"Ridge View" ©

The Pasadena Museum Of California Art is exhibiting Benjamin Chambers Brown (1865-1942), a plein air painter who was one of the first artists to settle and paint in Pasadena. Alone, in the side gallery I was able to move back and forth, get very close to really observe the brush strokes and layers of paint. Looking at the exhibit I found commonalities between the paintings in composition and values. It was a wonderful lesson, Mr. Brown bestowed upon me today. And with that lesson and his inspiration I painted the view from the ridge.

"Heading Home" ©

Last spring, under cloudy skies, I drove from Cambria to Santa Clarita, California. I viewed this little ranch road as I was heading home.

5" X 7", Oil on Panel

"Native California" ©

This painting is a large version of an earlier painting that was 8" X 10", done by request.

Everything in this painting is native to California. I can just imagine the rabbits zipping across the path and a lone hawk circling above.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

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"Waiting For Rain" ©

All of Southern California is waiting for rain.....

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

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"Smokey Sunset" ©

Almost monochromatic, that was my first thought looking across the road this afternoon. The air is still thick with smoke, draping our valley with it's sheer grey veil. This small painting is of our smokey sunset this evening.

Oil on Raymar Panel, 6" X 8"

"Towsley Canyon" ©

Towsley Canyon is just south of Stevenson Ranch on the Old Road. I am hoping that the fire past over this lovely valley on it's march to the ocean. "Thank You" is not near strong enough language to cover my feelings towards the fire fighters and to everyone for your good thoughts.

Humble gratitude is flowing with every breath.

Oil on Raymar panel, 6" X 8"

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"San Francisquito Canyon" ©

Yesterday a strange voice sounded over a bull horn. It was muffled and I ran out the front door, seeing the police cruiser, I knew it was about the fire down the canyon. I have never seen a poker faced police officer, no panic, no clues as to the danger, just his instruction "mandatory evacuation". Ok what do you take? I am usually organized, but faced with no time, making instant decisions was truly tough. My husband and I went into survival mode instantly. We make a tremendous team and each did what we were good at. 10 minutes later we were ready to roll and there was a knock at the door. Another officer just said, "go now", if you don't we can't save you if the situation gets deadly. A few hours later, we were allowed home and left our belongings in the car, just in case.

Today another fire rages on the north side of the valley in San Francisquito Canyon. I have painted the riverbed that snakes through the canyon for the past four years. Listening to the news in my studio, helplessly I painted the hills that hug the west side of the canyon as I remember them and hope that the fire fighters are safe and win!

"Silent Communion" ©

With the latest commission finished I jumped into this Sand Canyon landscape view. The horse and rider keep engaging my attention. I wonder how far they have to go and how often they ride down this trail and I am a bit envious of the silent communion between the two.

Oil on panel, 16" X 20"

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"Tickling Sunlight" ©

This path is out in San Francisquito Canyon. I was driving up the road and caught this view for one second. Immediately I slammed on the breaks because a painting was waiting just behind me. The whole piece is about the sunlight tickling the trees.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 8"

For the next few days I will be painting on a commission piece for an incredibly patient patron. Nothing else will be worked on until this painting is finished for her. The painting is so close to being complete, the finishing touches are all that remain to be done. I so dearly want the piece to be perfect. Impossible, I know but my goal.

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"Canyon Lands" ©

My last day of painting at the Descanso Gallery was spent in gallery 2 without a view of any sort. The posted sign at the garden entry gate announced that the artists would be painting at the gallery, so my dancing brush painted 3 lines of canyon walls. From there I just let the color take over. I was thinking about driving early in the morning up in Utah on the road that stretches between Salina and Green River. It's one of the most glorious sights, watching the first rays of sunlight bounce off the steep canyon walls. Keeping the painting simple and fun allowed me to chat while the gallery guests seemed to enjoy the process.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

"Autumn Evening" ©

Today painting in the Descano Gallery, I decided to play with the colors of early evening that we have been enjoying this lovely October. This was the last day to paint at the gallery, tomorrow we deflower the walls of the paintings that have lived there for a month. The sold works will be distributed to their new owners and the four of us can go back to our studios and paint BIG again! I have had an almost completed commission tugging at my heart and now I will be able to complete the final 2% and breath easier. It's a wonderful life.....

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Gold Dust" ©

At the end of the day, looking west in front of my home it looks as if all the wild brush has been dusted with gold. This is one of the many advantages of living on a dirt road.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

"Creekside" ©

Over the weekend I painted this piece at the Descanso Gardens Gallery. The show is almost over, only 4 more days, it's amazing how fast a month goes by. Our final reward came today when we saw the elusive Bobcat that lives within the garden. Two leaps and he was across the road and up in the "Y" of an old Oak tree. Truly a magnificent animal. With my heart rate excellerated I went back to my painting "Creekside".

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Big Sur" ©

During a conversation with a museum director, he told me that it takes 1,000 paintings to begin to understand the process, which was another reason to start this blog. This small painting is my 250th post, I am a quarter of the way.

The view is Highway 1, along the Big Sur coast. Today, in the Descanso Gallery I painted this piece with dark clouds brooding above and chilly air drifting in.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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"Tree Line" ©

Usually the "rule" is to avoid a line of trees, serving as a barrier to the rest of the painting. Once again the process of blogging is allowing me to experiment and paint a line of trees. This painting is another Descanso Gallery piece.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

"Lakeside Palms" ©

This little rough sketch of a painting was all about exploring. Painting in Gallery 2 of the Descanso Carriage House Gallery, I have the luxury of "noodling", a bit here, a bit there. Guests wander in and we talk about art, where they are traveling from and the grandchildren. My time to paint stops and starts at traffic light speed. This makes for an interesting time, but not always a successful painting. Tomorrow will be a new day and a new painting.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"September Sky"

We have had clouds lately, which have been gone for months in my little valley. I love watching the shapes and colors as the wind whips the puffs of soft colors overhead. *October 7th, this painting is finally dry enough to lay on the scanning bed and post. This is a very good example of the difference between photographing on the easel late at night and scanning the painting.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"