"Julia Pfeiffer Falls" © #Bigsurart

The Julia Pfeiffer Falls has been an iconic location for photographers and painters for decades.  Usually the scene is captured in the late afternoon, with the falls and cliff face warmly lit.  I happened upon the scene early in the morning and was struck how the opposite lighting created a whole new view and thought I would give it a try.  

20X16, oil    

"High Country Gold" © #landscapeoilpainting #pinetrees #wambsgans

This spot is one of those hidden gems you find hiking along the trail.  Not a soul around,  just a few birds bidding the day goodbye, tiny flying wings skimming the surface of the creek and an occasional ripple from the trout cruising for dinner.  

16" X 20", oil on linen

"Forest Path" © #pinetrees #landscapeoil #laurawambsgans

Years ago an artist friend that lived nearby told me the most difficult landscape painting to create is an all green scene.  Since hearing that I have sought ways to work a green piece successfully.  Scott Christensen told me the most valuable piece to the puzzle.  His advice was that a green painting cannot survive without red.  In this scene he might have suggested to have one pine tree on deaths door, in shades of red, just before the tree shifts to gray.  I chose to add reds in the path.  Still painting left handed until my right is healed up from surgery, it's all I can do to separate the trees and give the scene a sense of depth.  Later on I may address the painting further, but I need the other hand.  

oil on linen,  20" X 16"

"Ponds Edge" and "Taking A Break", #thelakehouse #Bear #animalpainting #laurawambsgans #pondpainting

11" X 14, oil on linen

Just for fun, I painted a bear for my upcoming show at The Lake House near Lake Arrowhead.  The bear will add a nice break to all the landscape paintings, as people view the show.  

16" X 20" oil on canvas

"Ponds Edge" will also be available and I hope it speaks to the mountain residents.  Here is the show information:

5th Annual Season of the First Friday at The Lake House (notice this month it's the Last Friday)

Friday August 29th 4pm - 7pm Wine, Hors d'oeuvres, Friendship & Fine Art!

Lisa Mozzini-McDill will also be exhibiting lots of beautiful paintings.  The artwork will stay at the gallery for a month, so if you can't make the reception but happen to climb the hill stop in and see our paintings.  The Lake House is full of fine things from furniture to specialty jams, there is something for everyone to enjoy inside their doors.  

The Lake House

29866 Hook Creek Rd.

Cedar Glen

(909) 337-7676

www.LakeHouseCollection.com

"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"

"Pine Tree Overlook"

10" X 10" panels are perfect for the landscapes of Idaho. Room to play up the mountains or sky, which ever is more exciting at the moment.

This morning heading out to paint, I had my creature adventure of the day with 3 horses wandering down the road. You can see them in the photo below. I knew that it was not a good situation, pulled over and took them home.


10" X 10", oil on panel

"Pine Creek Road"

5 painting marathon today, ending at Spoons Bistro for a well deserved Cobb salad and bottle of wine with co-marathon painter Janet. I have moved up from multi-legged creatures to a 4 legged orange tabby without a tail that takes care of the local brewery's rodents. She adopted my travel studio, aka the trunk of the Honda to hang out while I painted.





Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Mt. Pinos Meadow" ©

Today a small band of plein air painters were given the gift of a new location to explore and capture on canvas. An email started it all, announcing a meadow of wild Irises in bloom, thank you Susan! Amazingly, only an hour from the Santa Clarita Valley at 8300 ft. the air was cool, birds were singing and everywhere you looked was a painting. A perfect painting day!

Oil on linen, 8" X 10"

















Ernie Dollman, painting in the forest, above the meadow.



If you look closely you can see Marian Fortunati on the path, while she was deciding where to paint.

One of thousands of wild irises, blooming in the meadow...