Tag: Conejo Valley

Afternoon Sketches

Late afternoon I met up with a friend at a nexus for a series of hiking trails to do some afternoon plein aire sketching. She brought a paper and pencil, I brought ink and watercolor. We walked about 30 yards down a flat trail and settled in what could appear to be an isolated area as the trail curved into an oak woodland at the lower edge of a hill. The later afternoon sun gave lovely shadows, areas of light and dark, and the oak trees were especially beautiful in that light.

This is my “warm up” sketch. I always like to play around with what I am working with to see how ink and watercolor and paper all interact. Most importantly is how the watercolor and paper work together. This sketchbook is designed for watercolor sketching, and it worked well. Here I started out with the ink and then worked with the paint. After all was dry, I went back in for some touch-up with the pen.

For this one, I painted the tree shapes with light washes. Then came the leaves. After that, some ink, back to paint, then finally ink.

The second painting is my “serious” one whereas the “play” painting was testing my tools. We spent two hours sitting in the woods, yakking and drawing, taking a few photos, chatting with passersby on bike and foot. At 5 pm the sun was going down, so pack it in, hike that long distance out, and say our good-byes.

Ink, watercolor, 5×7 on watercolor paper.

Out for a Walk

I enjoy walking through the local botanical garden. I decided to head out the other day as it has been awhile, and with the coming of spring, new growth and leaf buds await to be seen. Additionally, the annual – or ongoing? – garden clean up appears to be over, so little things normally hidden are beginning to emerge. All the photos below may be seen on Flickr – just click on one and it will take you there where you can also see other photos I have done over the years.

Green Thingies

“Green Thingies” – pretty cheerful and abstract and strange. Succulent? I don’t recall.

Boogie Woogie

“Boogie Woogie” – called thus because they just looked like they were dancing! I used AI in PS to get rid of some unsightly signs in the distance that were a bit distracting.

Remember the Fallen

“Remember the Fallen” – fallen leaves, fallen soldiers, fallen countries, fallen women, fallen in Fall, even though it is close to Spring!

Do Not Climb

“Do Not Climb” – or shinny or otherwise skedaddle around this tree! There are two in the botanical garden and I can never remember what species they belong to, but think they are fascinating.

I used a macro 50mm lens, which I find to be one of the most diverse lenses to use – close up and personal, to clarity as needed.

Nikon Z6ii, Nikon Z 50mm f2.8 Macro. Post in LR and On1 Photo Raw.

Late Afternoon

Along the Chumash Trail
Along the Chumash Trail

Yesterday afternoon I did a lot of sewing and running around to the point I so tired of the house and machines and tasks that the best thing to do was run away.

I do that a lot.

At about 5 p.m. I decided to snag the Canon G7X Mark II as all I wanted was a point and shoot and a brisk hike along a trail with trees and rocks and bugs and poison oak. It was perfect! The hills beyond the little canyon where the trail is were still covered with golds and lavender from this past winter’s rain, and alongside the trail was a profusion of mustard, monkey flower, salvia, penstemon, sunflowers and a number of flowers I don’t know. For two hours I ran around, ignoring my wifely duties of dinner (we had leftovers, so J. was fine!) and getting my mind elsewhere.

Too easy to forget about the natural world when the unnatural one demands so much time. The shade, light, sun, shadows, were not simple to get in a photo, and the colors just got burnt out in the glare or lost in the dark. In the end, a black and white with lots of subtlety seemed the best way to express the beauty of the hike.

The Other Side

The Other Side

With spring here, the hills are green instead of brown, there are flowers by the roadsides, and we have been enjoying 50+ F for several weeks – more to come, and perhaps even rain! Living in a dry land is dull at times, and as it becomes dryer, it becomes duller. So, when the poppies and lupines bloom, it is indeed a time to celebrate.

I came to Wildwood Park looking for them. Did I miss them? I think I must have, but I have seen them along a nearby road.

Despite that, it was good to get out. I took one of our dogs, too; they always enjoy an outing. Today was cool enough for a jacket and shoes and socks. The wind kept blowing my hair into my face and sometimes I would line up a shot only to see my hair in the viewfinder instead of whatever.

Here, I am one side of a deep ravine while the houses in the distance are on the other side, easily a half mile or so from my viewpoint. The bottom of the ravine is a creek which fills with flood waters and can easily kill anyone foolish enough to be in it – a few people have died over the years when the winter rains come. Today, no rain, but the sky was rather leaden, the breeze quirky, and the day just glorious.