Tree #81

A tree across the street from our house. Some branches

have leaves, and other don't yet. I sketched this while

sitting up in bed this morning just before the sun came up.

What a way to start the day! Ah, the good life! 3-27-12

Trees #77–80

Our Redbud in the front yard. It has lost several

big limbs and this is what is left. 3-24-12

A tree across the street from the VAAM Gallery. It was my

turn to work in the gallery that day, so I tried to "get"

this through the window glass. 3-24-12

The seed pods we call "helicopters" are just abought to drop from

the branches of our Silver Maples in the backyard. 3-25-12

A different view of the same knarled and twisted Crabapple
tree in the backyard. Now, it's in bloom with lovely fuscia
flowers. I should go back and add color. A few of its branches
are dead and its bark is peeling. Poor tree. 3-26-12

Trees #75–76

This is a bush of some kind in our backyard. If it blooms,

which I think it will, it will give me a clue to its name.

All these years, I haven't paid much attention to the flora in

the backyard—I was always too busy and/or away at work.

The combination of semi-retirement and this tree "project"

has really opened my eyes. 3-21-12

Just scribbling with a box of 40+ year-old Sakura Cray-Pas

that I used in college. I used a few from another one that my

mother used, even before that. These are trees in bloom in

Wall Park several blocks away. 3-20-12

Trees #72–74

 I took a walk around my neighborhood and found this beautiful tree on Kansas Ave. The flowers were bright white in the sunlight. A beautiful shape. 3-16-12

 This isn't really a tree, is it... I bought this new box of Prismacolor
watercolor pencils, so I had to try them out, and the colors were just
brilliant. Somehow, things came up, and I never really got back to doing

a tree. I guess it doesn't "count," does it? 3-17-12

This is a branch of one of our silver maples outside an upstairs window.

The branches change day by day. I am so enjoying the opportunity

this spring to notice and "catch" the changes! 3-18-12

I had to experiment with those wonderful new colored pencils.

Here, I only used pencils that were blues, reds, and yellows.

They blend so beautifully! So much fun! 3-19-12



Tree #71

I see this tree everyday on Elizabeth St. when

I'm going back and forth to work. It's beginning

to get little leaf buds. I messed around

some more with color... 3-15-12

Trees #68–70

A tall tree in our backyard with sprouts near the base.

3-12-12

In the high 70s today, so I went bicycling, but without my camera or

sketching stuff, so this is a little bit memory and a bit imagination.

But many trees are flowering and there's more to come.

I've messed with this sketch a lot and still not happy with it.

But I guess I should just forget it and move on to the next one. 3-13-12

It was in the 80s today. This is portion of a tree I

passed while out walking. Just experimenting to "get" the

new tiny leaves coming out... I'll keep trying. 3-14-12

Tree #67(?)

It's the same spot at Wall Park Lake, but this time I did it from memory

and from the sketch done the previous day. 3-10-12 I'm wondering if my numbering is off and if this actually #68 or #69. Oh well.

Trees #63–66

 I sat on my patio, looking up at a branch of one of the silver

maples above me, and this is what I saw, looking up.

So many trees are budding! Spring is here! 3-6-12

Took a walk to Wall Park Lake in the late afternoon.

This is a scene on the walk home. 3-7-12

 

Playing with a watercolor pencil and a bit of water... 3-8-12

I sat at on a picnic bench at Wall Park Lake and
scribbled away until I got too cold. It was almost 5:30 pm.
Nice that the days are getting longer. 3-9-12
I might add a bit of watercolor wash...

Trees #59–62

 Quickie. I forgot which tree. 3-2-12

 That same twisted, knarled crabapple tree
as seen from our sunroom window. 3-3-12

One little branch from one of our silver maples as seen from an
upstairs window. So nice to see the buds coming out! 3-4-12

Just playing with paint brush and watercolors. 3-5-12

Tree #58

I wanted to understand how the branches and twigs go together.
So I did just a branch detail. Posting the date, I guess March 1
took me by surprise. Where did February go? 3-1-12