"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"

"Elsmere Canyon Glow" ©

Got this one fairly close to finished and dumped it face down on my palette while trying to get a decent photo of it.  It reminded me that rushing just never works and trying to squeeze a painting in while getting ready for the Thanksgiving Holiday is ridiculous, and yet I cannot find the discipline to stay away from the easel.  I will tidy up the nice blue, orange and white blobs of paint here and there and bring the piece back to something desirable in between brining the big bird and washing floors. 

Oil on canvas, 14" X 18"

"Placerita Creek" ©

Green and gold mixed together as fall sinks into winter, is the story behind this painting.  Placerita Canyon creek runs though the nature center where I discovered this view last week.  The color is leaving more and more each day as the weather cools.  It's tough for painting,  short days and the briefest of daylight striking the ground from the south quickly approaching.  The good news is that it is too cold for snakes to be very active, the bad news is my new car was hit today.  What can you do, life marches on.  

Oil on Canvas, 18" X 24"

"Beginnings of a Bright Day" ©

A couple of days ago the coastal fog was making it's way over the mountain into our valley and I zipped out the door to capture the unusual view.  By the time I got to a good spot, the fog had disappeared leaving a bright morning scene in it's wake, at the trail head leading to the old Walker Ranch.  Still beautiful in the cool quiet morning light I went ahead with a painting.  

Oil on canvas,  20" X 24"

"Canyon Trail" © Elsmere Canyon

This painting is the scene you view hiking down into Elsmere Canyon from the ridge to the creek that snakes along the canyon floor.  The more I paint and explore this canyon the more I appreciate the fight to keep the canyon pristine rather then a landfill.  

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Elsmere Canyon Trail" © Santa Clarita Valley Open Spaces

In March the City of Santa Clarita is planning on an exhibition of artwork depicting Elsmere Canyon, a newly designated open space.  Any artist interested in participating would be welcome, just email Jeff Barber at the city and let him know.  Meanwhile my little band of painting buddies are out painting the canyon.  This is my first painting of the area and while out hiking I could see the winter remnants of beautiful wild flowers.  The canyon is quite scenic in the winter and I can just imagine what it looks like full of spring blooms.  

Oil on Canvas,  18" X 24"