Doodles

calling voters: A doodle diary

| Susan

I became a political activist in 2016 when my beloved country lost its mind and elected Don the Con as President. Since then, I’ve engaged in all manner of ways to get citizens to register and go to the polls. This past cycle seemed particularly critical as a myriad of election deniers were running for high office, including secretary of state and it seemed like our Democracy was in serious jeopardy.

In my experience, taking action is powerful. And it sure beats sitting around worrying! So, I joined my illustrious phone banks and called Arizona voters.

There are usually several minutes between the time someone hangs up and another answers; I tend to be jumpy and the adrenaline flows so, I doodle. They are pretty much stream of consciousness and include quotes from the folks I call. The one about Goth Girls I did afterward because it was so completely random and therefore, my favorite call of the weekend.

NYC long weekend to see the Michelangelo Drawings

| Susan

The incredible show at the MET will only be there until mid February. My sister Tobie encouraged me to go since the drawings will only be shown this one time. We jumped on a plane and had a wonderful long weekend in the Big Apple. It even snowed all day on Saturday and accumulated 7″—what a treat!

Of course, I sketched. Here are the pieces I did.

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Found this great bar, the Fat Cat, with live Jazz

GuitarPlayer

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Through the window at Tea and Sympathy in the West Village. While waiting for my old friend, Amy.

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Artifacts from the wonderful National Museum of the American Indian in the old Custom’s House in lower Manhattan

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Please excuse. A doodle to fill my time on the plane.

Family Reunion and Mini-Vacation

| Susan

For the first time in over 25 years, my mother’s family had a reunion. I love my family and we always have great fun together. I’m very fortunate that so many live within 2-3 hours from San Francisco. But I don’t see the rest of the gang much at all.

So, I was excited that our family was getting together in Monterey, CA, only 3 hours from us. I designed the t-shirt and helped with some other details. Pictured below: My great grandmother, Bertha Soloveichik Tumpson and Albert Joseph Tumpson.

I_survived_the_Reunion_webWe drove down on Friday and ran into traffic in Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, of course. It’s still so beautiful on the coast. We were blessed with incredible weather, sunshine and not too much wind.

The incredible Janet Takahashi taught me to sketch when I’m a passenger in the car. This is a great distraction when traffic is heavy. Even if the work is rough, it’s fun!

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The reunion was cousins galore! I caught a few:

The answer is, “At the Louvre.”

Following the big event, we got some needed R & R on the Central Coast in lovely Cayucos, north of Morro Bay.

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We caught some FUN waves.

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And on our second day, visited Morro Bay.

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The sign says, “Death from Drowning happens once in a lifetime. Undertow of surf can make return to shore impossible.” The waves were churning and there around 30 surfers were catching rides.

The rock itself is impressive and beautiful. On the other side of the spit, there were two dozen otters lazing in the water. Not shown here are the towering smokestacks of the power plant; an odd imposition on an otherwise picturesque location.

Back in Cayucos, we assumed the position.

Mitch

Sad to end our wonderful mini-vacation, I could only muster a weird doodle in the car.

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More Sketches of 2017

| Susan

A few new sketches from Spring of this year.

 

March and April were busy. I went to the town hall to hear my Congressman Jared Huffman answer questions. I made calls to Georgia voters for Jon Ossoff in Georgia, marched for 45 to reveal his taxes, went to a climate rally and a Mill Valley Community Action Network (MVCAN) meeting. Sketches were created.

Down in the Baja

Año Nuevo State Park.

We saw a few of the famous Elephant Seals. They’re pretty funny looking. We learned that the Grizzly Bear and the Elephant Seal have a common ancestor. Pups are “weaners.” Elephant Seals spend most of their time way out at sea (3000 miles) They came to Año Nuevo Beach in California, to shed their skins and later, to give birth.

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And we hosted a birthday party at our house for our friend Seth.

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Grand Newsstand and Robin’s Studio

| Susan

I just spent a day with Dominique and Robin in Oakland at Robin’s. Her house is beautiful and her studio is every artist’s fantasy – wonderful light, space, and all kinds of fantastic supplies. I couldn’t resist drawing one wall of the space, chock-a-block with treasures.robinsstudio1

I am also fascinated with the Grand Newsstand on Market which sells a variety of ZINES. It’s such a cool kiosk type of thing and of course, I love zines!

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Travel to PA/NJ/NY in December

Image | | Susan

I can get really bored on a 5 hour plane ride. Especially when we have an extra 1.5 hours to stop to refuel (in beautiful Salt Lake City). Started these pen and inks at the Museum of Natural History in NY and at the Metropolitan. Painted them on the plane. I got a little carried away but it was fun.

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