"Canyon Morning" and "Canyon Evening", © #placeritacanyon #laurawambsgans

 "Canyon Evening", 11X14, Oil

"Canyon Morning", 11X14, Oil

Already painting for next years shows, these two paintings are headed to the Hillside Gallery in Claremont, California in February.  The show will be called Double Take, two different lighting situations at the same location.  I took to the idea instantly, because it allows me to observe and paint the difference between two times of day or seasons and get work done for an upcoming show.  Double delight!    

"Classic Sierra Hwy View" ©

As you drive from Santa Clarita to Agua Dulce the road winds though this landscape.  The terrain is dry and roughed with a sprinkling of ranches, a famous cafe and a very nice French Restaurant, named Le Chene.  No matter the season, you can always find a beautiful painting location along the road.  

Oil on canvas, 24" X 36"

"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.  

"Cliff Hanger" ©

Rounding the bend of the trail, high above Elsmere Canyon this lone tree lives clinging to the rocks.  It has such great character and seems to defy nature, buffering wild winds and tough weather conditions.  I had to paint it.  

Oil on canvas,  24" X 30"

"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" 

"Sunlit Glow" @ Santa Clara Riverbed

In between the gentle rains I found this view of the Santa Clara Riverbed from the parking lot of the Midas auto repair shop.  The leaves were freshly washed, adding to the sunlit glow of the trees.  A couple of kids asked me what I was looking at for the painting and it took a minute for the idea to crystalize in their minds.  I think they will see the riverbed in a new way from now on.  

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 18"

"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

"Fall Colors", © Sand Canyon, Santa Clarita, CA

Lately I have been painting walls rather then canvas but I slipped off for an afternoon and found a spot down the road on the side of Sand Canyon that just glowed in the late November light.  I would much rather wield an oil paint brush then a roller full of egg shell latex paint, that is for sure.  

Oil on Panel,  12" X 16"

"Placerita Trail Head" ©

We had some clouds this evening, which is very rare.  Usually, if there are clouds or a summer thunder head by sunset they are blown out to nothing.  This spot is the back trail head to the Placerita Nature Center, down the road from my house.  I bought a new EasyL easel from Artwork Essentials and wanted to give it a whirl.  If you are an artist looking for a super plein air easel that won't set you back a set of tires, I would highly recommend an EasyL.  I have been using one for many years and the support that Peggy gives is above and beyond what any company should do.  Once I broke a piece and called her from Laguna Beach where I was painting and she delivered a replacement part the next morning personally.  What more can I say, other then these little lightweight easels make painting plein air a breeze.  It's hard enough to paint a painting in the great outdoors, without having to struggle with your equipment.  So having an easel you don't have to wrestle with is worth it's weight in gold.  

Oil on Linen panel,  9" X 12" 

"Sun Dusted Creek"

Our city purchased more "open space" off Quigley for hiking, biking, horseback riding and just plain enjoyment recently. I was walking late in the day and saw this view. Of course it ended up on canvas, what else was I to do? It's only about a mile from my home, so there will be more paintings of the Quigley Open Space to come.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Santa Clara Riverbed" ©

The Santa Clara Riverbed is a vast expanse of damp sand waiting for rain with the colors of the California winter hanging in the brush.

Working on a large commission in the studio all week, I took a break for this small study.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"Placerita Canyon, January" ©

The wind helped out with this one today. It was so strong it actually would move my arm, dearly trying to place the brush stroke. Thank goodness for the EasyL, what an easel!

N34 degrees 22.842'

W118 degrees 30.186'

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"From Blue Skies" ©

From blue skies to gray, rain is gently soaking all of Southern California under blanket of clouds.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"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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"Last Of The Green" ©

Evidence of winter has blanketed the Santa Clarita Valley landscape, gray, lavender, rust and the "Last Of The Green".

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Foxes Field" ©

Foxes Field is down the canyon from me in the so close to town and yet town feels like a million miles away. Three deer crossed my path and coyotes howled down the canyon. The promise of rain was not kept.

Oil on Canvas 30" X 40"

"Heading Home" ©

This small painting was an experiment, working on a new surface for me. It's a gessoed panel that is ultra smooth, like glass. Wow, this panel will be added to my inventory of blank canvases and panels. Having a lot of blank materials to paint on may be a continuation of what I learned carving stone. If you have several stones in your inventory, you can work fast without fear of not having another stone to carve and it frees you up to try an idea, knowing there is always another stone waiting in the wings. The same seems to be true for having a nice selection of blank canvases and panels.

This painting is the view of my walk home from Sierra Highway. It's being cleaned up and trees seem to be disappearing, so construction is on it's way but for now it's raw and wild.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"In Between Storms" ©

Another storm is pounding Southern California today. White dusted mountains were visable until the afternoon when the valley became veiled completely in white gauze clouds. This little painting is the view near the 14 freeway and San Fernando Road, "In Between The Storms".

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

"Cottonwoods Below" ©

In a cold wind blowing I was lucky to get any paint onto the panel today. I met up with a few wonderful lady painters in Towsley Canyon and we painted together. This is my effort, standing on the edge of a cliff looking at the tops of the "Cottonwoods Below".

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Backlit Brush" ©

During my early morning walk down the canyon I saw these dry bushes glowing. All the brush is so dry now, at the end of 6 long hot months, you can almost hear the plants calling to the clouds.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"