Plein Air @ Elizabeth Gamble Garden Palo Alto CA
Surprisingly, there was no parking left in the morning, so I parked my car in the street. And saw many volunteers working in the garden. Most of they looked like seniors.
It was not easy to find a subject to paint. So much variety, encompassing herb & rose gardens, a historic home, a carriage house & a tearoom... I walked around it twice, almost decided to paint the tearoom, because it was my first time seeing the door open, but I was fascinated by the gorgeous lotus glowing leaves in the water fountain under the morning sunlight.
Immediately, I set up my workstation and started to draw. A small bird accompanied me less than ten feet away while I was painting. It was challenging to make the leaves glow, I had to paint the background darker and darker. It wasn't easy in watercolor media. At the end it looked better. (August 31 2022)