Cafe Sketches: Bird & Buffalo, Oakland - 5/2026

For Oakland Restaurant Week, we decided to try Bird & Buffalo located in the Oakland Temescal neighborhood. We've seen Bird & Buffalo while driving along Telegraph, but I thought it might be a BBQ joint serving chicken and buffalo meat; I was mistaken. It's a Thai eatery serving Thai street food, and it is delicious. To top off our meal, we were delighted by the neon motto displayed in the dining room - "Peace & Larb"!

Bird & Buffalo, Oakland Restaurant Week, 5/2026

The world needs more peace & larb...

CoWaBunGA!

Cafe Sketches: Tony's Pizza Napoletana, SF - 5/2026

I heard so much about Tony's Pizza Napoletana in North Beach, San Francisco, over the years but it wasn't until last year that I got to try their world famous pizza. Tony's is known as the home to Tony Gemignani, 13 time World Pizza Champion. The pizza lived up to the reputation.  

Tony's Pizza Napoletana, North Beach SF - 5/2026

You might have to wait in a long line, but you won't be disappointed.

CoWaBuNGA!

Fog City Java, 5/2026

Fog City Java is hosting my recent Tahiti sketches as part of my annual exhibition here in Pacifica. This show was inspired by recent travel to Tahiti where we enjoyed walking through the vibrant Papeete market, swimming with tropical fish, and relaxing at the beaches. The artworks are archival giclee prints of drawings from my sketchbook, but I enhanced each one individually with color pencil and ink; they are all framed and signed artworks.  

If you are in Pacifica and craving some good coffee with a side of tropical art, stop by Fog City Java on Crespi Drive.

"Postcards from Tahiti Show, 2026" - Bill Jeng

   

11" x 14" framed artworks by Bill Jeng

Greeting cards of "Postcards from Tahiti Show, 2026"

CoWaBUNGA

Sketches: Academy of Sciences, GGP, San Francisco - 4/2026

On a sunny day, you can sit at the DeYoung Museum and look over at the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park and enjoy the beautiful greenery surrounding the building. It's really wonderful to have such a view in a crowded, busy city like San Francisco.

Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, SF - 4/2026

CoWABunGA! 

Sketches: Waiting for the Ferry, Moorea Tahiti - 4/2026

It's a short ferry ride between Moorea and Tahiti. If you're waiting for your ferry to arrive and it's a rainy morning, you can watch the clouds swirl around the mountain top and see the colors change in the foliage as the sun comes through.

Waiting for the Ferry, Moorea - 4/2026

CoWABunGA! 

E14 Gallery: Oakland sunsets, 4/2026

Continuing my long-time association with E14 Gallery in Old Oakland, I am showing my works of Oakland sunsets in East Oakland. These are scenes along the railroad tracks by Fruitvale and 10th Street. The works are framed, archival giclee prints, enhanced and signed by me.

Oakland sunsets, E14 Gallery, 4/2026

E14 Gallery is an eclectic shop in Old Oakland featuring artwork by local artists. Stop by if you are shopping for unique gifts or artwork.

Old Oakland during Friday Farmer's Market

CoWaBunGA   

Sketches: Swimming with fish, Moorea - 4/2026

Sometimes you stare into a fish tank and you wonder how these critters behave in the wild. Well, if you snorkel in Moorea off the island of Tahiti, you can see for yourself. If you're lucky, the triggerfish might even take a nibble on your toe to warn you that you're in her territory...

Swimming with fish, Moorea, Tahiti - 4/2026

CoWaBunGA! 

Sketches: Grand Canal, Monet DYM - 4/2026

With Monet paintings, they are very tricky to sketch because there are very little to no hard lines. The paintings are combinations of colors that create the image of the setting sun over the Venetian canal. Also, it's tricky because the exhibit at the DeYoung Museum, "Monet and Venice", was packed with visitors and I had to swap back and forth between two paintings of the Grand Canal in order to get the perspective I wanted to depict. Still, it's all about colors...

Grand Canal, Monet, DeYoung Museum, 4/2026

CoWaBunGA!
 

Sketches: Cafe Maeva, Marche Municipal Papeete - 4/2026

After a morning shopping at the Marche Municipal, Papeete, you can take a break at Cafe Maeva on the first floor. Cafe Maeva serves drinks, breakfast, and lunch and you'll be greeted by a friendly barista. So, put down your bags and get a snack. 

Cafe Maeva, Marche Municipal Papeete, Tahiti - 4/2026

CoWaBunGA!
  

Sketches: Fish vendors @ Marche Municipal, Papeete - 4/2026

If you visit a tropical island like Tahiti, the protein to eat is fish. The fish is going to be fresh, most likely caught that morning, and the locals will suggest many recipes to cook that fish highlighting its unique flavors. Or, if you like raw fish, the locals prepare my favorite dish: poisson cru - raw fish mixed with coconut milk, fruits, and vegetables. You can find all kinds of seafood at the downtown market.

