[18] Today’s prompt is Three Materials
Make a portrait of a tree using only three materials.

Ah the DRAMA! It’s April, so all across the Sonoran Desert the blue palo verde are BOOMING and BLOOMING! The yellow is so intense, the green trunks and branches a delightful counterpoint to such vivid brightness. Every plant has a bloom time, but the green palo verde goes GONZO!

Today’s 3-materials challenge brings a fresh approach…as ArborApril progresses, I’ve noticed my work getting more detailed. more involved, more…cramped? Time to open up again! Using only 3 materials is just the invitation I needed.

Featured tree: Blue palo verde ~ Partkinsonia florida

3 Materials:

• Yellow Caran D’ache Neocolor Crayon
• Aquamarine colored pencil
• Deep blue Foray by Venus colored pencil

Inspiration: Watch Draw a Tree Portrait with 3 Materials tutorial video by Cathy Raingarden!

---

About the #ArborApril challenge

Join the month of drawing and journaling trees!

#ArborApril2025 is a combo challenge with #NatureJournalingApril, a month-long sketching & journaling challenge hosted by Cathy Raingarden, Kate Rutter, and the Wild Wonder Foundation. Each day in April, create a page in your sketchbook or nature journal based on the daily prompt from the prompt list. If you post on social media, use hashtags #ArborApril2025 and #NatureJournalingApril.

Posts & prompts will be on online at Instagram, Wonderland, Substack & Bluesky.