"Hansen Dam, Winter II" ©

If you can imagine standing at the waters edge and being totally enveloped by gold. The leaves, the light and the reflections in the water, all golden. What a glorious world, and right off the 210 Freeway!

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Hansen Dam, Winter" ©

Yesterday, driving home from the Descanso Garden Gallery I spotted this brilliant show of gold. Instantly pulling off the freeway, finding a place to park I was off and running, in search of a way to get closer to the "gold". Everywhere I turned the view took the breath out of me. I was even talking to myself about the amazing light and color. There will be several paintings out of the material gathered. Here is the first little study of Hansen Dam in the winter.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Midday Chill II" ©

The original "Midday Chill" was posted a few postings ago. The view appealed to me and I felt it warranted a larger canvas.

Oil on canvas, 11" X 14"

"Danielle and Joey" ©

"Danielle and Joey" were painted on request by her family. They supplied a super photograph and just asked me to do my best. Danielle is lovely girl I wouldn't mind adopting and I care for her a great deal. Joey is one of those amazing dogs, that come along once in a lifetime. Spending time with these two, even if it's just on canvas, was like going on vacation during the holiday scramble.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

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"In Between Storms" ©

Another storm is pounding Southern California today. White dusted mountains were visable until the afternoon when the valley became veiled completely in white gauze clouds. This little painting is the view near the 14 freeway and San Fernando Road, "In Between The Storms".

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

"Winter Day" ©

Yesterday we had real rain, the creek is flowing and you can almost hear the trees sing with joy. The clouds passed overhead, sometimes letting the blue beyond peek through, at other times solid dark fluff blanketed the valley.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Midday Chill" ©

You could hear the conversations of ducks coming from the small island of brush and reeds. The cold air stiffened my oil paint to the point of solid masses on the palette. The location is another gem on the California crown.

Oil on panel, 5" x 7"

"Breaking Clouds" ©

Caught up in the holiday chores, I went outside for break and a quick walk wondering what I would paint today. The sky was inspiring, to the west I could see the "Breaking Clouds".

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

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"Cottonwoods Below" ©

In a cold wind blowing I was lucky to get any paint onto the panel today. I met up with a few wonderful lady painters in Towsley Canyon and we painted together. This is my effort, standing on the edge of a cliff looking at the tops of the "Cottonwoods Below".

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Whispering Pines" ©

On the way up to the Sierra's we noticed the names of small motels and Inn's, deciding that they would make wonderful titles for paintings of local scenes. While standing mesmerized by the shade on this granite outcrop I heard the "Whispering Pines", which was also the name of a tiny motel a few miles away.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Malibu Ranch" ©

The California Art Club quarterly paint out was held at the King Gillette Ranch in Malibu on Saturday. Sharon Burkett Kaiser arranged everything beautifully and I am grateful for all of her efforts to make sure everyone was comfortable. The ranch was a terrific painting location. You could have blindfolded me, spun me around, whipped off the blindfold and said "paint that", and "that" whatever it was would have been inspiring. A long stand of Eucalyptus trees line the entry drive, the distant famous Malibu mountains were beckoning, flocks of ducks paddled around in a pond that reflected golden Sycamore trees, the paintable views were endless. I finally settled on this little group of buildings off in the distance with the huge Sycamore trees towering over. What a day we all had, absolutely perfect.

Oil on panel, 9" x 12"

"Fine Feathered Family" ©

I promised to post the commissioned duck painting that I have been working on for weeks. It's so large I can't get a decent photo but hopefully you can get the idea. Delivery was today and I was still painting on it yesterday. Are we ever done? Thank goodness for deadlines. My easel looks empty and I'll miss my fluffy feathered buddies. Now they hang over a carved marble fireplace, in a soft mint green sun room, floating peacefully forever.

Oil on canvas, 30" X 40"

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"Sierra Duck" ©

Prior to visiting the Sierra's I had no idea that ducks would happily swim in ice water. As their creek froze over they would all migrate to the large lake, then later in the day when the sun had performed it's magic defrost the ducks would return to the creek. A winters day routine. Preening took up a major amount of time for this high "Sierra Duck".

Oil on canvas, 6" X 8"

"Winter Brush" ©

On painter John Cosby's bookshelf I found "Impressionists In Winter, Effets de Neige". Ever curious I requested the book from my library and it finally arrived. I was inspired by the works of Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Caillebotte, and their handling of frost, snow, storms in the winter French landscape. Today, inspired I painted another Sierra piece of "Winter Brush".

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"