Phoenix Arizona 2024

This post is a little different than the normal post. I wanted to jot down a few thoughts about my recent trip to Phoenix, Arizona.

My college friends and I have been going down to Phoenix for several years for a Guy's Spring Training. The last few years, we've discussed a second trip to some random place to bring the wives along. Several of the wives also went to school with us, so we've mostly all known one another for going on 30 years. 

Last year, on top of baseball, Top Golf, and casino visits, we hit the Innings Festival to see The Offspring, Weezer and Green Day. Green Day was an incredible headliner and I would definitely see them again. So this year, we decided to do the Extra Innings Festival and bring the Mrs's (not sure how to make that plural...). 

I'm kind of a go-go-goer when I vacation and this trip was no exception. If it seems like an intense trip, it was. That's how I roll.

Meeting an Old/New Friend For the First Time

When I started getting into pens and meeting people in the pen community, I started developing relationships via pen pals. This one person, WoodlandSprite, put out the brave call to get some new pen pals. There were probably several that responded to her, but a small group of us started exchanging letters with each other. 

I tried last year to meet up with WoodlandSprite when I was in AZ, but it didn't work out. This year, we got it on the calendar for Thursday night. My flight was delayed, which is always frustrating. However, it was more so since I knew I was going to be having dinner with her (and my wife Jenn).

We finally arrived and were able to sit down for a late dinner with WoodlandSprite. I had been up since 5:30am that day and we were eating dinner at 9pm. Hopefully she didn't think my already mouthy way of communicating was too much. My east-coast-ness comes out a little more when I'm tired...

Tempe is a college town (ASU) and I figured the college kid walking by could take a decent picture. He couldn't, but after doctoring it, I got this picture. L-R: Jenn, Mark, WoodlandSprite

Getting a Private Tour and Totally Geeking Out

Early 2023, I purchased a Karas Kustoms Bolt Pen. It was supposed to be my lucky Celtics pen that I got for the home stretch of the NBA season. Although the Celtics unfortunately lost in the Eastern Conference Finals, my second favorite (and hometown) team, the Denver Nuggets, went on to win it all. I get to see the Celtics play the Nuggets this coming Thursday. So excited. 

Karas Kustoms Bolt (and my custom cup that my wonderful sister-in-law made for me!)

At the Colorado Pen Show this fall, I purchased my second Karas Kustoms Pen. I believe it's the EDK model. 

Later in the fall, I decided to buy my first titanium nibbed fountain pen. Karas was trying out a new pen/new grip limited edition called the Ink Ultra Red Frag V2. I love the grip on this pen and the feedback the titanium nib provides. 

Through the process of buying the Red Frag, I wound up having to send back the first nib. It wasn't cut right. I worked with Gee at Karas and she got me all fixed up. I believe I had met Gee a few times in San Francisco and in Denver at the pen shows. 

I had lent my Karas Bolt to a friend a week before I left on my trip. He was enamored with it. I showed him my other two Karas pens. I should have remembered, but didn't, when I was talking with him about where Karas was based. Later that day, I received a marketing email. At the bottom of it was Karas' address in Mesa, AZ. The universe was giving me a sign, so I reached out to Gee to see if we could get together.

Karas is closed on Fridays, but Gee generously agreed to meet me. We spent about two hours going through the history of the company and she gave me a tour that was more than I could have ever asked for. It was incredible. 

I did get permission to share these photos. 

I ran then got a Lyft to get there (hence the running clothes)

I think this is the cutting machine

A big machine that does something

Gee looking back through the main shop discussing something important

Resin pen pieces getting ready for polishing

Bolt Pen pieces

Me at the Instagram booth

Gee showing off one drawer of parts. It was cool every time she opened one of these and showed all the to-be-assembled pens ready for purchase.

The clip station

The final assembly area

Some new black-on-black Modals (I now own one!)

Gee assembling goodies for me. I bought four of those purple pens as matching gifts for my wife, a friend, and my two daughters

Gee and this ridiculous guy. Look at my grin!

My 11 acquisitions... two Modals, three Bolts, six Fountain K's, and a partridge in a pear tree.

My new Celtics Pen. So far so good - the C's destroyed the Mavericks and the Warriors since I've owned it!

Seeing Friends and Rocking Out

Highlights: Donavon Frankenreiter, Christone Kingfish Ingram, Elle King, Turnpike Troubadours and Chris Stapleton

Highlights: Josiah & the Bonnevilles, Richy Mitch & the Coalminers, Sheryl Crow, Noah Kahan and Dave Matthews Band

Donavan Frankenreiter

Turnpike Troubadours

Chris Stapleton

Sheryl Crow - She's still got it!

Some of the gang (me on the right)

Oh Yeah, Spring Training Trips Should Include Some Baseball...

 Some more of the gang

A homerun was hit about 10 feet to the left here. I could have possibly gotten it if I tried for it.

  

Japanes Tea Gardens, Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, CA)

In August, I went back to the Bay Area to see my parents and to attend the San Francisco Pen Show. This year, my buddies Malachi and Brooke joined me. 

