Bird on a Lantern

I drew this digital art at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on a fun outing with my wife @denisechips recently. I am in the process of turning this drawing into an animated statement about crypto market volatility. What does a little bird perched pleasantly atop a fancy outdoor lantern have to do with such things? Wait and see.

But if you don't care about all that, then this art is also designed to be enjoyable as a simple view of nature at one of the most peaceful spots in all of Southern California, and currently with free admission once a month! My wife and I go here frequently and I highly recommend it if you like nature and gardens and open spaces. I drew this sketch on the flagstone benches near the square pond just southwest of the main entrance to the arboretum.

After creating it on the iPad with Apple Pencil in Procreate, I then took a photo of it using my smartphone, and that's when something unexpectedly wonderful happened; The black parts of the drawing on the iPad were reflecting the Southern California sky and treeline. So this art piece is extra experimental, combining photography with drawing and painting. I think that is part of my main reason for making art. It is about communication as well as experimentation.