A morning spent – well spent – in one of my favorite places in L.A.: The Huntington Gardens. Spring is in evidence everywhere, flowers and trees in bloom, and everyone out enjoying a cold, sunny day after days of rain.
Pano of 32 images, taken with the Nikon Df and 85mm f1.8G lens.
The Descanso Garden in the Los Angeles area is the estate of an old newspaper magnate. The grounds are vast and known for the camellias which bloom there each year. Some friends and I took a trip there, to look at the camellias, take pictures, and just enjoy ourselves. It is not an area for dramatic pictures, but rather a place for peace and quiet, and for enjoyment of a lovely garden filled with tall varieties of camellias, old oak trees, and tranquility.
After the trip to the Descanso Gardens, and the Gardens of the World, I finally got out some ink, paper, and brushes. The camellias in bloom everywhere in the Descanso Gardens, and the rows of magnolias in the Gardens of the world, pushed it. Seeing something that I have practiced painting before, in abundance, was an amazing inspiration. So much beauty! It is much different to paint something, practice something, and become familiar with it in one form – and then to re-experience it in another form.
I chose to focus on the camellia, or tsubaki. There is a lovely painting demonstration by Kazu Shimura, as well as other images in sumi-e throughout the web if you google. Photographs help, too, ones you might take or you might find.
The petals have a light ruffled edge, the center stamens and pistils point outward. Blossoms vary from a few petals – as seen in Shimura’s paintings – to multiple layers. The leaves vary in shape, but in general are long and round and end in a point. The edges of the flowers are hard to do gracefully, for me at least. The leaves are easier. I spent several hours just practicing the outline of the petals.
Yesterday at a local garden supply store, there were camellia bushes for sale. I may just buy one for more up close studies as this is the season of bud and flower and leaf.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 