I love to visit the Redwood National & State Parks during my winter break. Even though I have visited these parks multiple times, the feeling I get while walking under these immensely tall trees never ceases to amaze me. My husband and I walk the trails, take photos, and quietly feel the forest. Today I want to share some of my photos, sketches, and the recent notebooks I made from one of the drawings I did there.
Reaching toward the sky
The 300 miles on Hwy 101 to the Redwood Parks is one of the loveliest drives. On that stretch, it often rains during winter months. I LOVE driving there in the rain while listening to a favorite audio book. This national park is actually a collection of California state parks set along highway 101. Each park is beautiful and different in its own way. There are trails that go off to the beach too, but we always stay on the forest side.
Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.
In the shelter of the large ones
The forest is full of other wonders as well. Sometimes small shrubs grow high up on old redwood trees. One time I found this one tree “curled up” on a shelf created by a large forked redwood tree. Ferns and lichen grow on maple, and clovers and other small trees grow on and around fallen trees. Milkmaids are usually the first wildflowers to bloom in the woods.
After a storm
Passing rainstorms often turn the forest into a magical place. This was one of those fleeting moments when the clouds and the sun were in just the right places.
I was really sick when we visited last time. I was not allowed to do any hiking; only short, safe walks. On one of those trails, I found this little fungus. I decided to come back the next morning with my tripod to take a photo before driving back home. However, next day there was a downpour. As there was no unsettling wind, we bundled up in our rain-clothes, took my huge umbrella which has weathered many a storm (for the camera, not for us), and headed up the trail. It was even darker in the forest that day than the previous day. My husband held the umbrella over our heads while I set up the camera. I may have been sick, but I got my photo.
This is an extremely narrow and twisty road that goes through one of the parks. We always pack up some tea and snacks, and spend a late afternoon there until nightfall. It gets eerily quiet as the looming darkness envelopes the forest, and the towering trees start to look even taller. I love to play around outside. However, during that late twilight-to-dark hour, I am always glad to have the shelter of our car. My husband reads, and I draw the redwoods if I am not also reading.
I finished this drawing during one of those afternoons. I am very shy about drawing with people around. However, when I am on my own, I rather enjoy drawing what I see in front of me. Once I finished the preliminary drawing with pencil, I inked it with a Fude fountain pen.
Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.
I started making a series of notebooks & sketchbooks of National Parks with my drawings of not-so-iconic views on the cover. I chose this drawing for the Redwood Trail book. I am now making the books with ultra thick and smooth paper. They are great for writing and artwork with any dry media like ink and marker.
The books are fastidiously handmade by me. They are all hand-stitched and hardcover with french fold. The cover board wraps over the edge into the inside of the books making them look stylish and elegant. You can purchase the notebooks from my shop.
I am using one of those books for my art journal. A couple of years ago on our anniversary, my husband and I walked on a 7-mile redwood forest trail that is closer to our home. Later on, I filled in the empty space on this page with the drawing of this tree. Please excuse the slanted lines, that’s my attempt at obscuring my scribbles.
A few more trees and a pair of boot prints.
Read Yosemite in Winter – Photos and Notebooks
Redwood Trail has now joined the Yosemite in Winter notebooks. You can purchase the notebooks from my shop in different colors. I can’t wait to start on the next one. Trying to decide between Arches and Yellowstone. Any thoughts?
I hope you enjoy the photos and the artwork that are inspired by this very special place.
Until next time,
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them. Hosts of linky parties – please grab a photo of you choice for your party. Thank you for hosting!
