Cafe Sketches: Bottega Louie, DTLA, 6/2025

One of my favorite brunch/dessert spots in LA; Bottega Louie on Grand. In addition to the fun people watching, the food is beautiful and delicious.  

Bottega Louie, Downtown Los Angeles, 6/2025

CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Ronja Redeye, Filoli Gardens, 7/2025

We first encountered the Trolls by Thomas Dambo on our trip to Seattle. This year, the Trolls have come to visit the Bay Area at Filoli Gardens in San Mateo! Dambo's Trolls are here to teach humans to be good stewards of the Earth and to rediscover nature. We certainly enjoyed their lessons and presence at Filoli.

Ronja Redeye, Dambo, Filoli Gardens, 7/2025

 

Thanks for hanging out at Filoli Ronja Redeye!

CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Saucy, Oakland - 06/2025

Asian inspired dishes served in a beautiful dining room...delicious.

Saucy, Oakland, 6/2025

CoWaBunGA 

The Great Elephant Migration, 7/2025

We heard about the Great Elephant Migration on CBS Sunday Mornings and were hoping to get a glimpse of the elephants as they travel the world. We finally got our chance last weekend in, of all places, Beverly Hills California. The Migration is a global fund raising effort to support indigenous artists and co-existence between humans and our remaining earth creatures. More info can be found here: https://thegreatelephantmigration.org

The Great Elephant Migration on Santa Monica Blvd

 

CoWaBunGA

Postcards from Tahiti, 2024: Rangiroa Rooster, 7/2025

Roosters and chickens run free on the isles of Tahiti. This guy is enjoying his time on Rangiroa...

Rangiroa Rooster, acrylic on canvas, 7/2025

 CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Rubens at the Legion, 7/2025

This Satyr has such a deliciously evil smile, I couldn't resist the grapes...

"Satyr holding basket of grapes" - Rubens, 1620 

CoWaBunGA! 

Sketches: Jeffrey Gibson at the Broad, 6/2025

Again, the Gibson show at the Broad is fantastic. The use of native American traditional art practice with modern techniques is telling the story by drawing the viewers into their world.

"I'm a Natural Man" Gibson

CoWaBunGA! 

Sketches: Thiebaud at the Legion, 07/2025

The Wayne Thiebaud exhibition at the Legion of Honor is closing soon. The exhibition has a wide range of Thiebaud's work in figure painting, still life, and landscapes. Catch it soon before it's too late.

Revue Girl, 1963, Thiebaud

 CoWaBunGA!

Blue Dot Cafe, 6/2025

Update 6/17/25 - because there was more space on my wall, my daughter decided to help me fill out the space with her art. Now, my wall looks complete. 

The Alameda art group Art Jam is exhibiting at the Blue Dot Cafe and Coffee Bar, 1910 Encinal Avenue, Alameda, California. I have a few works in the show and may be adding more later this month. Please stop in if you're in the area.

Acrylic on paper artworks by Bill Jeng

Natalie adding her artworks to the show, 6/17/25

Filled in wall at Blue Dot Cafe and Coffee Bar, 6/17/25

Artworks by Pons Maar and Fitz

CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Jeffrey Gibson at the Broad, 6/2025

About two blocks from the Los Angeles I.C.E. protests, the Broad Museum is exhibiting Jeffrey Gibson's show "The space in which to place me." Jeffrey Gibson is a Native American/Black artist who creates works that celebrates individuals and communities who have maintained their dignity and traditions in impossible circumstances, centering on the resilience of indigenous makers. 

"I'm gonna run with every minute I can borrow" Gibson, Broad Museum, 6/2025

The work "I'm gonna run with every minute I can borrow" inspired me, reminding me of the resistance of the immigrants two blocks away who are just trying to live their lives in impossible circumstances.

Inspired to sketch by Gibson, "I'm gonna run with every minute I can borrow"

CoWaBunGA  

Postcards from Tahiti, 2024: "Lunch with Family", 6/2025

In celebration of Auntie Angele's birthday, I painted this beautiful image of her preparing lunch for her family with cousin Catherine tasting the samples. Auntie is an elegant, graceful woman who is a very active 80 years young. 

HaPpY BirThDaY!

"Lunch with Family", acrylic on canvas, 6/2025

 CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon AZ, 5/2025

My friend's coworker recommended the South Kaibab Trail after he learned that we were planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon last month. The Trail leads down into the Canyon close to the Colorado River, 4000 feet down. Being novices to this hike, we decided to hike down, but only to Ooh Aah Point, the first stop 790 down from the rim. It was well worth the effort.

Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon AZ, 5/2025

Next time, we'll try to hike all the way to the Canyon...

CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Prickly Pear cacti, 5/2025

On a road trip to the Grand Canyon, we noticed this prolific cacti throughout our trip: the prickly pear cacti. There was even a beer named Prickly Pear beer. It appears formidable and beautiful.

Prickly Pear Cacti, 5/2025

CoWaBunGA! 

Sketches: R-Evolution, M.Cochrane, sculpture, 4/2025

There is a new sculpture at the Embarcadero in front of the Ferry Building. It's very impressive and you can observe arguments about its meaning and purpose when you are viewing it at the site. For me, it reminds me of mother Nature and her fight to bring back equilibrium in our reality. What does it inspire in you?

"R-Evolution" by M. Cochrane, at SF Embarcadero

Here is a short GIF of my sketch of R-Evolution.

CoWaBunGA! 

Sketches: Weekend at the Getty Center, 4/2025

I was so happy to visit the Getty Center last week and see their current exhibits. Although it had been over 4 months since the LA Palisade fires, I wasn't sure what to expect at the Getty Center. Luckily, the staff at the Getty Center kept the fire at bay and the museum was pretty much as beautiful as ever. Here are some of my highlights:

Floor scrapers, Gustave Caillebotte, one of my favorite paintings.

