Virtual Paintout: San Francisco Bay Area

view of San Francisco from Treasure Island

 crayon and color pencil drawing by Rosa Phoenix

These sketches were for the Virtual Paintout, which is in the San Francisco Bay Area this month.  

Treasure Island is halfway between San Francisco and Oakland, right beside the Bay Bridge.

Click here to see the Treasure Island View as seen on Google Maps Street View

This is my first quick sketch, in pen.

 

pen and ink with felt tip pen shading

I wanted to focus on the horizon. The Bay Bridge on the left and a range of hills on the right lead the eye to the center, the city of San Francisco. 

This is my second sketch, in crayon and color pencil.

crayon and color pencil drawing 

I curved the lines to lead the eye to San Francisco. 

Looking west from Treasure Island, the city is backlit by the setting sun.  

San Francisco seems to glow like a star.

My latest sketch is below, using my new watercolor pencils and Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

You can click on it to see a larger view.

 

View of San Francisco from Treasure Island

by Rosa Phoenix

watercolor pencil in Moleskine watercolor sketchbook

(color enhanced in PhotoShop)

I did this sketch from my memory. 

In this sketch I eliminated the figures in the foreground. 

I emphasized the horizon and the sweeping strokes leading from the city into the sky, hills and Bay Bridge.

I like this sketch. I'd like to make a painting based on this.

As you can see, I sometimes make many sketches and drawings of the same subject.  I like to experiment with different media, colors and compositions.

In each new version, I try to simplify, and create more balance and focus.

The Virtual Paintout is a monthly artists' challenge that uses Google Maps Street View as an inspiration. Every month, artists explore one chosen location with Street View, and they share the art they create on the Virtual Paintout.

Click here to see my other drawing for the Virtual Paintout: San Francisco Bay Area

Check out the Virtual Paintout here and see what other artists are creating

Soft Pink Petals

I love . . .

plum blossoms

 sweet scents

  

new life budding

  

sweet hearts

 

  

a perfect bloom

how romantic

BIRTH OF A PHOENIX * www.rosaphoenix.com is LIVE!

 

www.rosaphoenix.com 

is 

LIVE!

I'd love it if you check out my new website!  

I designed and created it myself.

This is the grand opening of my business, Rosa Phoenix Art + Design.

I offer graphic design and writing services for artists.

I design and create quality classic artist promotional materials for print and the web.

I love working with artists to promote their artwork.

I learned graphic design while working for New York art galleries, promoting international artists, in the 1990s.

I didn't stay in the New York art scene.

Life took me in different directions.

Now I seem to be coming full circle, back to the world of art and artists.

I wrote about some of the changes that returned me to a creative life. The story is "How I Became An Artist and Environmentalist."

I took the name Rosa Phoenix to signify rebirth.

Here we are in 2010. I've spent the last 3 years in school, updating my computer and design skills, and creating my own art, designs and graphics for web, print and other media.

I've also been painting and creating original art, and in 2008 I had my first art show.

Now I'm in business.

I'm hoping that the creative life will support me as it has sustained and strengthened my spirit.

I'm pretty excited about my creative adventure, and I'll be using this blog to keep you posted on my progress and news.

I'd appreciate your feedback on the website.  

I chose to go live on Feb 14, 2010 for the Lunar New Year, 2010, Year of the Tiger, and also for Valentine's Day! 

A time of new beginnings, looking forward to springtime, and a time to share love.

Thank you for visiting me here on my blog. 

I'm overwhelmed by the interest, encouragement and feedback that I receive here. 

Everyone helps me along on the creative journey. 

You all are a continual source of inspiration and warmth that I channel into my art!

Happy New Year! 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Happy Rosa Phoenix Day!

www.rosaphoenix.com

Love for a Lifetime

 

crayon and color pencil drawing by Rosa Phoenix

I wish you love like this kind of love. 

Looking at these trees, I see two friends that have grown up together. 

They are inseparable. 

Their roots, limbs and leaves are intertwined. 

They share everything. 

They even look like two people holding hands.

Virtual Paintout: San Francisco

 

Victorian Jungle

crayon and color pencil drawing by Rosa Phoenix

I did this drawing for the Virtual Paintout. 

This month focuses on the San Francisco Bay Area!

My imagination went wild with this scene!

  

My inspiration was a tiger painted on a Victorian house. 

The tiger appears to be relaxing in the tree. 

And is that a lotus flower growing out of its head?

Did you know Chinese New Year is coming, the Year of the Tiger? Tiger is my sign!

I decided that the tiger needs to live in a jungle, with lots of trees, flowers and plants. 

The urban jungle appears to be taking over the street . . .

 

Surfing down the street!

Virtual Paintout is a monthly artists' challenge that uses Google Maps Street View as a source of inspiration. 

Every month, artists gather to focus on a different place, and share their art.