"Kern River" ©

Driving up the Kern River Canyon there are several spots to pull over and picnic while enjoying the river view. This was my first attempt painting the Kern on the trip last week. The first painting is always exciting, figuring out the palette of the landscape and how to paint what I am seeing that is so different then what I typically paint at home.

Painting on Source Tek panels, #66, always helps, the little lovely linen panels practically paint themselves.

Oil on panel, 10" X 12"

"Riverkern Beach" ©

About 8:30am, along with artists Marian Fortunati, Diane Nelson Gold and Sharon Weaver we painted at Riverkern Beach, just a few minutes from downtown Kern River, CA. The conditions were perfect for painting, no bugs, snakes, wind and quiet except for a volleyball game at the campground next door. Actually, while your painting you don't hear anything, so the guys yelling didn't matter one bit. We had a great trip, painting and sharing. Lucky girls!

Oil on panel, 10" X 12"

"Sun Dusted Creek"

Our city purchased more "open space" off Quigley for hiking, biking, horseback riding and just plain enjoyment recently. I was walking late in the day and saw this view. Of course it ended up on canvas, what else was I to do? It's only about a mile from my home, so there will be more paintings of the Quigley Open Space to come.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"King Gillette Ranch, Morning"

Yesterday the California Art Club's Ventura/Malibu chapter held a paint out at King Gillette Ranch. Located just over the mountain from the ocean, we were out of the haze but could see it drifting over the ridges. George organized the event perfectly as usual, he even sends us maps with little notes of where to park. This was my painting for the day, now looking at it I see bunches of details I should have adjusted while painting but standing out there it's too easy to just paint what you see. The never ending learning continues!

Oil on panel. 9" X 12"

"Morning Stream"

After being gone all weekend, exhibiting in Pasadena it felt great to be back at the easel today. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and visited the show, I so appreciate your time and purchases. This is a scene in the Teton Valley about a mile from my cabin last summer. I have wanted to explore painting the view since the morning that I saw it. It's typical of the valley, a meandering stream, lined with tall cottonwoods.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Alpine Summer" ©

This painting is about 75% done, but I was feeling neglectful about not blogging, so I am posting the process. The location is a mystery to me, the image was a gift from another artist. Actually she gave me 1,000's of landscape slides, a treasure chest of beautiful locations around the world.

Once the painting sets up a bit, I'll paint the detail. At the same time I will look at the tree tops to make sure they have some interest and add some rocks in the grass to balance the rocks right to left and lead the viewer a bit.

Working large (for me) my first goal was to get paint all over the canvas, to see how the patterns and values would work out. I have the mountain and sky pretty well figured out at this point.

After the line drawing I painted a local color wash

over the whole painting, very loosely. This is the really fun part, big brushes and great music playing.

Here is a little close up of the clouds, that you really can't see in the big photo. After I took this I did soften all the edges and did a little blending with my fingers. Just don't tell anyone, I don't want any lectures on safety.

This is the initial line drawing, in cadmium red light. It's a pretty rough road map for the painting but it allows easy movement of elements.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 36"

"Midday Shade" ©

A bit of shade is so very welcome under the arid blue California skies.

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

"A Serene Moment II", Gamblin Artists Colors Co. Cheer!

I love Gamblin products. I tried to write that sentence many times (sounding business like) and decided to just go with my heart. Here is an example of one of the many benefits of using Gamblin's Gamar Picture Varnish.

The painting on the right has a "foreign" green in the large trees. After having to see it hang in an exhibit and wanting to snatch it off the wall. I brought it into the studio and removed the varnish, repainted the trees in a color that is harmonious with the rest of the painting and I think it's a better piece now.

Here is the beauty of Gamblin. To remove the Gamar Varnish, all you have to do is wipe it off with Gamsol and a clean white piece of sheet. Sheets are a cool oil painters tool because they don't leave lint, when your cleaning a painting. Another trick if you do have lint is the blue painters tape. Make a circle of tape, sticky side out and gently tap it over the lint. Back to Gamblin, after removing the varnish, repaint the area where you removed the varnish or the whole darn thing, let it dry and varnish again. Taa daa! Your happy and hopefully the painting will find a home with a collector.

"Ruffles of Leaves" ©

Anytime I see an arch of tree limbs over a path or road, it's a painting, even if it's just in my head. This is a spot I painted last summer and recently a lovely patron said she would like a small version of this scene for a gift.

Oil on canvas, 9" X 12"

"Walker Basin" ©

I am standing a couple of curves in the road from the old Rankin Ranch family cemetery. Granite headstones can be touched by the three generations of the family still living in the basin. It's an emotional sight, even for a stranger.

Oil on canvas, 9" X 12"