I’m preparing for a trip to the Western Sierra Nevada Mountains; this book is coming with me. Quote by John Muir from the intro: “The coniferous forests of the Sierra are the grandest and most beautiful in the world, and grow in a delightful climate on the most interesting and accessible of mountain-ranges, yet strange to say they are not well known.” At minimum, I hope to learn to identify a handful of new-to-me trees while I’m there.
Last of the toned paper in my sketchbook. I did quite enjoy it, but I don’t think I ever used it to its full advantage (leaving the paper as the mid tone then applying lighter and darker colours over it)—except maybe for the green man fountain sketch. I’d try another toned sketchbook, but for now I’m going back to white paper.
We rarely get more than a fig or two for ourselves, but this year there’s quite a few on the tree, so maybe the birds will share more?
Erythrina caffra, the coast coral tree or African coral tree, is a native of southeastern Africa. It is often cultivated as an ornamental and street tree, and has introduced populations in California and India. We have one growing in our yard. It’s deciduous, and puts forward both leaves and flowers in early spring. The flowers are made up of a main petal of a gorgeous transparent pyrrol orange hue, and four small petals. The main petal curves back to expose the stamens.
I spent all day indoors at the Park, in a first aid class. It was so nice to emerge into the late afternoon sunshine, and notice the new leaves on the valley oaks.
Superfast (maybe 2 minutes) paint-only sketch.
I sat in the thick oak leaf mulch to sketch this burned, twisted stump. Across from me, Jeyla was drawing mushrooms. My view spiralled upwards. Hers focused downwards. Together but apart, we breathed the damp, earthy air.
hashiworks 