"Dry Creek" © #placeritacanyon #landscapepainting #wambsgans

Placerita Creek had a dribble of water for about 10 minutes with the brief rains that fell.  California needs more rain, yet with this bit the trees are greening up and the hills are emerald.  I am happy to report my right hand is working well enough after surgery to paint outside again. Standing at the easel in the wilderness without any sounds but nature is pure joy.  

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Dry Creek" #Placeritacanyon #Quigleyopenspaces #Santaclaritalandscape

I am all packed for the workshop trip tomorrow morning, so this evening I painted this little sketch as a possible demo painting that I can paint Saturday morning on a larger canvas.  The scene has several elements that I can discuss to help the students see issues that might crop up in their work.  Next stop, Lake Arrowhead, California.  

Oil on canvas, 9" X 12"

"Fox Field Find" © Quigley Canyon Open Space

The cloud cover seemed to dampen the sounds of nature in Fox Field this morning.  The rain coming in later today will fill the riverbeds and give this dry canyon a drink.  A rider and horse galloped by and the deer I was hoping to see stayed bedded down in the cool morning air.  If you are a painter or hiker the new Quigley Open Space in Placerita Canyon has several loops of beautiful trails in the wilderness to explore.

Oil on panel, 10" X 12", plein air

"Rabbit Bush", Placerita Canyon ©

For weeks I have been telling my painting buddies about the Rabbit Bush blooming at the end of my canyon.  Today Lorelle Miller and I headed out with our gear to paint the golden bushes.  

Just after setting up to start this painting I was reminded of painting on Catalina Island.  I wonder if other plein air painters experience the recollection of other  painting trips while painting out.   I think it was the sound of a distant motorcycle on the 14 freeway that sounded like a dingy motor on the Avalon bay.  Go figure.  In this photo you can see the beginning step of the painting, blocked out in large shapes of light and dark.

In this shot the painting is half way completed.  I took this photo and the lens on my digital camera decided not to retract.  It still is hanging out.  I can't be too hard on it, this Cannon has traveld the world with me taking thousands of photographs.   Today I was thankful for the little camera on my cell phone and an old point and shoot I have stashed in my car.  

Almost done......

Off in the distance Lorelle, was painting a lovely painting of the Rabbit Bush from another vantage point.   I love the oak tree that dwarfs Lorelle.  

This is a general photo of the area.  We are at the corner of Placerita Canyon and Sierra Highway.  If you paint and live nearby, it's a super spot.

Oil on panel,  10" X 12"

"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"

"Back Road" ©

I am heading to Washington state in the morning to paint for a couple of weeks.  Next Wednesday I am taking a workshop with Kathryn Stats, one of my all time favorite artists.  Her beautiful use of color, so delicate and bold at the same time, creating a symphony of the landscape has been a mystery to me for many years.  Finally I will have the opportunity to watch her paint and try to understand her process.  If I can get online I will blog about the workshop and what I learn during the 5 days on Whidbey Island.  

Oil on Canvas

11" X 14"

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Instead of getting ready for the weekend shows a couple of day's ago I went painting on the Golden Valley Ranch Open Spaces of the SCV with my buddies.  It's a spot I have painted many times but never comfortably because I have been alone. I know I shouldn't do that and don't need any emailed reminders. With my friends that fear was gone and we had a lovely afternoon, painting to the sounds of birds singing.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 12"

"Winter Light"

Painting just down the road from home is a good

reminder that you don't have to drive for miles to find a painting spot.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

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"Coastal Oaks" ©

This spot is just down the canyon from my home and it doesn't seem to matter what season we are in, it's a view that is worth painting.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Dry Creek" ©

Trying to outrun the wind I set up my easel in the bottom of the dry creek. So Cal is warm and windy, green bits are popping up amongst the dry rusts and grays of winter. Two seasons colliding in color.

N 34° 22.856'

W 118° 30.165'

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"First Bit of Snow" ©

Tramping around in the first bit of snow I found this view in my canyon. Strange to have snow lightly dusting branches and lacing it's way around green sprigs of grass in sunny Southern California.

Oil on Linen, 11" X 14"

"Morning Veil of Mist" ©

First look out the window, I saw what looked like the world covered in gauze. A morning veil of mist is rare in my canyon, since we are so far inland from the sea, I had to paint it.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Sunlit Solitude" ©

A few days of heat, a few days of rain and all of nature seems confused. The golden leaves are hanging on and green grasses emerge as if spring has arrived.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

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"Canyon Morning" ©

The easel and the Christmas tree are competing for my attention. Probably all artists suffer this tug of the two at this time of year. Today I painted the canyon in the morning before starting the day of shopping and decorating. Luckily I have views to paint within a couple of minutes from home.

Oil on canvas, 12" X 16"

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"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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"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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"Signs Of Spring" ©

Clouds have been drifting overhead making it difficult to focus on the ground, whether driving or taking a walk. A bit down the canyon from me I was painting and noticed that the first "Signs Of Spring" have sprung.

Oil on canvas, 6" X 8"

"Field In February" ©

The sun showed herself today and a few of us went out painting in what we call "Rod's field". I can walk there from my place and I was thinking how lucky I am to have a lovely spot so close to home.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Last Leaves" ©

Last Friday afternoon a small group of us painted in the oil field next to my house. Finally today I unpacked my kit and pulled out my attempt at capturing the last leaves on a large sycamore tree.

The weekend was full of art events from a Kevin Macpherson talk on his new TV show, "Passport and Palette", to the opening of "The Beauty Of California Painters" show at Carter Sexton, to "The Red Ribbon" opening at Segil Gallery and finally the opening of "Precious Gifts" at the Pasadena City Women's Club.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Dry Creek" ©

Paintings, paintings and more paintings are all over the place. Some just need signing, others need just a bit more paint, several are drying after being varnished and a bunch are waiting for frames. All of this flurry while I am on the last stretch for my upcoming solo show. It looks like I'll have about 60 paintings to deliver on November 1st, so I am feeling really good. "Dry Creek" is one that I was tweaking today and may still work on just a bit more. I am still not sure if it will make the cut.....