I sketched this page as a friend and I walked around the Rosie the Riveter Visitor Center in Richmond. I used pencil and Staedtler permanent marker. Afterward, we relaxed outside the center at a picnic table with a view of the Bay, watching the birds and sailboats. While there, I added color to the sketch from my small watercolor kit. Admission to the Visitor Center is free. It has very interesting stories of the Richmond area and the huge influx of workers who migrated northward for wartime work. Society saw major disruptions and changes, affecting women’s rights, racial relations and civil rights, early Queer rights, access to health care, and unions / protections for workers — all these issues and more came to the forefront in the Richmond area and nationally at this time. From the National Park Service: “The term ‘Rosie the Riveter’ was first used in 1942 in a song of the same name about a woman working in an aircraft factory, and over the years has come to symbolize all women who worked in defense industries during WWII.”
Painted Susan’s dog Lilly and cat Kiki. Cats are difficult to paint but it was a fun challenge; this tortie has such wondrous swirling colors.
Observations in watercolor by California artist Beth Bourland. Paintings & sketches are available for purchase.