"First Snow" ©

Christmas day I started this painting and shot the process for an upcoming January workshop.  It seems to help people if they can see how you painted the piece from the start and they realize how truly simple the process is.  Which is encouraging for everyone, including me, when the the look of realization gleams in their eyes.   I enjoyed every moment painting the cliffs, picking my way though the warm and cool colors, watching the rocks take on form.  I will probably keep tweaking this one for a long time because there are so many opportunities to fine tune the details.  

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Sierra Snow" © #snowpainting #landscape #laurawambsgans

Painting for fall shows, while the temperature gauge is inching into the mid-90's is twisting my paint brush into a knot.  Not really, but it is very strange to be channeling the crisp mountain air and the crunching sound your boots make stepping onto the night hardened snow, while the ravens sit on the outside wall panting in the summer heat.   This painting is another piece for my exhibit at The Lake House in Arrowhead, CA.  

16" X 20", Oil 

"Huddled Up" ©

Herd animals have a unique way to huddle, some facing out, others buried deep in the pile of hide.  This little study explores the idea of a small group of cows huddled up in the warmth of the early morning light glazing the snow.  Anyone that had ridden a horse can imagine the amount of heat generated by a large animal and appreciate the "huddle".  

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Quail Lake Road" ©

Up near the Tejon Ranch, Quail Lake Road still has snow here and there. Focused on painting you don't feel the cold creeping up from your feet and numb fingers. I did watch a black cat stalking a flock of quail in the snow, without success.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12'