Travel & Sketching in Ogden, Utah

My husband currently does a lot of travel for work, and when my schedule lines up, and the fares are just right, I love to join him. I absolutely feel guilty when I finish my work early and can head out to explore whatever town we’re in, but it gives me time to sketch & paint on location, which I also feel guilty indulging in when he’s with me!

Dressed & ready for a day of Urban Sketching! Essentials include water, a sun hat, snacks, sketchbook & art kit and SUNSCREEN!

I started at Union Station in Downtown Ogden, and learned that it was closed on Monday & Tuesday. Nevertheless, I found a shady spot and got a pencil sketch done before the heat drove me inside.

What I didn’t know was that Ogden is home to quite a lot of beautiful architecture, including some astounding Art Deco sites, like the Exchange Building, formerly part of the Ogden Stockyard.

Another amazing example of Ogden Art Deco is, of all things, Ogden High School! It’s stunning!

We headed up to Huntsville, Utah one evening for dinner at the Shooting Star Saloon, which is a VERY casual, down & dirty, simple bar in a beautiful small mountain town. This was also very fun to draw!

On the way out of town I couldn’t resist turning off the road to snap this old barn for a later sketch.

Even though it was hot as blazes, I did an early morning walk to the Ogden Botanical Garden, which was a delight. The route takes you through a residential neighborhood before you make your way onto the Ogden River Walkway, which leads directly to the Garden. It’s a lovely small space, with little pockets of plantings, a very sweet vegetable garden and my favorite, a Japanese Garden.

On another note, I was completely blown away by the progressiveness of Ogden, and kudos to them for that. Pride flags were proudly flown, and we found some amazing places to eat and drink - namely Side Bar at Ogden’s Own Distillery, which became a favorite very fast.

If you go, hopefully, Mason will be your bartender. He’s got great suggestions and looks uncannily like a young Keanu Reeves!

Plein Air Paint-out at Mother's Beach

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On Friday, Katie & I joined my friend Anne’s Plein Air group, Eat, Paint, Live, at Mother’s Beach in Long Beach. It was so nice to finally get outside again after all the rain we’ve had here in Southern California!

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As per my usual, if there is a bridge, or other type of structure, I’ll want to paint it. It’s hard to get the depth, but I think that’s part of the challenge for me and at this point, I’m all about the progress over perfection. Just getting something down in the sketchbook is important and I think it’s really helping me.

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It’s really hard to see the detail, but there’s a little shack to the bottom left of the bridge and canoes on the right side. Beyond the bridge is Los Alamitos Marina, and I just hinted at something there - I did not have time, nor inclination, to paint all the boats moored.

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Amazingly, this was Katie’s first time working with watercolor and I was quite blown away! Girl has talent, and I hope she joins us more often!

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Plein Air on a Rainy Day

The rain we’ve had is astounding this season. Yesterday was the first day of spring, and while you wouldn’t know it, many people were sharing photos of bright, sunshiny days on their Instagram feed. I was inspired by this photo of the Manhattan Beach Pier and painted it at my dining room table while it poured outside. I know the sun will be back soon!

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Whale Watching in Palos Verdes

Finished!

Yesterday I was on my way home from an appointment, and after days of rain, it was just stunning outside. I don’t ever take my hometown for granted, I feel like we are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

Since I rarely go anywhere without my sketchbook, I took to the opportunity to stop at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center for a quick sketch. There’s an area for the whale watchers to sit and watch the sea, and they take this very seriously, especially during whale watching season, which I believe we are in the midst of.

It was the end of the day, so the Interpretive Center was just closing.

This is actually a great place to come and hang out. During lockdown, Scott & I would come just before sunset with our Old Fashioned’s in Mason Jars and watch the sun set. If we timed it right, there was someone playing the guitar, and for a moment, you could almost forget what was going on in the world. Of course, the Old Fashioned’s helped considerably.

Painting people is one of my pain points, but I’m working on it! 😂

Redecorating and some recent Art

It’s been a while since my last post and I’ve changed things up a bit around here. Since I decided to not take new clients this year, I realized I really don’t have to provide a portfolio of my marketing services, and decided instead to focus on sharing my art. I’m going to try to get a little better at uploading new work, but here are a few pieces that I’ve worked on lately.

I started a new sketchbook in January with a quick trip to the South Coast Botanic Garden, practically in my backyard, to sketch some of the blooming succulents. I’ve decided that even if I’m not happy with the finished product, I’m after progress not perfection, and everything counts as progress and practice.

My friend Anne, who I met last year when I took a watercolor basics class at Art Supply Warehouse and has a watercolor retreat business, Eat Paint Live, has occasional get-togethers locally. We met at Bolsa Chica Wetlands a couple of weeks ago and of course I had to paint the bridge.