Fish vendors, Marche Municipal Papeete, Tahiti, 4/2026

CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Palazzi Contarini, Monet, DYM - 4/2026

The DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, is exhibiting Monet's paintings from his sabbatical in Venice. After hitting an artistic block, Monet went to Venice to figure out his approach to the water lilies series of paintings. This exhibit attempts to regather the set of paintings from Venice for the first time since they were first exhibited. 

Palazzi Contarini, Monet, DYM - 4/2026

Go see the "Monet and Venice" exhibit to witness a master painter of light and water.

CoWaBunGA    

Sketches: Fruit vendor at Marche Municipal, Papeete - 04/2026

The colors of the tropical fruits will dazzle you as you walk through Marche Municipal in Papeete, Tahiti. Some of these fruits can't be found anywhere else but Tahiti.

Fruit vendor at Marche Municipal in Papeete, Tahiti, 4/2026

CowABunGA
 

Sketches: Bakers at Marche Municipal, Papeete - 04/2026

Strolling through Marche Municipal in Papeete, you will be tempted by an assortment of treats from the local bakers. It's so hard to choose, but you cannot go wrong with pain coco. And, the price is pretty good too...

Bakers at Marche Municipal in Papeete, Tahiti - 04/2026

CoWaBunGA 

Sketches: Basket weavers @ Marche Municipal, Papeete - 04/2026

A woven handbag is a useful fashion accessory in Tahiti. It is stylish, versatile, and can be paired with most island wear. To see how these handbags are made, you can visit the Marche Municipal in Papeete, Tahiti and watch the basket weavers create one from straw. 

Basket weavers, Marche Municipal Papeete, Tahiti - 4/2026

CoWaBunGA
 

Sketches: Mural at the Marche Municipal, Tahiti - 04/2026

While shopping for refreshing tropical fruits, we noticed a two-story mural of island scenery at the Marche Municipal in Papeete, Tahiti. The colors captured the surrounding foliage and the images reminded us of the fishermen and farmers that brought the produce to this market.

Mural @ Marche Municipal, Tahiti - 04/2026

CoWaBunGA 

Sketches: Tahitian rooster, 4/2026

The rooster keeping me company poolside while I enjoy my mojito.

Tahitian rooster, 04/2026

Cockoo doo Da DOOO (CoWaBunGA) 

Sketches: Poolside at Le Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort, 4/2026

Order a Mai Tai, sit on your lounger, and watch the clouds drift by at Le Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort. Now that's a vacation...

Poolside at Le Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort, 4/2026

CoWaBunGA! 

Sketches: Sunrise at Le Tahiti Pearl Resorts, 4/2026

Visited Tahiti recently to attend a niece's wedding. While waiting for the sun to come over the mountains, it was nice to sketch the my view of the black sand beach from our balcony.

Sunrise at Le Tahiti Pearl Resorts, 4/2026

CoWaBunGA! 

Art cabinet, from Fall 2006

Here's a blast from the past, about 20 years ago:

The previous owners of the house left me a cabinet with sliding front doors, a useful storage unit but not very attractive. Since we decided to use it as our art cabinet, I wanted to be able to see inside the cabinet to find materials for our art projects. Also, to upcycle the cabinet, I added trim to the cabinet box to make it more like furniture instead of utilitarian storage. Here are some highlights: 

Art cabinet, left from previous owners. I added a raised skirt base and crown molding.

Fabricated front double doors from scrap pieces of wood.

Art cabinet, painted and test placement in basement art workshop. It fits well and can hold lots of art materials.

Door glazing is one piece of acrylic plexiglass screwed into the back of the doors. Art materials are kept in tidy storage containers that just fit into the shelves. The doors close with magnetic catches.

The cabinet door pull is from Home Depot, a decorative piece to add flair.

The cabinet has served us well over the years and people mistake it for high end furniture, not a leftover discard that just needed some thoughtful care.

CoWaBunGA 

Garage gable vent, Front side - 3/2026

Following up from my last blog, here is the installation of the front gable vent. With both front and back gable vents, there is air flow through the garage interior, reducing condensation and minimizing temperature variation. Here are the highlights:   

Garage front, pre-installation of gable vent

Gable vent placement with hole template

Test fit to check final placement and plumbness. The garage has settled on the left side and the horizontal shingle lines are not quite level. I cut the hole slightly larger to allow for adjustments in placement in case the vent appears tilted. Luckily, only minor adjustments were needed to make the vent appear plumb and level.

Hole cut into plank sheathing. The front was easier because there was no stud blocking the opening. So, it was a simple cut with a jigsaw.

Gable vent installed with construction adhesive, reinforced with screws, and screw holes filled with sealant.

Gable vent with touchup paint, complete.