We purchased all-access passes to the San Francisco Pen Show. The show moved to a new venue this year (not far from the old venue). Friday morning, we woke up early and spent the day at the show. I had some items to pick up for friends and family, so those were the first tables I hit. I was amazed at how many people I knew at the show having attended last year and having made many acquaintances in the community.  

I sold a pen and bought two pens. Budget was blown, but it could have been worse.

Friday night, we headed out to Santa Cruz for dinner and a little wandering. 

Saturday, we headed back to the show for the morning. My Focus was on stationery that day and bought a bunch of notebooks. By Saturday afternoon, we were done with the show as the crowds were getting larger. 

We headed up to San Francisco after the show and wanted to decompress. I brought the gang to the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park. This was a place I had been to before and I knew the calm, peaceful nature of the gardens. 

I found a nice spot to sit in front of this structure. It was right along a foot path, so there were several people walking by. However, there was a little lake and the sounds of the waterfalls was peaceful. I thought this would be a fun sketch.

A lot of sketching seems to be about framing. I like using natural frames wherever possible. As you can see from the photos above, the trees provided a good frame. The question was whether or not I could incorporate the little lake, the fence, or the lantern looking structure. I ultimately decided, as often is the case, that over-working would be bad and not provide great context. 

This is a shot of my final piece. Note that my Chinese Chop stamp (upper right hand corner) fit nicely stylistically on this sketch.

I'm not great at sketching moving water, but I really wanted to capture that little waterfall. I think the water turned out ok in this. 

Couple other shots from the weekend: 

Malachi and Brooke standing on the bridge in the Gardens

Us at the Stinking Rose Restaurant eating garlic on top of garlic on top of Garlic. 

Our little friend at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk lounging away.

Door County, Wisconsin

My family decided to take a roadtrip for a mini family reunion in Door County Wisconsin right after the 4th of July. My mother-in-law and father-in-law moved back there 2-3 years ago. Unfortunately, my eldest daughter's schedule didn't allow for the road trip, so she and I wound up flying out there for a few days. I pulled a muscle in my back just before the trip and was somewhat limited in what I could do. Seemed like the perfect excuse to travel-sketch.

We arrived on a Monday ahead of all the road-trippers. We checked into our place, which was called "Grandma's Cottage." For those of you who know me, my happy place is a little rustic cabin that I (with some help) refurbished starting in 2015. I also love backpacking in the woods. Roughing it is ok in my world, but Grandma's Cottage was far from the Marriott. It was quaint and charming, but probably not updated since the 70's. 

Grandma's Cottage courtesy of my sister-in-law

The property was right on Lake Michigan. It had two structures on the land that we couldn't enter. The first looked like an art studio. The owners were obviously into painting. The decorations in Grandma's Cottage included several oil paintings of the grounds that were quite amateur, but way better than I could do. I actually learned some interesting techniques from the artist that I'll have to try down the road next time I try drawing water. 

The second structure looked like a guest house. I'm guessing it was the actual cottage for Grandma. This was the first piece I did sitting on the beach.     

I have been to Door County several times. Although I had seen some of the peninsula, I really wanted to see more of it on this trip. My father-in-law loaned us his Mini Cooper convertible, so we got to drive the farm roads in style, top-down. 

One day, we took a trip out to Washington Island. At the end of the peninsula, you catch a ferry to the island. It was beautiful. Went to some beaches, a lavender farm, and a fire tower. 

We stopped for lunch (a two hour, expensive experience...) at a restaurant called The Koyen Collection: KK Fiske Restaurant, Granary Saloon & Coop hangout. The kitchen staff must have been a little overwhelmed that day, so we knew it was going to take some time to get our food. I decided to go out and sketch this metal chicken they had mounted outside of a window (think of a life sized cookoo clock). I couldn't find images of the mounted chicken, and forgot to take a picture, but this image is from their Facebook page which I'm guessing is the same chicken I sketched: 

(I did not get permission to use)

After lunch, we went to the lavender farm and the tower. We then went to the end of the island where you can take another ferry to Rock Island (big for backpackers - added to the bucket list). It was too late in the day to ferry there, but the port was so cool. I stole a few minutes to quickly sketch this charming little property across the bay (still on Washington Island). From there, we headed back to the mainland.

On my last full day of the trip, I really wanted to capture some of the beauty of Sturgeon Bay. Sturgeon Bay is where big ships come in for repairs. There are (I think) three bridges that cross the bay. Several times a day, these bridges move to allow ships to pass. 

At the base of one of the bridges (Michigan Street) is a museum which has this tug boat, the John Purves, parked in front. Since my back was still bugging me, it was easiest to be walking and standing. So I walked onto the bridge and did the following sketch. It was cool to have other people walking the bridge and admire my work. A group of ladies actually took my picture, but I didn't get a copy. 

(fun with the aperture)

This shows about where I was. Image credit Green Bay Press Gazette

Later that night, my very talented niece and I were going through our sketchbooks. She loves drawing people and fashion. This is one of her characters that I had her draw in my sketchbook. I now have two of her drawings which I cherish. I am so envious of how she can capture people and expression!

As I write this three weeks later, my back is still bugging me, but it's getting better.