Huntington Gardens Jacaranda
Huntington Jacarandas – 9 x 12 – Raffine sketchbook
The Best Laid Plans of Artists oft go awry (to paraphrase Bobby Burns.) Wendee and I arrived at the Huntington today and before leaving we both checked the website and discovered that the only way one is permitted to paint in the gardens is if you have previously registered with the Art Guild. So instead of doing a large size plein air painting as I had hoped, I used smaller brushes and painted this in my Raffine sketchbook in my lap. It’s still good 110 lb. paper but not quite the same feeling (to me) as a nice sheet of Arches. If you are in Southern California and are a Bank of America customer, many museums are open for free this month – you can get a complete list on their website. But there’s only a week left, so get busy!
This sketchbook painting represents a pathway near the Australian section of the gardens. The day was overcast and slightly cool so you’ll notice the lack of a brilliant blue sky. The periwinkle blue of the summer blooming jacarandas brightened an otherwise subdued green landscape. We have a jacaranda on our property as well but it hasn’t decided to bloom yet, but I’m looking forward to it.
Robyn
May 23, 2007
I can’t look at a Jacaranda without feeling homesick. Lovely homesick. Beautiful watercolour, Karen.
Jenny
May 23, 2007
That’s beautiful, Karen. Err, now I know who to call when I need surreptitious paintings.
c. ousley
May 23, 2007
Great sketch! I like the Raffine sketch book also.
Jana Bouc
May 23, 2007
Yummy! I love the colors in this one–they go so well together and the whole painting is so light and fresh and free feeling.
Tom Brown
May 24, 2007
Nice piece. We have a Jacaranda tree in our back yard, and a purple lawn beneath it. Great work.
Tom Brown
http://tombrownfineart.blogspot.com