While I was in Walnut Creek to take photos of an industrial park for a painting commission I stopped at the Shadelands Ranch Museum to sketch. They were hosting a ladies’ tea that afternoon in the downstairs drawing rooms that looked quite charming. I explored the rest of the house but sadly they told me I couldn’t sketch inside.
I would have loved to draw the Walnut Creek Historical Society volunteers serving in white aprons, the fancy table settings, and most especially the gang of Red Hat Society ladies seated in one of the rooms. I waited outside and sketched the building, hoping to capture them coming out after the tea but they dawdled so long I had to leave or get stuck in rush hour traffic.
I drew this water fountain on the property to warm up before tackling the massive Penniman home. Then I did the three sideways thumbnails on the left to try to figure out how much of the house I wanted to draw and how I’d fit it in on the paper.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
7 replies on “Shadelands Ranch Museum Sketches”
Enjoyed seeing your drawings. What a shame they wouldn’t let you sketch inside. I wonder why, after all it isn’t invasive like a photograph! Still, there it is we have to accept these things sometimes don’t we.
LikeLike
Right. At first I thought it might be because I would be in the way of the tea party servers and guests but according to the woman in charge (a bossy volunteer I think) it’s the policy for the whole house–no photos or sketches–although it’s hard to imagine that is written down somewhere that you can’t draw pictures in the house. Jana
LikeLike
Beautiful, whimsical sketches, Jana. Shame (and odd) they wouldn’t let you sketch inside.
LikeLike
I thought it was odd too. I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to just do it and not ask first. At first I thought maybe they were worried I’d be in the way but apparently it’s their standard policy–no photos or sketches. I didn’t ask why. It really bugs me that none of our local museums allow photos or art copying. At the Rockwell show in Sacramento I was dying to take close-up photos–what an incredible master of oil painting–did you know all of those magazine covers were actually large oil paintings?—but it wasn’t allowed. Jana
LikeLike
Very pretty!
LikeLike
That is a lovely sketch of the ranch museum. Did you have an opportunity to show them your work? I’ll bet they would love it! You did a great job capturing the oldness of the building with its windows and turrets.
LikeLike
I posted the sketch on their Facebook page and got a nice response from someone. Jana
LikeLike