Finding Treasures (again)

I collect and draw treasures. Treasure can be anything - a leaf, an acorn, a piece of lego, a torn piece of paper, a list, a drawing, or a ticket stub. It is a treasure if someone tells you that this is a treasure and gives it to you. Or if you think it is a treasure. There are no more rules. A cloud can be a treasure also. I've been given a moon several times, for example. 

I've been super lucky to have a steady supply of "treasures" to appreciate and draw for many years. I even made some calendars with treasures and taught several sketchbooking classes around the theme of treasures. Then there was a bit of a dry spell but this fall I am going back in full. Here is a little branch from an oak tree on the way to school. It is my treasure, and I am sharing it with you this way.

It's Orange Season!

Pumpkin patches are all over the town! This particular one is in San Jose - CosentinoFamilyFarm. This is a farm stand and one of the last family-owned real orchards in the middle of Silicon Valley. Good people, good food and so many things to draw!

I managed to forget my sketchbook but was saved by a great friend who can decipher intelligent texts (@suhitasketch) - and here are two sketches celebrating a variety of colors and textures and the most orange season of all. Happy October to you!

Redwood Forest

A friend (@gaskincreative), a new hiking spot, a super tasty lunch, and a great time talking about everything from artificial intelligence to parenting! 

I brought my portable gouache palette and sketchbook and had a joyful time sketching two views from the same spot:

Keeping the people sketching habit going through the seasons.

I love drawing people - people I know, people I just saw, people who are working, playing, eating,  sleeping. Some seasons of my life give me more subjects to keep my people-sketching habit going, some less. Right now I am mostly drawing people online -mainly @pencils4tea - an online group of people who draw each other and time with songs. Often I can jump in only for a few songs and sometimes I stay for the whole hour. I've written about it before - but today I am sharing several recent catches:

Voting is Important!

This election season I am participating in writing letters through the Vote Forward Campaign. This is a "nonprofit organization that empowers grassroots volunteers to send handwritten letters encouraging fellow Americans to vote" - from https://votefwd.org/about-us

After growing up in Ukraine under the soviet regime the participation in democratic governance that I now have as a citizen of the United States is a privilege, right, and also an obligation. Democracy works only as long as we are taking part in it, this is why I encourage everyone to vote - and this campaign allows me to reach more people. And with handwritten letters! (meaning hand-drawn :) 

I cannot share with you samples of the letters as they contain personal information but here are some quick looks at envelopes and calligraphy that I am doing as well as decoration of envelopes with original drawings and prints as well as stickers that are in the works! I am trying to make letters that I would be excited to open and read ;)

You can be a part of this process too - there is still time to sign up and write letters!

And please vote!