Burlingame Post Office - 94010

Got a 1 hour study of the Burlingame Post Office sketched out. Every time I look at this building, it serves as a reminder of how much times have changed. In most small towns, the Library, City Hall and Post Office are some of the nicer looking buildings and symbolize the might of the government and its ability to provide services at the local level.

Burlingame is a fine town and looks well kept in most regards, but the Post Office has fallen into a state of decay. Since I have lived in the area, I have watched the chipped and cracked exterior lose even more of its paint and the sewage has been leaking on the rear lawn facing Lorton street for a couple of years at least, resulting in a patch of lawn that stinks and can be unsanitary for kids to walk through.

The worst thing is the Colors that fly on the flag pole are tattered and wind whipped so that the ends of the stripes are frayed and separated. I think this has been replaced at least once, but not enough.

The interior has nice features and if restored would be quite nice, but the need for this large of a building has passed with so many of us using digital media.

I am sure the city or a private developer has eyes on the property, and I hope that it will continue to have some public space no matter what they do with it. Perhaps it can continue to honor the spirit of it's former use and let people have a patch of grass and some benches to enjoy the rest of what the town has to offer.

Sketch A Day 3 - Point Bonita Lighthouse

Started this Friday off with an early morning trip to the VA hosipital at Ft. Miley, a hidden gem in San Francisco. That early morning light on a rare, fog-free morning creates beautiful shadow shapes on the mountainous basalt cliffs across the narrow Golden Gate.
   Did this 30 minute plein-aire sketch with that Cintiq Companion Hybrid. using Artflow, a terrific combination.

Transniestrian Holiday

Traveling with our son Arthur is difficult to say the least. Adjusting to the time zone is the hardest part after the flight because we can only sleep when he does, forcing us to nap during the day because we have only been able to sleep in 3 or 4 hour blocks at night.
On the plus side, his grandma and great grandma are cooking round the clock to feed us Moldovan style. Here is a picture of my second breakfast on our first day waking up in Tiraspol. We awoke at 2 and had our first breakfast , by 9 am in this picture great grandma added a glass of Muscat to the mixture. Today I did some of my first sketches of the local architecture which are basically soviet style apartment complexes. I will update this post with some better images when I can, working out of pocket.