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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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