January - Front Yard Tree

Today, in my continued inspiration from Vivian Swift, I drew another tree. This one was drawn free hand from a photograph of our front yard tree. I think it turned out pretty well. In her book When Wanderers Cease to Roam, she says, "What it takes to get through January is what it takes to get through LIFE." I have to agree. 

Sadly, this beautiful silver maple is probably on its last leg. Dale said it's good I captured it before it goes down soon.

January 19, 2015 - Drawing a Tree

It's MLK Day today so I'm home. I picked up a book this past weekend titled When Wanderers Cease to Roam by Vivian Swift. It chronicles the author's month by month stay-at-home journey and "shows how the memories of our past and the delights of our daily lives are always with us, to be savored and celebrated year-round."

One of the things the author recommends doing in January to develop a winter mind is to learn how to draw a tree. "Now is the best time to see what a tree REALLY looks like," she says. I tried it by making a free-hand based on a drawing of hers. I then photographed the drawing and colored it on the computer. I then ran it through some different filters. My effort is shown above.