Drawing Marine Mammals with Ray Bandar.

The Cal Academy hosted a table of Marine Mammal skulls with noted skull collector Ray Bandar, Thursday June 9th.  I visited to draw skulls.

A Quick sketch of Ray Bandar.

Ray Bandar has been a significant contributor to the Cal Academy of Sciences for many, many years.  He is retired now, but if you are interested in his life collecting animal skulls, be sure to check out the Documentary about him and his life, "A Life With Skulls". http://www.a-life-with-skulls.com/

Risso's Dolphin.

Again, with neighboring Dolphins.

Northern Fur Seals.

I took a break from the Marine Mammals to draw this small Dog Skull from another display.

Back to the Sea!

Ray was fond of pointing out the the two Elephant Seals at the end of the table were Female and Male examples that were of the same age, despite their very different scale!

The Common Dolphin was a little sleeker, a little "more dangerous" looking.

Dolphins are all nice and good, but they are assholes too.  They commonly commit "porpoiscide" by ganging up on smaller Harbor Porpoises like this one and Murdering them, apparently for fun. 

English Bulldog skulls are horrifying! 

Sketching at the Dickens Fair!

Some quick sketches to get warmed up, including the Turkish Coffee brewing.

 Dean Gustafson, our dear friend who loves, loves, loves (!) this fair, took Lee and I for a visit on a recent Saturday, Dec 12.  We wandered the fair for about 5 hours, enjoying the shops, costumes, songs, musicians, food and drink, and especially, the corset models!

Some models at the Corset shop, and various fellows, including the Pewter sellers sign.

Corset Model and musicians.

Two Corset Models...

more...

Singers of swarthy sea shanty's!

An Antlered model, my favorite!

My last sketches of the day, again a corset model, looking lovely.

Recent Sketches of The Elderberries.

These are from a St. Patrick's day show by the Elderberries (http://elderberriesband.com/) I caught them in Alameda St. Patrick's week, at the High Street Station Cafe.  Great time out.

Skull sketchbook full!

Sunday November 16, I filled the sketchbook today!  It was an exciting day at the Academy, just a little more than an Hour to finish up the last few empty pages with skulls.

A return to the first skull I drew in the exhibit.  thye Walrus is the second skull you encounter when entering the room, just on the left of the door. The Tusks came out way too short, I did not place the drawing high enough.  

Another version, I got the length of the tusks better on this one, but I think they are still a little short.

The back view of the Giraffe skull, before adding the washes.

"Raffe" after the washes...

The Elephant skull, from behind.  The line work was done back in June, I added the washes today.

The back cover!

Final month of skull sketching #2!

These sketches are from November 12th, 2014. The sketchbook is nearly full!

Line: Noodlers Ahab fountain pen, Washes done with Pentel Brush Pens and Series 7 watercolor brushes, the color is Noodlers Nightshade. 

This Tiger got a little distorted. 

Fierce!  With unfortunate smears.

The little patch of blue came from blotting with a towel already stained with a Noodlers Blue.  A fortunate accident?

I can draw this one over and over.

I really like the Elk skulls, I am going to have to pick one up somewhere.

Just look at that killer lower jaw!

I love drawing the Dolphins, though I was a little tired at this point, 3 hrs of sketching!

Skull Sketching! Final month of the Academy of Sciences Skull exhibit.

These sketches are from Nov 2, 2014.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red and Nightshade.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red and Nightshade.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red and Nightshade.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red and Nightshade.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red.

Line: Fountain Pen, with Noodlers Ink, Tienanmen Red. Washes of Apache Orange, T. Red.