Cathy Raingarden’s Sketchbook

Cathy Raingarden in her garden with a drawing of a poppy.

Eight different illustrations and Cathy in the middle

A vivid bunch of daffodils with the words, Breathe…

Cathy sketching in Patagonia.

It’s #marchmeetthemaker time again and I thought I’d introduce myself to you all that enjoy my drawings.

I’m Cathy Raingarden from Berkeley, CA, a visual storyteller who is an urban sketcher and illustrator. I illustrate for Edible East Bay (a culinary magazine), and the Castro Valley News.

04.03.2025 06:54 — 👍 6    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Sketching at yet another protest today. Lots of support for Zelensky and positive honks from cars. My ‘walkit’ sketch bag works so well to sketch protests. @urbansketchers #protestsketch #cathyraingarden

01.03.2025 08:20 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I’m drawing flowers in between drawing at protest marches so that I can keep my sanity in these insane times.

26.02.2025 19:19 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

The magnolias are in full bloom in the SF Bay Area and this saucer magnolia is one of my favorites. It’s blossoms are literally as large as your head! #urbansketchers #magnoliaseason #illustratorssketchbook #cathyraingarden

21.02.2025 19:35 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

My sketches are in the spring issue of Edible East Bay, a gorgeous art-filled foodie magazine. My strawberry sketches accompany an article on how to grow your own delicious strawberries. @edibleeastbay #foodie #eastbayfoodie #foodillustration #foodillustrator #homegrownstrawberries #cathyraingarden

19.02.2025 04:24 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A new political poster up on my front window. Happy Presiden… oops, Felon’s Day! #urbansketchers #politicalprotest #illustratorssketchbook #cathyraingarden

18.02.2025 00:55 — 👍 6    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I joined up with the SF Urban Sketchers to sketch the Chinese New Year Parade. It was incredibly beautiful! #urbansketchers #walktosee #illustratorssketchbook #cathyraingarden

16.02.2025 06:18 — 👍 8    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I just finished my 75th sketchbook, which starts in Buenos Aires, Argentina and ends up in our lovely SF Bay Area. The sketchbook flip through is on my IG@cathyraingarden #urbansketching #cathyraingardenssketchbook #sketchbooktour #cathyraingarden

10.02.2025 17:16 — 👍 15    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

My Meerkat just turned 6! Happy Birthday, Meer! My scared rescue puppy has slowly turned into a happy, playful dog who brings me joy every day. May I have many more years with this sweet stealer of persimmons off the dining room table and socks off the floor. Life with a dog is overflowing with love

05.02.2025 06:30 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

So lovely, Pat!

05.02.2025 06:18 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

My February Substack is up and it’s all about painting political protest posters and sketch-meditating on magenta magnolia blossoms. At CathyRaingardensSketchbook @substack #politicalprotestart
#drawingasmeditation #inmysketchbook #cathyraingarden

02.02.2025 02:58 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

My urban sketching class at Arch Art Supply in SF is held once a month, with the next class on 1/8/25 from 11am-1pm Sign up @archsupplies.bsky.social Come join the fun!

31.01.2025 01:41 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

From my sketchbook page in ‘The Valley’ lifestyle magazine of the Castro Valley News. This was the controversial welcome sign to Castro Valley, CA before it was removed due to everyone’s dislike of it. I like it, though. What do you think? @castrovalleynews #castrovalleynews #cathyraingarden

29.01.2025 21:01 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

In between inking political protest posters for my front window, I’m finding solace in sketching my local magnolias which are blooming early. #urbansketchers #magnoliablossoms @stillmanandbirn #stillmanandbirnnova #cathyraingarden

28.01.2025 19:36 — 👍 7    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0