Snowy Owl

I'm fascinated by Snowy Owls. They're so odd looking, yet so beautiful at the same time. They always look pissed too.

A.O.T.D. (Animals of the Day) Zoo animals

Made a visit to the Oakland Zoo today, so here's a few sketches from there. It's warm standing out there in that sun. We've been having a bit of a heat wave here. When you're in the moment drawing, you forget that your neck is burning off. Now I'm literally a red neck

Forty Flamingos

Back at the zoo with pen and ink. Today I went to SF zoo, and spent time with the flamingos. Being with and drawing animals is so peaceful and relaxing to me. I almost prefer them to humans (no offense).

Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH S*#T!

Back at the Zoo again, this time in San Francisco. I've been going there since college and have seen many things change there over time. After the recent "occurrence", I came prepared with my nunchucks in one hand and a butterfly net in the other (in case I need to help capture any escaped animals). New fences equipped with barbed wire and thick glass now border the big cat pens. The crowds seem to be the same as always (surprisingly), and in fact maybe even larger than before. As always the cats don't even seem to notice the people, but obviously this isn't the case.

I started the morning off with some quick gestures of the lemurs, then moved onto the flamingos, the toucan, and finally after some walking to the penguins. Again some people got in my way, so I just drew them. It ended up being an aviary-themed day.

After this I "booked" down to the SF "Urine-Soaked" Public Library, to continue Aaron's pursuit of knowledge. It just seems like such a dichotomy down in that area of the city, where while scanning over Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra you're twitching your nose thinking, "Wow, did someone just die in here" For those who don't know, this area of SF is called Civic Center where the main SF government buildings are. It also seems to be the meeting grounds for many of the city's finest homeless folks. Now don't get me wrong, my heart goes out to them, but you know...

Though there's boatloads of thoughts going through my head lately I will not bring them up here because, hey, it's about the art people!

Dorothy Goes To O.Z.

Well, by Dorothy I mean me and by O.Z. I mean the Oakland Zoo. So finally after a bit of a hiatus I'm back to my zoo visits, which happens to be my favorite place to draw. Animals or People, it's all there. Majority of the time I'm drawing the animals, and I find that often people don't even take notice and step right in front of me for a better view. I don't make a fuss, I just step back and draw them. If they do make me upset it'll just reflect in my drawing of them, heehee.

Set up in the Oakland hills, it's a very nice zoo, and the weather was awesome too. Of course the more sun exposure for me the better (I'm surprised the zoo staff didn't try to dart me, thinking I was the escaped albino ManChimp). I hope to visit there again soon. I actually have a membership to the SF Zoo, but not Oakland. I'm really tempted after this last visit to get a membership there instead. It's cheaper, and in my opinion a nicer zoo.