CL Studio Blog
Insight into my visual artwork. Investigations into local history. And what creative blog would be complete without the occasional DIY project?
Written by San Jose-based artist + designer Sarah J.L. Nguyen
Avila Street
Sharing a watercolor house portrait I did of this beautiful San Francisco home.
The Challenge of Abstract Art
This week I finished an abstract commission. Read about this painting and why I just can't rush abstract art.
Upcycled Vertical Storage (as featured on Redfin’s Blog!)
Painting Our Golden Hills
See how my recent piece titled “Nola’s View” came together after an inspiring mid-pandemic plein air painting session.
San Jose’s Neon Signs: Works of Art That Tell Our Story
Looking at a handful of vintage signs can tell us a lot about San Jose’s history as “The Valley of Heart’s Delight.”
Remembering Home
My friends commissioned me to do this watercolor painting of their home in Campbell, California. Read why we decided to feature the Bradford pear trees prominently in this springtime street scene.
Local History: The Campbell Water Tower
A recent commission led me to do some digging into the story of a local landmark – the Campbell Water Tower – and the fruit canning heritage of Campbell, California.
Lines in every direction
Here’s a little insight into my thought process for new work in which I begin to merge two very distinct painting styles. Plus a video!
IKEA DUKTIG play kitchen remodel
Through many late-night Pinterest browsing sessions, I discovered that there was a whole world devoted to customizing the IKEA DUKTIG play kitchen. Here’s my take on this fun DIY project.
Finishing up this watercolor cactus
Watch a time lapse of me putting down a final layer of watercolor on a quick cactus painting I did as part of a live demonstration.
2020 is almost over
If you’re like me, you’re practically counting the days left in 2020.
Celebrate the end of the worst year in recent memory while beginning to let go of the stress that’s built up over the previous eleven months with this bubble wrap countdown calendar!
I miss thrifting
Pre-Covid, one of my favorite things to do was browse for treasures at my local second-hand shop. There’s something so exciting about scouring shelves and suddenly stumbling upon the perfect picture frame or a vintage serving dish by one of my favorite California potters. I’m constantly seeking that moment where I audibly gasp, then look around to see if anyone nearby noticed.
where to begin
How in the world do you figure out what to write in your first blog post? As an artist, designer, DIY-er, and new blogger, this is what I did.