Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Palm Springs

It’s time for a little Southern California, mid-century modern, wanderlust adventure this week with our Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Palm Springs!

Palm Springs is a desert resort area in California’s Colorado Desert, a 7 million acre area of land that is part of the Sonoran Desert. The landscape is arid and brown like many deserts, yet unique as it is surrounded on three sides by towering mountain ranges: Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains on the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west. San Jacinto Peak rises 3,302 m or 10,834 ft and is often covered in snow in the winter. Palm Springs is also home to the most populated reservation in California, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, who have inhabited the region for 2,000 years.

Palm Springs rose to its resort status in the 1900s when many people in colder winter climates flocked to the warm, dry location for health reasons. With its proximity to Los Angeles (only 1hr 45min away by car) it also attracted the Hollywood set, looking for a quick, hot weathered getaway to mingle and play.

Palm Springs and surrounding area are best known for:

  • the golf capital of the world
  • where “snowbirds” come to live in the winter (people who live in cold climates)
  • some of the best mid-century modern architecture in the world
  • Hollywood star homes
  • tennis clubs
  • Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals
  • Joshua Tree National Park

Follow along with the prompts below and be inspired by this desert playground:

Monday: Draw motifs or objects inspired by Palm Springs.

Tuesday – Take a photo inspired by a Palm Springs aesthetic.

Wednesday – Paint palm tree silhouettes on a colorful Palm Springs sky.

Thursday – Write a story using Slim Aaron’s 1970 Poolside Gossip photograph as inspiration.

Friday – Create a collage with a Palm Springs inspired palette.

Saturday/Sunday: Adventure – Being the golf capital of the world, use the game of golf to inspire an adventure: set up a cup and practice your putt home; go mini-golfing; wear a colorful retro, golf-inspired outfit; sip an Arnold Palmer; photograph the color green all weekend long.

Example Creative Work from the Prompt: Palm Springs

Palm Springs Drawing

Mid Century Modern Palm Springs Motifs and Drawings by Betsy Beier, Wanderlust Designer

You can follow along with this video to learn how to draw these mid century modern motifs!

Palm Springs Inspired Photograph

Palm Springs Inspired Painting

You can follow along with this video to learn how to paint your own Palm Springs watercolor sunset!

Palm Springs Inspired Story

Here is a link to a flash fiction story I wrote inspired by Palm Springs and Slim Aaron’s photograph, Poolside Gossip:

Poolside Gossip: A Flash Fiction Story Inspired by Slim Aaron’s Iconic 1970s Photograph

Palm Springs Inspired Collage

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