The Aspen on Elderberry

Almost every weekend our neighborhood hosts a gathering called firepit. There were a couple of weeks when many families were away on vacation, so the gatherings were smaller, though we still kept the tradition alive. During one of those evenings I finally had the chance to capture a tree I had admired for years.

It is a lone aspen surrounded by sage brush, and when the wind moves through its leaves the whole tree sparkles. To me it feels like a safe place, the kind of spot where you could sit and read or simply rest in the grass. I had even told a neighbor the previous summer that one day I would paint it. I was grateful to finally keep that promise to myself and sketch the scene. Only later did I learn that the sage blooms purple, which means I will certainly return to paint it again.

Micron pen and watercolor on paper. About 2 h sketch.