L.A., Part 1: Santa Monica Pier and Fisherman’s Village

 

4/11/25 Light rail ride and Santa Monica Pier

For the first time since pre-COVID, I was in Los Angeles for a few days visiting family. You’ve seen all the pastries and sushi I’ve rewarded myself with for small achievements since I started my downsizing project last July. However, I had been thinking all along that I would have an ultimate reward and celebration when I was finally done, and I decided this trip would be it. Finishing up the last of my checklist the day before I flew, I felt quite satisfied, indeed – downright triumphant, in fact! (Yes, a post is coming up with my final photos.)

While the focus of the visit was spending time with family members, I still jammed a lot of sketching into the fun, even though I was with them most of the time. Since none of them are sketchers, you might be asking, “How did you manage to sketch so much while you were with them?” The answer is: speed. A post I wrote all the way back in 2013 indicates that I had learned that secret even when I was still a beginner. Being able to sketch quickly (and therefore having lower expectations about the results) is a skill that has served me well my entire sketching life.

Wildlife near Fisherman's Village

First up on my L.A. tour was the historic Santa Monica Pier and Fisherman’s Village, both on the oceanfront (the last time I sketched at the Pier was in 2016 with USk LA). Although both areas are urban, the presence of the ocean gave me opportunities to sketch more wildlife than I would have expected.

Mandatory selfie at the historic Santa Monica Pier sign

View from Santa Monica Pier