[21] Today’s prompt is Throwing Shade.
Use shading and value to show volume in a tree.

This spritely new street tree in our ‘hood is plumping out so beautifully! With such dense and clumpy foliage, I thought it would be interesting to channel the ‘wayback machine and use cross-hatching (like ye olde masters) to shade and shape volume. And why not do four versions? Each from a different side, since the light and shadows change and reveal different forms?

Some experiments work. Others do not. I always learn a lot tho.

Featured tree: Ginko ~ Ginko biloba

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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.