We have these two ficus trees growing in pots under the arbor. They’re old — I’ve lived here ten years and they were probably here for at least ten years before that. Apparently they prefer sunny conditions but they’re doing fine in full shade. Tough old buggers.
Working on my trees. I had a huge aha when I heard Liz Steel say she uses Yellow Ochre as the yellow in her mixed greens for foliage. Giving it a go.
So many trees and wildflowers to sketch, but this stump is what caught my attention.
While painting this, I could hear a group of young kids delightedly catching lizards. I was torn between ‘free range parent’ and ‘state park docent’ as I wondered if I should fondly recall the joys of childhood or admonish them not to hurt or take the animals. I said nothing, but I had all the feels.
Five years ago, we planted a Norfolk pine on the downslope below the lemonade berry, with the goal that it would block the view of the neighbour’s flagpole from our living room. It’s now about 3.5 metres tall and doing its job with pride and gusto. These trees will always remind me of Kiama, where I happily spent my childhood summers.
I’m pretty sure this is my most-sketched tree here. We’re unsure why it’s chosen to grow so tall and skinny, but we’re now watering it further from the trunk to see if we can encourage it to spread wider.
I was back at King Gillette Ranch yesterday with the LA Urban Sketchers, very happy they chose to meet in my neck of the woods this month.
hashiworks 