A Long-billed Curlew at El Matador Beach--Vickie Henderson

I spent the first week of November in the Los Angeles area of California where my son lives.  Most of my trip was spent assisting him with projects in the city, but whenever we had a free moment he would say...."we need to get some nature in."  My heart smiled.

I love driving the Pacific Coast Highway, watching the coast line snake ahead of me, the wide expanse of ocean waves in motion on one side, stark sandy cliffs climbing above me on the other.  When you reach the Malibu area, hidden among the ocean-side cliffs are a series of "pocket beaches" or what are known as "cliff-foot strands"-- beaches that have isolated accessibility due to the steep cliffs above them.

It was at one of these beach access points that my son said "turn hear"--El Matador Beach park. Reaching the ocean shore from the parking area required a careful downward climb involving dirt paths divided by stairways that zigzagged back and forth along the cliff face.  Not a climb for the faint at heart.  But every step of it was worth it. (If you click on the top image, you can see the people in the shadow of the boulder giving you an idea of the height of my position.)

I paused at each level to take in the view, before descending to the next level, and just before reaching the shore I spotted shorebirds foraging among the rocks.  Here is where I found  a Long-billed Curlew, a delightful life bird for me!

Prior to my trip I had purchased a Moleskin Sketchbook to try out for field sketching and brought it along with me.  Creating the sketch in pencil was easy.  But applying color was a different experience.  Watercolor on a different quality paper can be as challenging as trying a new medium. There is an adjustment curve.  In this case, the paper is heavy but not designed specifically for watercolor.  More color, less water, more near-dry brush is required.  All of this taken in with my learn-as-you-go style.  An interesting experience that I would like to be more in charge of when I apply color to the next sketch.

In the meantime, tell me about your experience with Moleskin sketchbooks and other sketchbooks you like to carry with you in the field.  And I'm wondering why we can't get a Moleskin sized book with 90# smooth-press watercolor paper in it.  Wouldn't that be a dandy Christmas present for those of us who can't seem to get around to making our own!

Moleskin Sketchbook, 5" x 8 1/4 at Cheap Joe's

To see more images of beautiful El Matador Beach visit my Long-billed Curlew posts at Vickie Henderson Art and Vickie's Sketchbook.