"Evenings Splendor" ©

It's December, a time full of parties, shopping, cooking and a non-stop march to the 25th.  I have to admit painting on the fly with all the distractions is not a skill I am gifted with.  Three paintings all poorly executed lay taunting me, around my easel.  To quell any thoughts that I am not at the easel this month, today I took charge, blocked the Christmas carols and decorations out of my mind and brought this painting to an end.  The scene is the trail heading down from Elsmere Canyon to Whitney Canyon in the Santa Clarita Valley.  The evening light is truly lovely.

Oil on Canvas,  18" X 24"

"Winter Puddle" ©

After the last couple of days of rain there are a few puddles left standing in the sandy canyon soil.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

"Streaks of Sun"

Walking along the path with my painting buddies, the views to paint were endless on this December day. What caught my eye was the streaks of sun across the brush and sandy path. The wind blew one easel over and thank goodness we recovered all the Rosemary Brushes that flew to the ground. All we left behind, lost in the bushes, is a favorite painting knife that we will go back and hunt for.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 12"

"Whitney Canyon Colors"

Living in So California, the mild weather lends an advantage to painting out. My painting buddy Lorelle and I hiked into Whitney Canyon to paint, meeting the one and only predator dressed in a cape, mankini (pink) and a lovely pink bra. I think someone should write a book, describing all the things plein air painters encounter.

Oil on panel, 10" X 12"

"Nice Place to Be" ©

About 4pm you witness the last rays of light down in Whitney Canyon. Standing still you can watch the sunlight drift though the trees lighting up different spots as the sun sinks. I was doing just that, thinking what a "nice place to be".

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Whitney Canyon Trail" ©

This scene in Whitney Canyon, is just before you come to the water falls. One of the newer protected spaces of the Santa Clarita Valley it's a great place to hike. I photographed this painting while painting a few times so you can see the progress.

At this stage the entire canvas has paint on it. As I paint each element I will adjust the value and color, to support the idea of the piece and be assured of variety.

Large masses of color notes begin to create a road map of how the painting will proceed.

Beginning to find the composition, I roughly marked the canvas as to where the big elements would be placed.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Whitney Canyon" ©

The Santa Clarita Artists' Association had our monthly paint out in Whitney Canyon today. Every where your eye landed, a possible painting was in view. The morning chill stayed with us as the sunlight slinked in between the trees. We all painted within in a short distance of one another but in the end every painting was so very different as often happens in groups. Thank you to every one that came and a special thanks to Janet and Jean, the photographers from the Santa Clarita Photography Club and finally thank you to Henry Schultz, the Sierra Club guide that lead us into the canyon.