Ananda Ashrama

I realized I haven't posted these two watercolors I painted on two visits to the Ananda Ashrama in La Crescenta.  It's such a beautiful and calming place covering 120 acres and featuring some very special buildings, some stone, from the 1920's.  Such a treat to paint there.  I'm hoping to return sometime.

Watercolor 10" x 8"

Watercolor 8" x 10"

Part of the mosaic cactus garden walkway. 

Spring Flowers!

With a winter season of more than normal rainfall here in Southern California, the flowers this spring have been gorgeous.  Last week two paint-out groups had some wonderful purple/lavender Jacaranda trees to paint.  This year the trees' flowers seem to me to be more vibrant than we usually see.  A few months ago painters were noticing the many hillsides covered with bright yellow mustard flowers where there had been dried weeds before.  So many beautiful views to paint!

Watercolor  10" x 8"

Pen and Watercolor Sketch 5" x 7" Avenue 64

Watercolor 5" x 7" at Elephant Hill

Sketchbook, pens and watercolor

White Flowers

On a couple recent spring Saturday paint-outs we had some beautiful white flowers blooming.  I was happy to get to try some Matilija poppies again last week at Bailey Canyon Park.  I painted these at Eaton Canyon a few years ago, Matilijas.  A few weeks ago we were at Memorial Park in Pasadena where the white iceberg roses were blooming.  Hard to believe it's been six years since I painted there, Another Park!  We've had some beautiful flowers this spring after our rainy winter.

Watercolor 7" x 5"

Watercolor 5" x 7"

Two Gardens

The flowers in Southern California have been spectacular this year due to the high rainfall totals we've had.  Flowers always bring out the plein air painters.  I'm looking forward to more paint-outs at local parks and gardens this season.

Arlington Garden, Watercolor 5" x 7"

Wrigley Rose Garden, Watercolor 5" x 7"

Eucalyptus Ptychocarpa

Every Day in May

Every May there is a world wide challenge to do a sketch for every day of the month.  In late April a list of subjects, or prompts, one for each day, is posted on several social media sites, like Facebook and Flickr.  This is the fifth year I've participated.  I haven't ever done a sketch for each day, but try to do as many as I'm inspired to sketch.  Each year I've tried to attempt a different way to sketch, using different materials or a different approach to the subjects.  This year I'm trying to just use a variety of pens and not any watercolor.  It's always a challenge but so much fun, and great to see how other artists interpret the subjects.

Yellow House X 2

On two visits to Garfield Park in South Pasadena, I painted the pretty yellow house across the street.  The park is surrounded by a neighborhood with interesting homes.  In 2016 I painted a cat sitting across the street at Park Avenue Park Avenue.  The yellow house on the corner is an interesting subject and I'll probably try it again.

8" x 10" Watercolor

5" x 7" Watercolor

Park view

Azalea and Jade

Since it's spring, I've felt like trying some paintings of flowers...a closer view instead of my usual landscapes.

The azaleas below were painted at our local Arboretum last week.  The cafe there, the Peacock Cafe, had a peacock appropriately posing for photos on the sign.  At Arlington Garden I tried a potted "sunset" variegated jade plant which was such a bright yellow that I couldn't resist.  And last Saturday I sketched my friend Barbara's potted porch plants.  I've found that I need much more practice on flowers!  That does sound like a fun goal.

7" x 5" Watercolor

7" x 5" Watercolor

 

Stabilo and Micron pens