#Borregosprings #palmtrees "Sun Lovers" ©

Outside the Anza Borrego visitor center gates, these palms seem to spring up out of the desert floor soaking up the sun and loving it.  I painted this early one morning before the crowd arrived to visit the park.  This painting is one of the 10 I painted during the Borrego Springs Invitational last week.  

Oil on Linen, 11" X 14"

This is the gallery walls before the final hanging.  As the artists finished the paintings we brought them into the gallery framed, ready to hang.  The artwork was hung so that visitors could see the work accomplished each day and decide which paintings they would like to purchase.  There were 15 artists and we produced 158 paintings, in 5 days.  It was worth stopping into the Borrego Springs Art Institute to see the wet paintings and different views of the desert.  The paintings will hang and sell through the end of the month.  

"Gate Guardian" ©

For this little painting I zoomed in on this palm tree to really play up how the beard and fronds shifted color in the sunlight.  Hard to believe but this particular palm tree stands right at the back entrance gate to the Phoenix Zoo.   

Oil, 10" X 8"

"Palms in the Desert" ©

I find it amazing that Palm Trees thrive in our Southern California deserts. When you are painting them you can hear the rustling of their skirts in the wind and it's amazing to watch all the little birds and mice scurrying in and out of the shelter of the palms.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"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"

"Downtime at Dog Patch" ©

Dog Patch is a spot on Surf Beach (San Onofre) where I found this lovely Palm along the sand. This is one of the paintings I entered in the competition at San Clemente, it's hanging on the gallery wall till August 14, or until someone decides to take it home. It was a great week of painting thanks to the San Clemente Art Association, Pam Hill, Steve Kell, Ann Marie and all the volunteers that manned the events from the quick draw to the Gala. Until next year.....

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"