I was back at the South Coast Botanic Garden last month (the 3rd Tuesday is free, but I’m thinking I’m just going to join already!) and never realized they have a very sweet, small Japanese Koi Pond & Garden just to the right of the entrance. It was so peaceful here and I know I’ll be back to sketch this spot again.

I was meeting my friend Sabine for dinner in Long Beach a couple of weeks ago and always use this as an opportunity to find a cool place to sketch. The weekend before, Scott & I were driving to meet a friend for dinner and drove past Island White off Ocean Boulevard and I tucked it away for later sketching. We were in the middle of some really wild weather and it was so cold, with a blowing wind. I didn’t last long outside, but at least it was clear and beautiful!

Weekend Frolic: 24 hours in Santa Ynez

Dierberg Star Lane Vineyard

Sometimes just 24 hours is all you need to get refreshed and relaxed. Santa Ynez in above Santa Barbara, near Solvang, and it’s a beautiful wine region filled with rolling hills and rustic country. We’ve been coming to this area for over 30 years, and it’s a quick 2 hour trip that always leaves me wanting more. This is one place I could definitely finish my years in. We belong to 4 wine clubs here, so quarterly trips are a great excuse for a quick escape!

I kept myself busy while everyone was wine tasting - being the designated driver has its’ benefits!

I wanted to also use the opportunity to get some urban sketching in while we were there. I’m trying to practice quickly sketching and painting a scene, but I still get caught up in the details and proportion, which inevitably slows me down.

This was an image I took to save for later drawing - I love those old bent Oak trees!

We had a spectacular dinner Friday night Petros in Los Olivos, and I sadly didn’t document any part of it. It was a beautiful setting and the food, ambiance and service were spectacular.

After dinner we stopped by Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang, a live music venue we found several trips ago. Terry Lawless was performing - check out his resume, he’s played with some of the biggest names in music, most notably U2, but his skills are stunning and it was a fun way to end the night.

Folded Hills Farmstead

We started our 2nd day at Folded Hills Farmstead & Winery - and there is so much drawing inspiration here! I just finished a little class on rustic barns, and the lessons for a corrugated steel roof will definitely come in handy for this scene! They run a completely sustainable farm and vineyard here, and I was very interested in the low residual sugar and no-carb wines they were producing. It was a beautiful place.

Who can resist a photo booth? We can’t!

We finished our wine pick ups and spent some time at our favorite places. 24 hours is all you need, I’m telling you!

We made a new friend at Refugio Ranch!

I think this is a Chinese Lantern plant. Isn’t it stunning?

Weekend Frolic's are back!

It’s been a long drought, but weekend exploration has returned! With mask mandates and restrictions being relaxed, that itch to get out on the weekends and explore our favorite places around the city has returned. This past Saturday we ventured downtown, and started our day at Raw Material Art Supply. Kudos to my lovely and patient husband for finding the perfect place for me to get lost in. It’s not as comprehensive as Art Supply Warehouse or Dick Blick, but it served it’s purpose! I really needed paper!

Raw Materials Art Supply

Art Supply Haul

Just the day before, I had found a craft brewery online that’s near The Row called Flying Embers - what I really loved is that they also offered hard kombucha and hard seltzer. I’m not a beer drinker, but love going to breweries, so if they have alternative offerings, it’s a big win for me. Flying Embers was actually in the space that used to house Iron Triangle Brewery, which is a great space and I’m so glad to see being utilized.

My flight is a combination of hard kombucha and hard seltzer. Favorites were Mango Coconut and Watermelon Chili.

Of course, after a hard drink, we needed food so we headed over to Little Tokyo and stopped by an old udon noodle favorite, Monzo, which did disappoint! I had the Sea Urchin Udon and it’s a creamy mess that is completely delicious, almost like an alfredo.

Some friends texted that they were in nearby Hollywood and we decided to meet up for a drink. We’ve been wanting to try Tiki Ti for years and I did not expect it to be as tiny as it actually is! I decided to be responsible and the designated driver so I did not get to sample the libations! Maybe next time!

Tiki Ti in Hollywood

Again, we must eat. It was time to get out of the heart of the city and we made our way to Culver City and another one of our favorite places, Father’s Office. I had the Octopus Salad - so good!

Father’s Office Octopus Salad

It was a busy day, filled with a lot of driving and a lot of drinking (I was designated, remember!) but so fun to get back out and explore. It’s one of our favorite weekend activities. I only wish we weren’t so rushed, I really wanted to try my hand at on-site sketching - I guess that means we just have to get back out there again! 🖤

Picking up the brush again

Here’s something a lot of people don’t know about me - I’m pretty artistic. I’m not trying to toot my own horn, artistic people know they’re artistic, and most creative people have some kind of artistic outlet. I have this ray of electricity that runs through me, a professional would call it anxiety, and we can call it that too. I’ve learned many coping mechanisms over the years, but recently I’ve started drawing again and that has been magic in quieting my mind and that electric stream that I can’t control.

