Debs Park

A recent plein air paint-out was at the Audubon Center at Debs Park in Los Angeles.  It was a beautiful morning.  I had only been to the center for a short visit before they closed one day.  The whole park is over 280 acres which encompasses hiking trails, gardens, and ball fields spread over a lot of hillsides with city views.  The park has wonderful native trees and chaparrel, the summer drought-tolerant plants which cover a lot of California.

There is a large pond which I haven't seen yet since it's on the other side of a hill from the Audubon Center.  This natural area with available water is on the north-south route for migratory birds.  It was fun to look around in the morning.  Beautiful, dramatic tree shadows.  The view I chose to paint was a small pond featuring tall cattail plants.  I was painting from a big shadow area, and looking out into the sun at the Center building and grape vine walk.  The colorful sycamore trees, which I find to be a challenge to paint, provided some of the shadows around me.  Families were arriving for a child's birthday party so any birds coming to the pond left quickly!  I had fun talking with some of the kids who usually seem interested in painters.