"Afternoon Warmth" ©

This is the season for miniature paintings to be submitted for the flurry of December holiday shows. It's a great excuse for me to explore compositions and palettes quickly on these little canvases.

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Bridle Trail" Will Rogers State Park ©

Yesterday the California Art Club had a paint out at Will Rogers State Park, near the ocean. The deer wandered about oblivious to people clicking away on their cameras, while the varied eucalyptus trees tempted the painters. I chose to paint this little scene on the bridle path, being very careful to give the horses plenty of room to pass. Thank you George and the CAC for a great day!

9" X 12" Oil on Panel

"Gardens of Place du Cardinal, Morning Mist" © Richelieu, France

The one and only sculptor on the France trip, Karen and I wandered onto the grounds of the Place du Cardinal very early in the morning. We were the first people to see the sun cut though the morning mist. The acres of gardens sat quietly in the cool air waiting for the day to begin.

Oil on Canvas, 9" X 12"

"Moss Covered Canal" ©

The moss is so thick at first glance the canal looks like a pathway. This canal is part of the Chateau de Saint Loupe built between 1609 and 1626, now owned by Count Charles-Henri de Bartillat. If you would like to spend the night in a castle this might just be the spot, it's extraordinary.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 16"

"Placerita Canyon, Late In The Day" ©

Today I was suppose to go painting in Whitney Canyon, my painting buddy bailed and I promised my husband I wouldn't go into the canyon alone. Now what?

There are several small works shows in the wings, probably gallery owners are thinking of holiday shoppers, so I painted my street, AGAIN. I thought hard about this and decided that since Monet painted hay stacks several times and Kevin Macpherson painted his pond hundreds of times, I have artistic permission to paint my street as much as desired. Plus it might make a nice entry for one of the small works shows. Good use of a blown day.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

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"A Brief Interlude" ©

Clouds are a rarity in our valley, other then a distant thunderhead rising out of the desert heat. Today clouds blanketed the world, thunder rumbled, lighting flashed ushering in the rain. You could feel the relief each leaf felt and then the skies broke open with a brief interlude, until it rained again.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

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p.s. I tried to post this last night and the wet phone lines chewed open by squirrels gave up and I was off the gird.

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"Late In The Day" ©

I haven't painted this scene in a couple of years. It's just out my driveway about 50 yards down the dirt road and luckily the weeds haven't been abated yet. This weekend I'll be showing paintings at the 19th Annual Craftsman Furnishings and Decorative Arts Show, at the Pasadena Convention Center and thought it would be nice to paint the view that is on my business cards. Even though it's just wild brush and dripping oaks, "Late In The Day" it's beautiful.

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"Vache" ©

Painting a "cow" from life in France was a challenge. She didn't seem to understand or care that I wished for her to stand still. I would lose track of her in the herd, yet in just a couple of hours I began to be able to identify each cow, known in France as "Vache".

8" X 10", Oil on panel

"Le Pont de Gourg'e" ©

Early in the morning driving to the Parthenay's famous livestock sale and market I saw this view at a glance and immediately knew it was a painting that needed to be painted. Standing on the bridge built in the 11th Century, the surroundings were silently awaiting the warmth of the morning sunlight, I was smitten. A larger painting of this scene is warranted and I'll try to paint well enough to portray the serenity I felt.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Eaton Canyon, Afternoon" ©

Next weekend I am showing paintings during the Pasadena Heritage's Craftsman Weekend event. This little painting is my donation for the silent auction that will benefit the organization Pasadena Heritage which has played a vital role in preserving Old Pasadena, the Colorado Street Bridge and many other Pasadena landmarks. I am hoping it will be dry by then......

Oil on Panel, 6" X 8"

*my donation was bid upon and went to a new home.

