"Elsmere Canyon" #santaclarita #oilpainting #laurawambsgans

Elsmere Canyon is just down the road from my home and offers nature at her best for small hikes.  You see prints in the dusty trail of animals, large and small and the trees vary from coastal oaks to pine trees at the top of the canyon.  This scene is painted at the beginning of the lower trail with creek bed bushes and sycamores hanging on to some winter leaves.  It's hard to fathom that this canyon was destine to be a dump before a furious fight.  

oil on canvas, 20" X 24"

"Canyon Creek Trail", Elsmere Canyon

Early morning on a chilly winters day, Elsmere Canyon's inhabitants are waking up as the morning sun starts to warm things up.  This spot is along the creekside trail heading into the interior of the canyon.  The last of the golden leaves dangling on the brush was what intrigued me to paint the view.  I just went back the other day and all the golden leaves are gone till next year.  

Oil on Canvas 16" X 20"

 This is how the painting was approached in the beginning.  Rather then drawing out the composition I placed swatches of local color all over the canvas, finding the painting as I went along.  

About 1/2 finished, I now know where all the elements of the composition are located and have the general palette nailed down.  From this point on it's just a matter of painting the piece.  One of the big color influences on this painting and the previous painting was the introduction of "Kings Blue" to my palette.  Recently I went to Dick Blicks to purchase a tube of Holbeins Gray Blue, my standard go to tube when painting sunny day skies and just about the same value/color as Vasari's "Bice".  The art store in Pasadena doesn't carry Holbein any longer and so I substituted the Gray Blue with a tube of Williamsburg "Kings Blue".  It mixes beautifully with every color from  Rose to Cadmium Orange to Quinacridone Violet, creating beautiful grays.  In the photo the little pile of "Kings Blue" is next to the white pile on the right side of my palette.  

"City Lights, Universal City Overlook" ©

Landing on the runway at LAX the city lights have always reminded me of jewels laid out on black velvet.  Looking at the city lights from the Universal City Overlook on Mulhulland Drive was my best shot at a simular view.  This piece taught me quite a bit about attempting to paint a city view at night.  I have to admit I had a great time painting this one.  

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

sold

"October Light" ©

It's nice to be able to walk out the front door and paint the brush late in the day.  With the wind kicked up the amount of dust in the air is elevated and the world has a golden glow till the sun sets.  

Oil on Canvas,  11" X 14"

"Cottonwood Cove, Lopez Lake" ©

   

Painting very early in the morning on the edge of Cottonwood Cove the only company I had were several mule deer and about ten wild turkeys.  When I was packing up my gear I turned around to see  two large birds warming their wings in the morning sun.  It was difficult to decide if they were Condors, Turkey Vultures or one of the other 150 species of birds that inhabit the lake.  I was reminded of the lesson to keep a closer eye on what is going on around me while painting in the bushes.

Oil on Source Tek Linen Panel,  12" X 16"

Maybe one of you know what type of bird these are?  They were huge!

"Eaton Canyon Riverbed" ©

Yesterday I visited the Edgar Payne exhibit at the Pasadena Museum of California Art with a group of artist friends.  Beyond the brilliant compositions I was struck by Payne's use of gray.  Wanting to put some of what I learned onto canvas right away I painted this scene using all shades of gray, as much as possible.  I had a great time, a bonus to a special day, my 26th year of being married to my number one guy, Mike.  Love you!

Oil on Canvas,  20" X 24"

"Rocky Riverbed" ©

"Rocky Riverbed"

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

I started this painting a while ago and pulled it out today to see if I could pull it together well enough to frame it.  Scott Christensen told me, to know if a painting is done, just ask yourself if you would hang it on your own wall.  It's a nice high bar to consider and usually the answer is no.  

This image shows the painting before I tweaked it.  The original painting was a 12" X 12" plein air that sold so I didn't have the reference.  Note to self, don't sell the plein air pieces until I am sure I am done with them.  What I wanted to solve is the leaves on the Sycamore, strong diagonal of the brush in shade in the lower right corner, river rocks, tree trunk and brush on the other side of the riverbank. OK, I can see by writing this, I painted the whole piece over again.  

Here is the finished painting on the easel, so you can compare the before and after easily.  

"Rocky Riverbed"

20" X 24", Oil on Canvas

"Calafia Palms" ©

Calafia Beach in San Clemente is packed with families frolicking in the warm Pacific waters, once the sun breaks the marine layer of clouds.  I painted this piece very early in the morning looking up the little canyon from the parking lot before the sun and people arrived for the day.  The interesting shapes of the palm trees were captivating.  

Oil on Panel 16" X 12"

The "Paint San Clemente" event ended last weekend with an art fair in the park outside the gallery.  I like to participate in these occasionally and  think it is valuable to hear peoples comments on my paintings.  Often when sales occur online or in a  gallery, you never actually talk to the new owners.  I enjoy having the personal contact and knowing the families that will hang my paintings in their homes.  

"Sunlight on the Riverbank" ©

Pardon the photo, Santa brought me a new computer and we are still making friends. I am learning the Mac way, after 18 years of Windows. Today's little painting gives you a peek at the backside of the Hansen Dam recreational area. The sparkly white sand was what attracted me to the scene and became the focal point of the painting.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Softly Setting" ©

Today a collector and friend called and mentioned that he and his wife were waiting for me to paint some skies once again. Sounded like a great idea to me and so I spent the day in fluffy clouds and juicy paint.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"Mailbu Lagoon" ©

Wishing you and your family the best Christmas holiday ever! After cleaning up the festivities and visiting relatives, I spent a little bit of the day at the easel painting a favorite classic California spot, Malibu Lagoon. Oil on linen panel, 5" X 7"   sold

"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"

"Sand Dollar Beach" ©

With Highway 1 closed at Carmel and Gorda, the Big Sur stretch was vacant last weekend, along with the camp grounds. This must have been what it was like in the 60's. Another week and all the wild flowers will pop open, I saw bits of red, purple, orange and yellow announcing what was yet to come.

Oil on Linen panel, 8" X 10"

sold

"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"

"San Onofre Bluffs" ©

I am painting in San Clemente for the annual plein air competition. This painting was started early in the morning, just as the light caught the rim of the bluffs. Folks stopped by on their trek down to the sea and made nice comments. One woman wanted to purchase the piece for her daughter to take to college as a remembrance of their favorite spot. I take that as quite a compliment. It's been a solid week of painting hard everyday. Saturday we turn in our best 2 paintings from the week. Tough decision......

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"Chasing The Sun" ©

The cool grasses in the foreground were the first signs that evening wasn't far behind. I was chasing the sun on Catalina Island.

I think this study will work well for a large painting, next up on the easel......

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

Purchase ($100. U.S. shipped, unframed): from the artist