Bailey and Hermon

Bailey and Hermon are two of our local parks.  I've painted at both parks quite a few times with the local paint-out groups.  Hermon was on the schedule for possible Jacaranda trees in bloom.  They were there at the south end of the long park.  Unfortunately I drove by that area, paying more attention to the busy Saturday park traffic, and missing the lavender flowers.  Instead I painted an interesting hillside at the north end of the park.  Now I know where the Jacarandas are!

We usually go to Bailey Canyon Park to paint the Matilija poppies.  It turned out not to be a good year for the poppies.  Maybe not enough rain last winter.  So I painted another hillside with some friends to chat with.  

5" x 7" Watercolor

A very busy gopher we enjoyed watching

7" x 5" Watercolor

Matilija poppies

  

Succulents!

 Succulents have been an interest of mine for many years.  It seems that they are more popular than ever now because of their relatively easy care and drought tolerance.  Of course they are also beautiful and have an amazing variety of shapes.  

I have two gouache pieces to post.  When we started painting together again I tried the wonderful fountain of succulents at Arlington Garden.  During our painting at home time I did a gouache piece of one of my aloe plants.  The challenge was a "close-up".  The aloes display some wonderful shapes and shadows for that theme.

7" x 5" Gouache

Succulent fountain past the Wishing Trees

7" x 5" Gouache