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| 4/1/13 watercolor, Stillman & Birn Gamma sketchbook |
The flowering cherry trees didn’t get their reputation for being fleeting for nothing. Less than a week after they first started blossoming, they are now at their peak, and today’s stiff breeze was
already prompting snowfalls of petals.
On my walk around Green Lake this morning, I spotted an
enormous cherry bursting with puffy blossoms, and I knew it might be my last
opportunity this year. This afternoon I took my large sketchbook and my trail stool
down to the edge of the walking path.
With my typical 8 ½ by 5 ½ inch sketchbook, I prefer to sketch standing up with my paint box clipped onto the book’s cover, but with an 11
by 8 ½ inch sketchbook, I can’t do that. Clearly not one of the en plein air painters who occasionally
set up their easels on shore, I attracted more attention than I usually do when
I sketch. It was probably the awkward stance: Hunched over my tiny stool, holding
the book on my lap, leaning over constantly to dip into my paints on the
ground. Everyone who stopped by commented on the tree’s beauty and how its blossoms
seemed to appear overnight.
In another few days, they’ll be gone just as quickly:
transient as life.
I love this tree, Tina!
ReplyDeleteSuper sketch!!! It is a shame that they last such a short time...give them one wind storm or rain storm and the petals are nearly history. At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden they have a walkway of cherry blossoms and it is so awesome to see. Maybe I'll luck out and be able to get there before I leave.
ReplyDeleteWow..cherry blossoms already? I'd be happy to see a leaf, Tina :-) I envy your ability to sketch while standing. I can do it if pressed but my sketches suffer for it.
ReplyDeleteCheers --- Larry