During my vacation in San Diego, I decided to spend some time sketching at beautiful Balboa Park. This place is full of fascinating architecture, lovely gardens, and charming corners that are perfect for urban sketching. I wanted to challenge myself with different views, perspectives, and lighting conditions. I brought my small watercolor kit and couple of brush pens to keep my sketches quick, and enjoyable. Here are five wonderful spots I explored with my sketchbook.
If you like my sketch trips, here is my post from previous San Diego sketch trip.
See my big watercolor set here.
Casa del Prado
My first sketching stop was Casa del Prado, a beautiful building with an incredibly detailed facade. I loved its decorative elements, elegant arches, and unique architectural character. The biggest challenge was simplifying all those intricate details while keeping the building recognizable. I focused on the main shapes, dark openings, and shadows rather than drawing every ornament. I think this approach helped me capture the character of the building in my loose, expressive sketching style.
Casa del Prado Courtyard
My next sketch was inside the lovely courtyard of Casa del Prado. I thought it would be interesting to capture its perspective, repeating arches, and beautiful contrast between sunlight and shadows. I also included the greenery in the foreground to add depth and make the composition more interesting. Looking at my finished sketch, I think I could have added stronger shadows to the building to make the scene feel even sunnier. It was a great reminder of how important light and shadow are in watercolor sketching.
Timken Museum of Art
After exploring Casa del Prado, I visited the Timken Museum of Art. It’s a lovely small museum with free admission and a rich art collection. To challenge myself in a new way, I sketched a portrait of a gentleman from one of the paintings. I focused on his facial features, distinctive white collar, and dark clothing, keeping my watercolor palette simple. I really enjoyed sketching inside the museum, although it could get a little crowded at times. It’s definitely a wonderful place to find artistic inspiration.
The Botanical Building
The Botanical Building was another exciting sketching challenge during my visit to Balboa Park. Its beautiful arched structure and lush greenery create an interesting composition full of perspective and depth. I wanted to capture the feeling of looking through the building toward the distant plants and arches. Since some areas were quite crowded, I chose a quieter spot and took a reference photo before starting my sketch. This allowed me to check the details whenever I needed while keeping my sketch loose and expressive. I especially enjoyed combining the warm reddish tones of the structure with the different shades of green.
Spanish Village Art Center
My last sketching stop was at the charming streets of the Spanish Village Art Center. I immediately fell in love with its narrow pathways, warm-colored buildings, flowerpots, and cozy artistic atmosphere. Everything looked so inviting that I couldn’t resist capturing this lovely corner in my sketchbook. I simplified some architectural details and focused on the perspective of the narrow street, soft watercolor washes, and colorful flowers in the foreground. It was a wonderful place to finish my sketching adventure at Balboa Park.
Sketching at Balboa Park was such an enjoyable part of my San Diego vacation. If you love urban sketching or watercolor painting, I definitely recommend bringing your sketchbook to Balboa Park. There are so many beautiful corners waiting to be discovered, and even a quick sketch can become a wonderful memory of your travels.