"Ella" ©

No, I didn't meet any pigs in France, just lots of sheep and cows. At least up close and personal. Two different days cows got into my painting back pack that I had left too close to the fence. I really think they are quite curious. And they slurp when they drink, big time. Little Ella was painted on request and I enjoyed spending the day with her. Oil on panel, 8" X 10" sold

"Frontenay Gate" ©

Property lines are marked in France, maybe by a bit of wire or possibly a huge stone wall, either way everyone knows and respect the line. Painting this piece I was standing in a public park looking at private property beyond the gate. The arch way created by the trees are what caught my eye and brush. Eventually the land owner offered me a horse to bring home to America.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Tranquil Tunnel" © Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet, France

The French word "thouet" is an ancient Gaelic word meaning tranquil. It's a perfect word for the tributary river meandering through St. Loup-s. Painting this piece clouds blocked the sun randomly as if the light switch was being thrown every few minutes. Occasionally the sun would light up the the distant trees within the "tranquil tunnel" and that was my hope to capture.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"15th Century Remains" © Montreuil-Bellay, France

The charming 15th century village of Montreuil-Bellay overlooks the meandering river and what is left of an ancient bridge. While painting this piece I was imagining the hands that pitched and laid the stone and how many souls and hoofs had crossed.

Oil on Canvas, 18" X 24"

"Le Thouet" © Saint Loup sur Thouet, France

Painting along the bank, local French residence walking their small white dogs (why they are all small and white I have no idea other possibly that is all that is available or desirable) they would look at this little painting evolving, smile and give me rapid encouragement and declare it was beautiful. Far from home their warm smiles and words were so very welcome and gently pushed me though the painting.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Until Tomorrow" ©

The painting in France adventure continues: As the sun left us each evening, sinking below the treeline we would watch in awe, tired from painting all day, happy a dinner, wine and conversation would follow. We knew it was only "Until Tomorrow" till we would feel the sun again.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Brilliant Blue Promise", St. Loup-s Thouret, France

While setting up to paint on the river bank the skies opened up for the first time since landing in France. The skies parted revealing a brilliant blue promise for the days to come.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Fields Of Frontenay" ©

I arrived home from France happy and tired. Painting and living with a group of women artists from across the U.S. was an experience of a lifetime. This painting was the first piece of the trip and a typical view for the region. While painting the church bells rang out the time, at one point I thought a cow was singing with the bells. Later I found out that the cow just knew that it was the "dinner" bell and she was really hungry.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Lake Tahoe Stream" ©

Driving around Lake Tahoe last weekend we saw several small streams allowing snow melt to feed into the turquoise waters of the lake. Hiking in a bit off the road this view of the Aspen trunks reaching up amongst the pines to bask in the sunlight on the bank of the tiny stream caught my brush.

Oil on Panel, 6" X 8'

I am hanging my "gone painting" shingle out once again. Heading to France, near Poitiers to paint for a couple of weeks. I will have my laptop and hope to post to the blog. I'll do my best.

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"Cottonwoods" ©

Today unpacking from the Tahoe trip and starting to pack for France I thought I would take a quick break and get the brush wet. Thinking of the Teton Valley's lovely Cottonwoods, this little study took shape. Oil on panel, 8" X 6" sold

"Malibu Lagoon Evening" ©

The Malibu Lagoon is golden this time of year, summer is ending and fall is looming around the corner. The mountains glowing in the distance caught my attention when finding this scene. I am traveling over the next 4 days and hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 18"

"Cold Creek" ©

The morning sun is just grazing the cold creek at the start of a new day.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Ram" ©

Framing paintings ate up most of my day but I did manage to paint this little Ram in between drilling, boxing and wiring.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Marilyn Posing" ©

I had the chance to paint Marilyn again, on a smaller panel. What a face she has and you can't turn your back on her. I have no clue what she will do, bite, trample, lick? The folks at the Gentle Barn just told me not to and with an animal that big you don't question the authorities.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 12"

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"Goat" ©

A gallery called looking for some of my animal paintings, so I have the opportunity to paint more fur and feathers. This goat lives out at the Gentle Barn in Canyon Country and was willing to pose.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 9"

"Waiting For Rain" ©

Tonight I shot this painting on my studio easel because the Canvas is 12" X 12" and photographing tighter (just the painting) I lose part of the painting. I know you photo folks are giggling at me.

All of the natural Southern California landscape is starting to droop. The greens have turned gold, the rusty brush is gray and the sandy riverbed sinks under foot. I think we are all "waiting for rain".

Oil on Panel, 12" X 12"

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"Inland Trail, Catalina Island" ©

This painting may be the final version of "Chasing The Sun" (posted June 8th and August 8th). I am still working on small transitions and enjoying the details. In the morning with new eyes I'll have a better idea.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Vasquez Rocks, Summer Evening" ©

Making every area of the painting interesting was one of the things that Scott Christensen repeated often in his teachings. It's a delicate dance to keep the little areas of the painting interesting but not so interesting as to distract from the main idea (focus) of the painting and at the same time keep the edges of the painting a bit duller and so on. I keep those thoughts preforming a jig in my head while painting the "Vasquez Rocks" on a summer evening.

