To the desert and back...

Driving out to the desert and Joshua Tree National Park in December has become an annual tradition...here are some sketches from that trip.  Starting as always, with freeway sketching...

A visit to the lube shop, and heading out on the highway on an overcast day...

 The drive takes us on many miles of freeway, into desert terrain alternating with little desert towns along the way.









Drawing something familiar invites experimenting with new tools...here, a Japanese calligraphy brush pen and some water...

 The first day in Joshua Tree is very cloudy, gray and moody...

The next day the sun is shining brightly and all the desert color emerges 

as I draw in my favorite spot, Hidden Valley...

A quick sketch of our dear friend Richard over breakfast at a funky cafe in the town of Joshua Tree...























The time goes by so quickly, and then it's time
to head home, back to the city...I bought a child's set of water-soluble pastels with bright, saturated colors...something new to experiment with on the drive home!