Now, I can start on the interior upgrades for a garage art studio/gallery.

CoWaBunGA!

Garage gable vent, 3/2026

And now, for something a little different...

I noticed that the warm air inside the garage had no way to vent to the outside, causing condensation on the smooth surfaces on the ceiling. As part of my engineering and architecture training, we always strove to eliminate moisture buildup in the interior of a building because it is a source of mold and mildew. So, I'm installing gable vents to allow the warm air to pass through to the outside. Here are some highlights:

Back of garage, without a gable vent. I can feel moisture buildup on the smooth surfaces of the ceiling. This can lead to all kinds of water damage, mold, and mildew.

Polyurethane exterior vent

The prefab vent is a block of polyurethane, but I wanted to hide the cut shingle edge with a rabbet around the perimeter. This will allow the vent to hide any miscuts or imperfections around the shingles. 

Rabbet cut using my tablesaw.

Using the vent mailing box, I created a template to trace the wall penetration.

Placing the template to locate the vent.

Since I don't own a multi-tool, I used a drill and chisel to "cut" the shingles within the template tracing. This takes longer than a multi-tool, but works well if you are careful with your drilling and chiseling.

Shingles removed, wall sheathing exposed and marked out for penetration. One hurdle is that the opening is blocked by a wall stud. I didn't want to relocate the stud, so I left it in place and modified the hole.

Sheathing cut, all exposed wood was sealed with primer.

Vent installed with construction adhesive and reinforced with screws.

I sealed the interior perimeter of the hole as a precaution for water infiltration. The bottom was not sealed to allow incidental water to drain out. 

Garage back gable vent installed and complete.

So, the next step is to install the garage front gable vent to allow cross flow for better air movement. Sometimes it's good to exercise your construction skills to keep your mind sharp and flexible.

CoWaBunGA!

Sketches: Bouquets to Art, DeYoung Museum - 3/2026

Last weekend's Bouquets to Art at the DeYoung Museum was festive and packed with visitors, typical for this annual event. Bouquets to Art is a celebration of DeYoung's art collection by local florists who create bouquets inspired by an artwork on display. The bouquets may reflect an artwork's colors and/or shapes, or an abstract concept.

This bouquet in the Oceanic art gallery caught my attention in how the flower stems reflected the arms of the sculpture.

Bouquets to Art, DeYoung Museum, 3/2026

Looking forward to next year's inspirations.

CoWaBunGA   

Cafe Sketches: The Caffe by Mr. Espresso, Oakland - 3/2026

You can see Oakland's coffee roaster Mr. Espresso when you ride BART through West Oakland. They have been supplying espresso equipment and beans to Bay Area businesses since the late 1970's. Well, Mr. Espresso recently opened their first retail location in downtown Oakland, The Caffe. As you enter, the decorative, curved slatted ceiling focuses your attention to the coffee bar in front of you.

The Caffe by Mr. Espresso, Oakland - 3/3026

There are no lines at The Caffe, so the ceiling feature directs you to hang out at the coffee bar and order your espresso.

CoWaBunGA

Cafe Sketches: Fanny's Cafe & Restaurant, 03/2026

It's getting busy at Fanny's Cafe & Restaurant located inside the Museum of Academy of Motion Pictures Museum. Named after Fanny Brice, Barbara Streisand's character in "Funny Girl", the cafe is getting ready for Oscars night, just one week away now. 

Fanny's Cafe & Restaurant, Los Angeles - 3/2026

You can feel the excitement in the air as staff gets ready for their big night...

CoWaBunGA

Sketches: Bonaventure Hotel, LA - 3/2026

Built by John C. Portman in the late 1970's, the Bonaventure Hotel was the most spectacular high-rise building in Los Angeles. Watching this building slowly come together, I was amazed by this futuristic structure/spaceship seemingly land in the city where I lived. 

At the time, my Uncle Henry worked for the Westin Hotel chain and was able to reserve rooms for his friends and relatives. As a gift, Uncle Henry arranged a room for me (I was in middle school) and my classmates for a weekend. I think that was one of the reasons I wanted to become an architect/engineer.

Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles - 3/2026

Even today, 50 years later, the Bonaventure Hotel is stunning in the skyline.

CoWaBUnGa   

Sketches: Wakao Kei, Asian Art Museum SF - 3/2026

The New Japanese Clay exhibit at the Asian Art Museum is full of surprises when regarding ceramics. These Japanese clay artists are showing new forms, colors, and abstracting the functionality of ceramicware. One piece that caught my attention was the work by Wakao Kei:

Wakao Kei, Asian Art Museum SF, 3/2026

On the one hand, it works as a sculpture of a fallen leaf; on the other, I can also see it as a very beautiful tray holding bon bons. Either way, it was beautiful and made me pause to sketch.

Oh, this definitely needs a sketch...

CoWaBUNga!