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...

Traveling west on Sunset...

...from the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, Sunset Blvd. takes you into East Hollywood...in the early days of Hollywood, this was the home of many film studios...now it's quite different...

The beautifully restored 1920's

Vista Theater stands at the intersection of Sunset

and Hollywood Blvd...a last bit of "old Hollywood", this was once the lot where D.W. Griffith built the famous "Babylon" set for his epic "Intolerance"...

Just north of Sunset is Barnsdall Art Park which sits on top of Olive Hill...with the municipal gallery and Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, built for Aline Barnsdall.  My favorite thing about the park is the views out to the city in every direction!

A sliver of Sunset Blvd. and the city beyond seen through two Kaiser

Hospital buildings...and the Hollyhock House seen from Sunset, over hospital construction...

A local Capoeira group practices on the lawn at Barnsdall Park...

and a view of Barnsdall seen from Kaiser Hospital on a bright winter day...

Views of my favorite building in Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory, seen from Olive Hill...

Exploring Los Angeles Neighborhoods

...more views of the interesting Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake,

moving further west on Sunset Blvd...

views along the Boulevard...above the bluffs, and a mystery door...

the area around Sunset Junction...

Intelligentsia coffee and 

Silver Lake people...

Exploring Los Angeles Neighborhoods

...continuing west on Sunset Blvd. through the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake...small cafes and shops, and lots of interesting people!


At an intersection on Sunset,
there's a tiny, green polka-dotted plaza
called "L.A.'s first pedestrian plaza conversion".
Local residents shoot a few hoops
while others enjoy the summer afternoon...

...at a small, weekday farmer's
market, the bluesman sets the mood
with some casual riffs...

...a block south of Sunset on Vendome, a narrow side street, is an important Los Angeles cultural site...the original location for Laurel and Hardy's 1932 film, "The Music Box"...what a treasure!  It's used by neighborhood people walking their dogs, and film fans regularly visit.  You can't help but wonder how they ever got a piano up those steps!

Exploring Los Angeles Neighborhoods

...heading west on Sunset Blvd. next takes you through Silver Lake.  I spent the first 7 years of my life in this neighborhood...perhaps it wasn't as hip then, but it's always been the home of artists, film makers and other creative people...

The hilly neighborhood just north
of Sunset as you leave Echo Park
heading towards Silver Lake...

When you're out drawing on location, you never know what you'll see!  I was sitting at the corner of Sunset and Silver Lake Blvd., almost finished with my sketch of this green jewel of a hamburger restaurant...

...when around the corner came a group of bicyclists whooping and hooting...as you'll notice, minus the usual bicycle gear!  I later discovered that I just happened to witness the "Los Angeles World Naked Bike Ride"!  This was going on in cities around the world that day...






A few blocks west, I found a corner with interesting views in all directions...El 7 Mares, old and new houses across the street, and street-side "antiques" for sale on Sunset Blvd...