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Hot Rocks" ©

Painting in the Vasquez Rocks park is always a challenge, especially because the rock formations are quite bizarre. All at once they are stunning and strange. My painting buddy and I went out at about 4:45pm. The wind was calm and cool, not one snake, an absolutely lovely evening amongst the "Hot Rocks".

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Approaching Storm, Teton Canyon" ©

Eventually the skies opened and rain poured out. Until then thunder pounded sounding like angels roller skating around the big wooden rink in the sky.

This painting had to be quick with the impending weather. I premixed all the colors that I was witnessing and then just moved paint from the palette to the canvas as fast as I could. The mood appeals to me and I am glad there was just enough time to capture the feel of the moment.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 8"

"Midday Cottonwoods" ©

This is another Teton Valley, Idaho plein air painting where the challenge was to take the view that I was looking at, which was early in the morning, and key the painting as if it was midday, in other words "high key". Geez talk about a brain twister and yet a great lesson. It opened my eyes to a whole new set of possibilities, we already know we can move mountains, trees, add clouds and so on, but to consider that we can actually change the time of day too, well that is something to really think about.

Oil on panel 6" X 8"

"On The Way To Swan Valley" ©

Swan Valley Idaho is full of lovely vistas, a river running down from the Teton Valley and small farms dotting the landscape. This view is on the way from the Teton Valley heading to Swan Valley, the way I traveled on my way home to California last week.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Study for Chasing The Sun" ©

At the Christensen workshop, Scott talked a lot about finding the "good idea". I painted "Chasing The Sun" early in June and since have reworked the sky and foreground a couple of times. The painting has a glimmer of a good idea, too much to abandon the piece. In search of the "good idea" I painted a small study of the large painting, changing the composition a bit and the palette totally. Two things I am seeing as I post this is the path in the foreground needs to be brought closer to the viewer and the shift between the distant mountain and the closer mountain is too great. I'll look at it with new eyes in the morning, searching for the "good idea".

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Morning Light" ©

Small streams lace their way throughout the Teton Valley. In the cool of the morning I stopped at this one, entranced by the calm water and morning sunlight just starting to light up the land.

Oil on Linen, 14" X 18"

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"Tree Study" ©

At the recent workshop one of the "assignments" was to paint a tree, paying attention to the values, shapes and the way the top of the tree meets the sky. I picked this interesting stubby tree and enjoyed getting to know her.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10

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"Summer Afternoon" ©

This little painting is still on the easel in a field in the heart of the Teton Valley, where I spent the last couple of weeks painting. I was participating in a workshop presented by Scott Christensen. I'll post more about it, but to start I would like to say that it's rare to find a brilliant artist that is also a brilliant teacher and Scott is both.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

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"Summer Breeze"

Painting on the Teton Valley floor, midday, the summer breeze gently pushed the clouds overhead. And added the 2 bugs in the sky of the painting. I'll get the little guys off the painting when it dries.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Lembert Dome" ©

It's time again to hang my "gone painting" sign on the door.

The last few days I have been packing for my predawn drive tomorrow for the Tetons. I'll be painting in the Teton Valley where Idaho and Wyoming shake hands, for a couple of weeks. My plan is to blog from the motel if I can get a connection. Cottonwoods, streams and mountains under clouds lazily drifting over the land should show up soon on this blog.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Descano Palms" ©

Descanso Beach is to the West of Avalon and experiencing a face lift now. The sand is so white it appears to have been brought in providing a pristine beach alla the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the big island of Hawaii. These palms were catching the last light of the day. (Dear painters, place your finger over the yellow sky in the right corner and see how much stronger the focal point becomes. Tomorrow I'll push the sky to a darker value. Thank goodness for blogging.)

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 12"

"Lover's Cove" ©

Lover's Cove is just a 2 minute walk from Avalon on Catalina Island. Trying to research the origin of the name I came up with nothing but there has to be an interesting story, the name opens the door to all sorts of scenarios, love lost, love found, romance on a sailboat?

Oil on Canvas, 8" X 10"