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

Sketchbook: Mexico City

color pencil and crayon drawing

This drawing of a shop in Mexico City was done for the Virtual Paintout, using Google Maps Street View.

Click here to see my Mexico City Street View

Great location to wander, close to Plaza de la Constitution, Templo Mayor, Palacio Nacional, and Catedral Metropolitana. 

These are all amazing buildings, but they didn't give me the feeling of Mexico City, the way this little shop does.

I love using Street View to virtually visit places. 

This was my first attempt to draw from Street View. If you'll notice, the perspective is really strange. Obviously, I got confused by the lens distortion from the Street View camera. This is a drawback of drawing from Street View.

Do you want to know my process for drawing? 

These are the pencils I use. Multicolor pencils! 

This is how I get that "rainbow" effect in my sketches. 

These are great for blending shadow colors also. Don't use them like this though, sharpen them first! That way you will get a nice fine line, and you will have more control over your line.

Step one is using the pencil to lightly sketch out the composition and basic shapes . . .

Check out the perspective lines I drew for help, they are going every which way! 

Step two is darkening the shadows with the pencil:

Adding some foliage to the tree with the side of the pencil:

Finally, I add color using Crayola crayons.

I don't limit myself to the colors I see.

I use my imagination, using the colors that I think will make a nice picture.

The rainbow colors of my pencil drawing show through the crayon.

The wonderful thing about Mexico City is that it is a very colorful place! 

I have never been there in real life, but my explorations on Street View have let me see the vibrant colors and street life of this city.

Check out the The Virtual Paintout to see the work by other artists. 

Each month focuses on a different location.