscus but also Durian! (Malvaceae)

It was a very bright and warm day (again - where did spring go??) and yellow flowers surrounded by dark green foliage and branches played amazingly well against California blue sky - in fact, I think this scene is made to be painted in gouache! I am working in Lumia sketchbook from Pith - and enjoying it a lot. This sketchbook is almost completed, and I will make a flip-through with some comments on the paper and what I like about it soon.

How to Cut a Stencil, How to Make a Sign.

This short video illustrates how to cut a stencil to make a sign. I am making some signs like this to put around so that people know when the event is. These events will be happening all over the country, because NO KINGS IN THE USA! 

WHEN IS THE EVENT? 

March 28th, 2026 - this Saturday. 

WHERE TO GO?

In my experience, it is best to go to the event where you have friends (ask them) or go to one near you - here is a map where you can find one quickly: https://www.nokings.org/ 

WHY GO? The main message of this event is that America has no kings. The current administration is threatening democracy and advancing an authoritarian agenda where there is no rule of law but the interest of one person, where loyalty to that person is valued above truth, and where freedom of speech is under assault. This is your chance to be heard, to make a stance, and to openly defend democracy. This is the reason to go.

Some people bring other agendas to these events. I always encourage people to know what they are there for, what they are standing for. There are so many issues to talk about! I do not have to agree with everyone at these events. But we have a common message: democracy is worth our time and energy. Carry a sign that you are ready to stand for - here are some of the amazing examples my art friend Rama Hughes made. Chant what you agree with. Or do not chant. Walk. Or stand. Bike. Drive. Pass by and wave. Bring kids, dogs, and cats. 

What is happening is not normal, and being with people who understand this is very helpful for our survival. Not normalizing the current attempt to make America an authoritarian country is why I will be at the No Kings on March 28th, 2026. 

Another Apricot Orchard - Another Remedy

After a week of drawing lots of people (aka #oneweek100people) I needed a break in the chase after human bodies to sketch and I knew that Suhita Shirodkar (who organized a whole bunch of super cool events for the #oneweek100people this year - from short morning sessions to guest artists to a marathon session) was even more ready to draw something other than humans. And that is how we ended up in one of our yearly sketching locations - Apricot orchard at the Saratoga Public Library. Only the trees were almost done blooming... unseasonable heat pushed blooming time at least 2 weeks ahead, said the caretaker of the orchard (before warning us that sprinklers would be tested soon, so we'd better move to the other side of the library, where there are some blooming nectarines and plums and where sprinklers were not scheduled to go off any moment).  And that is how I ended up with one view of an apricot orchard and one view of what I think is a plum tree ;)
P.S. This is a second Apricot Orchard Outing that saves my sanity this month - here is first one.