Urban Trees

...are certainly a favorite subject...on the streets, in parking lots, or in city gardens...

A grand old eucalyptus in Highland Park that survived the windstorm a little over a year ago...

Some time after the storm, a giant oak tree that used to greet visitors  near the entrance of Huntington Gardens had to be pulled up by massive roots due to storm damage--I just happened to be there that day and had to get a quick sketch of an old friend...

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A pair of parkway trees in Montrose seen in fall, and later on in winter......and some views in the same neighborhood in summer and fall...

 Tall palms at the LA Arboretum...and on the street in Glendale...

A picnic at Griffith Park...

Gingkos just about to lose their golden leaves at Descanso Gardens...

Sketching at Descanso...

I recently taught a sketching workshop at Descanso Gardens.  In preparing for the workshop, I did a lot of sketching and thinking about things like how to start...what's important to me in a sketch...why sketch in a sketchbook?  It took me back to the basics of choosing a subject by focusing and framing...and making lots of quick thumbnail sketches.  Also...seeing in line versus seeing shape...and how seeing tone and value is key to working with color.  So much to try and convey in a few hours!

Many pages of thumbnails....here are a few--in the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden...and near the entrance.  

Things were constantly swooping, flying or running across my path...reminding me how a sketchbook can serve to catch those unexpected surprises--moments of opportunity!

Seeing and drawing in line...seeing and drawing in value and tone...

 Studies in value and color...

What to include, what to leave out...

More past studies from Descanso Gardens...

Trees, Cars and Parking Lots

...would seem to be an odd combination,
but so common...
I think of these trees as heroic, somehow...

Descanso Gardens

...is a lovely, peaceful garden in La Canada...and a great place to sketch in a variety of media...