Here are a few pieces I’ve worked on lately and I’ve started a Gallery here.

Refugio Ranch Vineyard Tasting Room, Los Olivos, CA

Palos Verdes Peninsula from Torrance Beach, CA

Lake Como, from an image on Instagram

Architectural Detail Zoom class by Mayad Allos

Using Email Newsletters to Engage with Your Client Base

Email newsletters, or eBlasts, are a great way to connect with new clients and customers or to stay connected with former ones. With the later, the goal is to entice them back to buy from you again or use your services.

Your email list is one of the highest ROI you have in your marketing toolbox and it’s something you definitely want to utilize.

If you have trouble remembering to send email newsletter campaigns, a good rule is to CALENDAR it! Literally schedule the time to brain dump ideas that you can discuss in your emails. Use seasonal prompts for content ideas.

I recently had a social media coaching call with an estate planning attorney. Here are a few of the prompts I helped her with:

• Remind clients periodically that it might be time to update documents. Have their circumstances changed? Retirement? Divorce? Death?

• Offer a free download - people LOVE free stuff! Ideas:

  • A checklist of what to do when there’s a death in the family.

  • How to prepare for a meeting with you.

  • What are the important documents & where should they be stored?

  • What does Power of Attorney mean”

• Design a survey to find out what your clients would like to see from you (you can use Survey Monkey for this).

• Always remind them of your social media channels with links to each one and suggest that they follow you for news, information & updates.

Remember to include informative, educational, and fun articles that are relevant to your industry. It doesn’t have to be dry & boring - you can also share personal news & updates. You can also highlight a team member and tell your clients/customers more about them (education, what they do for fun, how long they’ve worked with you, a surprising tidbit). This is a great way to connect personally with your clients.

People are visual: use photos & images so the emails aren’t boring.

Create a template so designing the email each month is easier. This allows you to stay on brand also using brand/company colors, fonts, and style.

It’s time to dust off that email list and start using it! I truly believe that past clients are the best clients!

What To Do For Your Business During The Covid-19 Outbreak

How are you holding up these days? It certainly has been a whirlwind two weeks here in California. My entire family is working from home (we have two adult children that live with us) and it’s been an adjustment for me just as much as it has for them. I’m extremely thankful that we are all still working and able to do so.

While some of my clients might have had to temporarily shut their doors, we are still sharing socially, just a little differently. But that still leaves me with some time on my hands, and I’ve been trying to use it in a way that will serve me better when this is over. Here’s what I’ve been doing:

Audit Digital Files

I’m a downloader and saver, thinking I’ll get to it later and rarely doing so. I’ve downloaded tons of PDF’s from masterclasses and webinars that I haven’t looked at after the event. I’ve been going through documents, folders, and images and deleted what is no longer necessary, what is no longer relevant and any duplicates.

Audit Cloud Files

The same applies to my cloud storage, either through Google Drive or Dropbox. I had increased my storage late last year on Dropbox so I’m making sure that I’m utilizing that storage with files that would normally take up too much space on my hard drive and moving them to Dropbox.

Organize Client Files

Taking the time to go through all my client files is time-consuming but I really don’t need three drafts of a holiday campaign from 4 years ago. I’ve found that this is another place I have a lot of duplicate material. Auditing these files also encompasses anything that made its’ way into any of my Cloud-based storage systems.

Take a Masterclass

I recently joined a subscription-based service that encompasses several of my clients who are in the same niche. Yesterday I jumped into the first Masterclass through Zoom and I learned A TON! My expectations were low as it was an SEO class, but I learned more about things I had heard of and how to implement them in ways I had never thought of. It was an hour of my time and completely worth it.

I had also taken another class online a few months ago on organizing a design-based business and now I have some extra time to go back and revisit some of the sections that I need more clarification with.

Set up Systems

If you’ve been thinking about trying an online project management system but haven’t had time to learn the ropes, this is your chance. This is also a great time to set up your business in an accounting system.

Enjoy the Downtime

I realize that I have the privilege of not having to rely on my income to pay our mortgage. I realize that not everyone has that kind of comfort. But we can control only what we can control, and how we react to this unprecedented issue will have many effects on our mental health and immunity. I was listening to a Podcast on a walk last week and a physician was talking about how to boost your immunity. It wasn’t with supplements and gargling with salt water or drinking some kind of tree bark tea. It was three things: sleep, stress and clean food. Eat well, get enough sleep and keep your stress level low. Easier said than done, I know, but this is the time to restart that meditation practice or journaling, or whatever.

One of my biggest fears is the fear of the unknown. Not knowing when this is going to end has been hard. Not knowing how long we’re going to have to live like this has been excruciating. But when I think about a year from now, certainly it will be over by then. 🙏🏼 I think the way people and communities have come together has been amazing, and I truly think we will all be better people when this is over.

Thoughts?