When the mustard blooms, spring can’t be far away. And last week in Saratoga, California, right by the public library, Nina and I hit a fantastic day with clear blue skies, warm weather and mustard in bloom.
Those strange drips going upwards? I guess that means I turned my book upside down before my paint dried. When you throw as much water at a page as I do and then quickly walk away to your next sketch, it happens…
There’s this legend about the mustard in California.
The padres traveling north exploring California brought wild mustard seeds with them. They scattered the seeds along the path knowing that in spring the blooming mustard would mark a golden pathway for explorers who might follow and also mark their way back home when they returned southward.
Sounds poetic, isn’t true. Still I think of it every time I see the mustard all over California.
This is a view of Saratoga Public Library from across the street, mustard in the foreground, purple mountains in the background. Such a perfect California scene.
One last quick sketch inside the library before heading home.
Your work is so great; I love how easy you make it look. Imagine being able to just drop into a library and create something like you did. I am at once amazed and jealous (in a nice way!) 🙂
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Your sketches are alive and vibrant
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Love your work. Have not seen much of it lately.
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Another stroke. Amazed at what you do and how you do it…!! Do you start with a pencil or pen and then watercolor? You must be carrying all the tools with you everywhere you go.
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all my tools go everywhere, always, in a backpack. they’re small: see the supplies tab of this blog. I start different ways for different pieces. the two landscapes probably have 3 or 4 pencil lines put down on the page first just so I know what I want where, then it’s paint. then line. The people sketches use a brushpen and watercolor
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Nice. I should give it a try.
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Nice views of California. Tons of snow here and still a long way until spring.
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It’s coming !!! Spring, that is 🙂
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