Garden Journal

Garden Journal

Ink on  handmade paper

I don't usually write in my journal but I thought I might just this once.  I won't again.  Here is what it says if you can't read it from the picture.

I can’t believe it is already 12:00. I have been working in the garden since 8 and I am ready for a rest. I have had a Towhee with me all morning but now I am not finding one bird to sketch. This is one of my new plants from the Green Scene. It’s a pink/salmon geranium. It’s name is Belinda.

Washington Navel Orange

Washington Navel Orange
Ink on handmade paper Journal


I love my little orange tree. I planted it when the children were little (they are in their 40's now) so that we could have fresh squeezed orange juice for breakfast. Well of course they are not around very often now but I still am enjoying my fresh squeezed orange juice every morning. I have 21 oranges left for this season. I only use the fallen ones so that they last longer and of course get sweeter. I have pruned it smaller now, only 6 feet high so I can take care of the tree without getting on a latter. I cut my apple back this year for the same reason. The apples will take care of my fruit needs till well after fall and of course all the veggies are coming along fine. I have already been eating tomatoes while I have been weeding.

Coffee Shop Parking

Coffee Shop Parking Lot

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I sketched this over a month ago now and am finally getting around to posting the things that have not been posted since my computer problems.  I always find the parking lots interesting with all the cars and all the people that must go here and there and of course grab their cup of coffee for the road.

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach

Watercolor on Arch paper

I got to go to one of my favorite places - the beach. It turned out to be a beautiful day with some clouds, cool breezy fresh air and of course the color and movement of the water. I wish I could have spent hours but a stolen 30 minutes was all I could manage. Painting a quick sketch is a great way to spend a mental health moment. I feel so blessed to have paints in my car, an ability to use my art tools, a location that is so healing and the ability to post without too much trouble. I say that tentatively because I am still on my old computer.

Painted Dish

Painted Dish

Glaze on ceramic

I tried something new and painted with glaze on a ceramic dish last week. It was fun and different. What do you think?  It is micro and oven safe.  I think I need a service for four.

Channel Islands Exhibit at the Fullerton Arboretum

Channel Island Exhibit

Fullerton Arboretum

Ink in handmade paper Journal

A few weeks ago my garden/art buddy and I went to the Fullerton Arboretum to see where the Orange County Geranium Society booth will be for the Green Scene You can find it at this link: http://calstate.fullerton.edu/news/Inside/2009/arboretum-green-scene.html. I will be working the booth on Saturday so come and visit. We will be selling pelargoniums (commonly known as geraniums) varieties such as Zonal, Scented-leaved, Ivy-leaved and Regals. I will be sketching like last year so if you are going to visit don’t stand in one place for to long or you will be in my next week’s posting.  This time I am not going to forget my camera.

Riverside Garden Tour

Riverside Garden Tour

Ink on handmade paper journal

Computer ........ Can't afford them and live without them.

Well I had another computer hospitalization but she is back now and fully loaded so tomorrow I will be back at posting and try to post the sketches and paintings I have been working on for the last 2 weeks.

Walking in the Fog

Spring is here and for California that means fog. I walked out the door and went right back in for my camera. Foggy walks are my favorite,

First I found this clover blossom. When I use my macro lens I have to wait to see what I captured when I get back to the computer. All of these pictures can be enlarged and I tried to make them as large as possible.

This is a Dandelion.  Enlarge this one to see all the little droplets.  Very Cool!

This one I gave a little boost with Photoshop.

IRIS

Iris

Graphite on Journal

I have been working in my garden getting ready for the growing season. I have pruned for weeks now and still have not finished and the weeds are everywhere. I really don't mind weeding it just is never ending. I consider my yardening activity just like go to my local gym. I work in the garden for a few hours a day normally but during this part of the year the time is much more because there is so much prep in veggie gardening and getting those roses and fruit trees under control. My sketch for today is the sketch I work on when I just need to sit for a while to rest, hydrate and enjoy the wonderfully fertile soil that is now visible because I have pulled all those weeds out.

Brea Hills

Brea Hills

Graphite on journal

The snow is still visible from the trail that Ivy and I enjoy and so I took the time today to sketch the view. I notice the view is changing because a housing development has claimed the crest of one of these slopes. If they would have just dropped the houses down below the top of the hill there would still have been a view and would not have ruined the visual impact of these hills. Ah money, that's what its all about. If a community sets its standards around money I find esthetics suffers.

Light blue Iris

Iris

Graphite in journal

This is a new Iris in my garden. My friend Lillian and I splurged last year and purchase a few new colors to add to our gardens on the plan that when they multiplied we would share with each other doubling our plants. Lillian.... are yours blooming yet?  This one is the most lovely shade of very light blue and about 30 inches tall.

A View of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Ink on handmade paper journal

It rained yesterday and when it rains the sky is clean and clear for a few hours. Today, from a walking trail in the hills I could see Los Angeles, about 40 miles away, very clearly. I always forget that I live in a basin surrounded by mountains and hills because you usually can't see them because of smog and air density.  

Iris

First Iris of the Season

Watercolor, ink

It's happening! Everything is starting to bloom and leaf out like apple and pear blossoms, veggies like tomatoes, squash and potatoes and of course daffodils and iris and weeds. Oh ya, and nasturtiums everywhere. I made my salad with the flowers from my nasturtiums today and the lovely fresh radish taste just was delightful. OK everyone out there where winter is still at your door step…..spring is coming.

Rainy Day Flower Box

Window Flower Box

Watercolor on handmade paper

I went out early to do my walking with Ivy and to capture a sketch so I could participate in the Skethercise group I belong to. I had sketched this last week but didn’t paint it because it was raining. I painted it when I got home from my walk

Portrait

This is a portrait of someone who didn't know I was sketching her.  Meetings are wonderful for this kind of thing.  Everyone is traped...... some listen some drift away in thought and some make shopping lists or sketch.  I think she was on a mind vacation. 

Walking Trail

 

Hiltcher Trail

Watercolor on Yupo

It was supposed to rain today but I gave it a chance and even thought the clouds dance with the sun creating these wonderful shadows and bright spots of sun I was able to walk, paint and get home before the clouds opened.

Reading Glasses

Reading Glasses

graphite on paper

Peaches from South America

Peaches

graphite on paper

I have started a new sketchbook that is just for graphite.

Doodling

Doodling

Pall point pen on paper

I know you have all done it. 

Doodling. 

That is when you just see what happens as you draw lines on paper until you run out of

paper, ink or time.