Mimi Torchia Boothby

I guess if you asked me if I had a favorite tree, it would be the sequoia. Even when young, (like this one) the base of the tree quickly grows stout, and the bark color is reminiscent of some of my favorite red-haired people. They are fun to draw and fun to paint. And they leave quite a shadow. This sequoia is growing in Washington Arboretum, a vigorous bike ride’s distance from my home.

Yesterday I had the good fortune to spend my afternoon in the Washington Arboretum. The sun was shining and all the Rhododendrons and Azaleas were blooming. I tried to show the deep shadows next to the brightly glowing flowers. It’s a lot trickier to paint this stuff on location, but it was fun to try.