"Onxy Afternoon" ©

Onyx, California is a classic example of our high desert. Sand drifts, Rabbitbush and cottonwoods announcing water in the distance are beautifully lit in the late afternoon sunlight. Marian Fortunati, Sharon Weaver and Diane Nelson Gold were my painting buddies out in the desert last fall and I am so looking forward to a return painting trip to Kernville.

Oil on panel, 12" X 12"

"Rolling In" © studio

"Rolling In" on the easel, shows a good example of taking a small oil "sketch" and creating a large painting from the idea captured in the sketch.

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 40"

My small painting is on the little easel to the right of the larger canvas. I knew I wanted the same proportions for the canvas but didn't have a fresh canvas on hand in that size, so I pulled an old canvas with an idea for a commission (long since finished and delivered) turned the painting upside down to lessen the confusion of waves vs. ducks and starting laying out the seascape.

At this stage the ducks are completely covered and I have laid in the general shapes and color patches, here and there. This is the fun part for me, feeling my way around the painting, making decisions and adjustments.

Here is a close up of the palette. I know it looks like a mess and I am constantly scraping down the glass starting over with a big clean space. The palette is custom. Sounds fancy but in honesty a quick inexpensive solution to needing more palette space. My husband cut a piece of wood and I had the fellow at Newhall Glass Co. cut a piece of glass to fit. I painted the back of glass gray and with not too much trouble I had a terrific palette. I have to give a little shout out for the Gamblin Radiants on the lower right side. Love them!

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 40"

"Santa Clara Riverbed" ©

I painted this scene on a 5" X 7" panel a while ago, and I finally had the time today to paint the same scene in the studio on a larger canvas. The sky is a bit strange, with the remnants of smoke from one of our more devastating fires. Originally it was a tough decision, whether or not to artistically document the smokey evening sky.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Kitty" ©

"Kitty" was a member of a family that is dearly missed, as she has passed away. The family asked that I paint her from a few photos that they had taken. Having had many animals that my family has loved dearly I imagined the life that Kitty lead while painting her portrait.

Oil on canvas, 14" X 11"

"Lazy River" ©

While painting this piece I kept hearing the old song "Up a Lazy River" in my head. My hope was to capture the calm water, cool morning air and sunlight just making an appearance for the day.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 36"

"Stormy Sunday" ©

Storm clouds are arriving for a rainy Monday, perfect timing as the entire day was full of demonstrations by artists exhibiting in the "Impressions of France" show, at Segil Gallery. This portrait of a tree was my demonstration painting for the group. The exhibit has a great spread in the February issue of the "American Art Collector" magazine.

Oil on panel, 12" X 9"

"Montreuil Bellay River" ©

Tonight is the artists reception for "Impressions From France" show at Segil gallery in Old Town Monrovia. 9 of the artists that painted France will be there to greet you and share stories, a glass of wine and artwork. We were fortunate to have a write up in the current issue of the "American Art Collector". This painting is one I just found today, tucked away, that is not one of my 12 hanging in the gallery. If you would like to see it in person I would be happy to bring it to the gallery for you, just let me know.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 16"

"Frontenay Gate" ©

This coming weekend is the opening of the "Impressions From France" exhibit at the Segil Gallery in Monrovia. I was digging though the piles of paintings looking for the best pieces for the show and came across this small plein air piece I painted my first day in France. It's amazing how the memories of that day come flooding back when I look at this little piece. It started to rain at one point and a horse came up to the gate, nuzzling my backpack that I had tucked in the trees to get it out of the rain. Then a lady that lived nearby and offered me a free horse, how I was to get a horse home to California I have no idea. But you see how meaningful the paintings created on location become to artists. Meanwhile in the studio I am working on a large piece for a solo show in April. It will show up here on the blog in a couple of days.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Arroyo Trees" ©

A long time ago a master painter told me that "green" landscapes were the most difficult of all to paint. At the time I didn't know the difference between viridian and sap green, so his comment didn't mean much. Now years later every time I attempt a green landscape his words come back to me. All green landscapes are difficult but at the same time so very interesting, offering the challenge to come up with a variety of greens to tell the story. Which is what I have tried to do here, with the trees in the Pasadena arroyo.

Oil on canvas, 8" X 6"

"Deep in the Arroyo" ©

In Pasadena there is a natural arroyo and stream that runs year round. Even though you're in the city, once deep down in the arroyo it feels as though you have been transported to a distant wilderness. Horse and hiking trails lace their way between the trees, small animals slip into the brush as you pass and all the while you can hear the distant call of birds.

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 20"

"Wild Rocks" ©

When your hiking around Vasquez Rocks the rock structures are totally wild. The landscape looks like another world. This little painting captures the warm December sunlight at the end of the day.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 9"

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"Cooking" ©

When you walk into Gales Restaurant in Pasadena the delicious smell of warm bread and garlic start the dining adventure. There is a show coming up with the theme of daily life in Pasadena. I have painted this interior of a local kitchen over the last few days as one of my possible entries. I'll have to come up with a better title, so if you have a suggestion, let me know!

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"