Sketchcrawls...

Every few months or so, there's a Worldwide Sketchcrawl, and groups from all over the world venture out into their cities to sketch.  As a generally lone sketcher, I know I probably won't sketch in the same single-minded way I do on my own, but I so enjoy the camaraderie!

In January, we visited downtown Los Angeles--some favorite locations of mine, and some new surprises...like the annual temporary ice rink in Pershing Square!  And this is one of the great things about a Sketchcrawl...discovering (or rediscovering) something in your own home town...

 The ice rink surrounded by downtown buildings and palms...


and sketching over a Salvadoran lunch at an eating area next to the Grand Central Market...























I was so taken with the ice rink, that I had to come back the next day (last day "Downtown on Ice" for the season) to do a little more sketching...

For the 39th Worldwide Sketchcrawl, our usual leader and organizer, my fellow Urban Sketchers correspondent Shiho Nakaza planned a great day at the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival which featured the Creative Talent Network--since many of the group are in animation.  I admit to doing more chatting and perusing art and books than actual sketching...some quick sketches here...

...the stone horses that guard the entrance to P.F. Chang's China Bistro...

 ...a jazz band playing in front of a shopping center...

Cowboy John...a great character model posing for anyone who wanted to sketch...seated in front of the Bank of the West...

Spring...

...perhaps the very best time of year to visit the California desert--though I'm learning to appreciate every season in the Mojave, spring just has such lovely weather.  Our visit was during "spring break", and of course we weren't the only ones who chose that time to travel, especially into Joshua Tree National Park.

I'm lucky to have lots of passenger

sketching time in this expansive landscape...

...and driving through the Park...

Lots of time spent drawing in the Park on this visit--

I never get tired of these rocks!

Hidden Valley has become a favorite spot...a surprisingly lush mix of high desert plants and trees...and loads of rock climbers on those rocks.

 ...a view here of the outskirts of Twentynine Palms...a quiet life except for the sound of distant blasts coming from the Marine Base and a few errant off-road bikes!

   Then time to head back to the city...

...through small desert towns and the Morongo Valley...and back on Highway 10 and home.

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...

Driving to the desert...and back to the city

The terrain as well as state of mind
begin to change as we leave the city,
and enter the relative tranquility of the desert in winter...

Heading east on Highway 10...

 and further east...

 ...and then we reach the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park...













I never get tired of drawing
monumental rocks in Joshua Tree National Park...

 Leaving for home, back to the city...

 Highway 62 through Morongo Valley...

And heading home...