During this January’s post-holiday doldrums, we switched plans from an icy drive to Utah in favor of an old-fashioned schlep from San Francisco to Los Angeles. To clue in my international friends, SF-LA is about 400 miles away and it takes about six hours direct by Interstate 5 through the Central Valley.

I had forgotten how easy it is to travel by car. Instead of minimizing and condensing all my baggage and items to be packed like I normally do for international travel  (I usually pack months in advance of a world trip to test out everything), I could really slob out, be disorganized, and rely on last-minute tosses of extra shoes, jackets, snacks, etc. into the car. I’m not sure I like traveling this way, but why not?

We chose to take the more leisurely Hwy. 101 route. After two-hour drives between restful overnight stops in Aptos and San Luis Obispo (SLO stands for Slow Traveling), we beelined for the Getty Museum in LA. My primary goal for coming to Southern California this time was a drawing session at the Getty Museum on a late and lazy Sunday afternoon.

Once introductions were made, the art guide supplied us with pads, paper and written drawing tips for mark-making. The mixed crowd of all ages, both men and women, quickly learned how to hold a pencil six different ways, the benefit of hatching, and how to express emotions.

I was very impressed with the results of other participants. (See group review, above). A first timer but professional photographer clearly had his lighting nailed. If you are looking for a way to spend a satisfying, fun and active afternoon at a world-class museum, this is highly recommended.

Drawing in a gallery with all the masters is a bit daunting, but it’s much easier in the company of others. After observing sketchers in a few other museums that I visited (the latest at the Art Institute of Chicago), I was ready to try some drawing myself. Below is the result of a bust I attempted.