Sometimes you get to sketch in places you never dreamed you would even be!
That is what I did when we went to Palm Springs; spending a week in a portion of the Sonoran Desert in Southern California. There was so much to I had never seen before, several mountain ranges surrounding the Coachella Valley, the Joshua Tree National Park (where the low Sonoran desert meets the higher Mohave desert), and the California State park at the top of the San Jacinto Mountains.
We had gone there to meet up with our son. We all wanted a get away; to see and spend time together after almost a year and a half of Covid pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions. We walked and hiked together, sat in or around the pool, explored eateries, and just enjoyed time together. The whole trip was a joy; such a privilege!
Of course, for me being tends to mean taking so time for sketching a some photography too.
Palm Springs, California
After spending lots of time together walking, talking, and exploring Palm Springs on foot, I left Mary and Will enjoying a refreshing mid-afternoon soak in the pool. I popped away to further explore with my sketchbook in hand. My first sketch was from inside an open air cafe. I was looking into the adjacent courtyard towards the mountains that rise on the southern edge of town. The courtyard was fill of folks popping into the various shops, galleries, or eateries around the open space. Others simply sat, strolled, or wrangled their happy kids enjoying the fresh air. You can see the sketch is complete but I Haden’t erased any of the predatory pencil lines yet!oachella Valley
The early morning light of the desert air is just so enticingly clear. Before the others were up and about, I sat on the balcony and watched the sky change color from a deep azure-violet to a pale pink and finally to a soft muted yellow as the sun rose.
Breaking my entranced gaze and ruining inside for a moment and quickly grabbing my sketch bag and a drawing board, I started an ink sketch of the tall palms that encircled our retreat. I began with a soluble ink in my Waterman Phileas pen and a waterproof ink in my Lamy Safari pen.
Soon the brush was out as I softened the ink and began to add a bit of blue watercolor and a touch of a warm Naples Yellow (it may have a touch of gouache in it too). Before I finished, I also added a bit of white and brown inks too.
We spent several more days just enjoying the sites and rejuvenating ourselves by walking and even taking a mid-20th century architecture tour. The night before we were all to depart, we had planned a nice meal at an outdoor venue after sunset in the heart of the city. Taking advantage of our last afternoon/evening view from the balcony, I made my last sketch in town. Here is a link to view the making of this small painting.
It is amazing what a respite can do for the heart and the soul. And how much it frees the eye and brain as well.
Be well and thanks for reading!
Sketching ... Always! 