 

Young Girl defending against Eros, Bouguereau, I had this poster when I was a kid.

Drop-in sketch experience; Getty provides the supplies, you sketch.

Overall, I had a very arty weekend.

CoWaBunGA

Postcards from Tahiti, 2024: "Lunch with Family" study 4/2025

This image is compelling me to paint it. It is interesting because it's a domestic scene, but it could be from the early 20th century, showing the rugged beauty of preparing a meal for the family. The challenge is to create an interesting painting from this image.

Lunch with Family, study for painting, 4/2025

  CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Odin Mezcaleria, ORW, 3/2028

During Oakland Restaurant Week, diners can try new restaurants in Oakland because they will prepare special meals at discounted prices to attract new patrons. This year, we tried Odin Mezcaleria to taste their mole and mezcal cocktails. They were delicious.

Odin Mezcaleria, Oakland Restaurant Week, 3/2025

 CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Bike Shed MC, LA, 03/2025

I brought my Dear Friend to the Bike Shed Motorcycle Club in LA this past weekend. He had never been to BSMC, but has been a motorcycle enthusiast since he bought my Vespa P200E in our college days. If only BSMC were around during those days, what fun we would have had...

Bike Shed Motorcycle Club, LA, 3/2025

CoWABunGA!
 

Cafe Sketches: Sobo Ramen, Restaurant Week, 3/2025

Oakland Restaurant Week is almost here. The staff at Sobo Ramen are busy preparing one of their signature dishes for the event: squid ink ramen. Yummy, we can't wait to try it.

Sobo Ramen, getting ready for Oakland Restaurant Week, 3/2025

 CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Novela, San Francisco, 3/2025

Not a cafe, but you can almost hear Hemingway and Gertrude Stein chatting in the background...

Novela, San Francisco 3/2025

Pull up a barstool and order the absinthe.

CoWaBunGA

Cafe Sketches: La Mar, San Francisco, 3/2025

Peruvian cuisine, ceviche, and a giant squid guarding the bar. You can't ask for more...

La Mar, San Francisco, 3/2025

CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Bombera, Oakland, 3/2025

When I used to work in downtown Oakland, I frequented Chef Dominica's former establishment Cosecha in Swan's Market. The green mole and tacos there were fantastic. Unfortunately, the pandemic put an end to Cosecha and I feared we would not be able to enjoy her great food anymore. Luckily, I found out that she opened a new restaurant, Bombera in Oakland, and it is just as good as Cosecha, if not better.

Bombera, Oakland 3/2025

Set in a former fire station, you will be dazzled by the setting and comforted by the delicious food and attentive service.

CoWaBunGA   

Cafe Sketches: FOB Kitchen, Oakland, 2/2025

In celebration of small businesses today, kudos to FOB Kitchen for bringing a taste of Filipino flavors to Oakland CA.

FOB Kitchen, Oakland, CA 2/2025

CoWaBuNGA!

Postcards from Tahiti, 2024: Yao Residence, Teahupoo - 2/2025

I'm working on a new series of works inspired by my last visit to Tahiti, French Polynesia. The first of this series is a painting of my cousin-in-law's house in Teahupoo, where the 2024 Olympics surfing competition was held. It was very kind of cousin Kim and Madeleine to let us stay.

Yao Residence, Teahupoo, Tahiti, 2/2025

The development of this painting was fun:

Yao Residence painting in progress

CoWaBunGA

Sketches: Lobby at the Grand Californian, Disneyland Resort, 2/2025

Great Arts and Craft architecture at the Grand Californian Lobby in the Disneyland Resort. This is about as close to the Yosemite Lodge as you can get this far south in California.

Lobby at the Grand Californian, 2/2025

   CoWABunGA

Sketches: Sherald - "The Rabbit in the Hat", SFMOMA, 02/2025

I keep going back to the Amy Sherald show at SFMOMA to delve deeper into each portrait. There is so much depth in each work, images that remind me of something or someone in my life, an emotion by the subject that brings me somewhere else.

The Rabbit in the Hat, Sherald, SFMOMA, 2/2025

This painting brought back memories of Swipes and Dots, my two rabbits that passed long ago.

CoWaBunGA 

Sketches: the Candy Makers at Disneyland, 2/2025

Some of the hardest working people I've seen at the Disneyland Resort are the candy makers. Not only do they work hard, but they are giving the public a performance too!

Candy Makers, Disneyland Resort, 2/2025

Kudos to those candy makers!

CoWaBunGA  

Sketches: Musicians at Trader Sam's, 1/2025

When you have music at one of your favorite dining destinations, and it's beautifully performed by handsome musicians, you can just settle into your seat and enjoy... 

Hawaiian musicians at Trader Sam's, Disneyland resort

CowABunGA

Sketches: Cassatt "The Reader"- Legion of Honor, 1/2025

Maybe the Reader is Francoise, grown up, and reading on a sofa. Painting by Mary Cassatt at the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, San Francisco.

Cassatt, "The Reader" at the Legion of Honor, SF

CoWaBunGA! 

Sketches: Cassatt - "Francoise in Round-back Chair" Legion of Honor, 1/2025

HaPpY NeW YeAr Everyone,

I'm starting out the new year with museum sketches of Mary Cassatt's show at the Legion of Honor. The subject of this painting is adorable, sitting in the high-backed chair, reading her book.

Go see Cassatt's show at the Legion of Honor and marvel at the fantastic paintings of domestic life in the 19th Century.

CoWaBunGA