"Afternoon Nap" ©

Is there anything more adorable then a couple napping in the afternoon, without a care in the world?

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Charolais" ©

Lovely white cows dot the French countryside. While painting French cows, I learned that the farmers truly love their cows and the cows seem to feel the same way.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Frontenay Sheep" ©

In the heart of Frontenay, France the main road splits right where this sheep spends her days grazing in the sunlight. One morning she posed near the roadside for me.

Also this painting is the 800th painting posted on my blog, 200 from my goal of 1,000. And it's working, I have learned a great deal on this journey.

Oil on canvas, 11" X 14"

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"French Village" ©

On the way to Montreuil-Bellay, this little cluster of French buildings was irresistible as a subject to paint.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"A Serene Moment II" ©

Today's painting is a larger version of yesterday's little study. I made some adjustments and will keep on tweaking till it all makes sense, are we ever really done?

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"A Serene Moment" ©

Today's small painting has become the basis for a larger work that is now up on the easel. The long diagonal of the distant mountain seems to work in the small format but I have changed the composition a bit to accommodate "getting large", varing the shapes. The idea of standing in the shade, looking onto the sunlit valley is the main focus, hopefully I won't lose that.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"River's Edge" ©

Small boats are tucked along the banks of the lazy rivers meandering across the French countryside.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

P.S. A family member has been in the hospital the past week, hence my painting output was on hold. I tried but the white coats and an emotional roller coaster seem to squelch all artistic inspiration. Looks like all will be well in a couple of months and I am back to the easel today with this painting. Thank you for your patience.

"French Countryside" ©

Occasionally early in the morning and late in the day the French countryside looks as if it's dusted in pink.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"Heading Home" ©

Sometimes you have to turn around to see the view you should be painting. In this case I was done painting for the day and heading home. Yep, I scrapped the other two.

Oil on canvas, 12" X 12"

"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"

"As The Sun Sinks" © Malibu Bluff Park, Malibu, California

It's a magic moment to paint, the sea turns silver, the landscape glows with hints of violet, while the sun sinks until tomorrow.

Oil on Linen, 11" X 14"

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"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"

"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"

"Saint Loup Reflections", © St Loup, France

Late in the afternoon, wandering the grounds of the Chateau of Saint Loup I could only imagine the lives that passed though over the centuries. A lot to consider while painting the reflections.

Oil, 14" X 18"

"Santa Fe Dam" ©

The Santa Fe Dam is nestled among monster gravel quarries and has a magnificent view of the San Gabriel Mountains. 3 min. from Art Feldman's canvas shop in Irwindale.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"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'

"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"

"Winter Snow" ©

After canceling a painting date today because of rain I started this painting, only to have it start snowing outside. It actually snowed in the Santa Clarita Valley, for the first time in over 20 years.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"San Juan, Afternoon" ©

I went out painting, hiking in with my gear packed on my back and stepped into a hole, falling flat, no one witnessed my flying dismount but in the aftermath shaking, my painting went no where. So humbled I came home and painted in the safety of my studio. Tomorrow is a new day!

Oil on Linen, 12" X 16"

"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"

"Montreuil-Bellay River" ©

This view is of a river that branches off the La Loire Le Thouet and cuts along the 15th and 16th century ramparts of Montreuil-Bellay, one of the most beautiful architectural areas in the Loire Valley, France.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 16"

"Winter Day" ©

First day back at the easel in three, the longest I have gone without painting since I can remember. I shot a couple of images of the progress, to show my thought process. Any thoughts or critique welcome (yeah you Bart).

Oil on canvas, 12" 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"

"Golden Reflections" ©

After the storm today all of the golden leaves will be blown onto the lake, bare trunks and branches will wait for spring.

Oil on linen panel, 9" 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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"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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"San Juan Afternoon" ©

Last weekend I demonstrated oil painting at the Valencia Town Center Mall. Painting in the dark I was able to get most of it down so today I softened edges, changed some values and generally tried to bring the painting to a conclusion.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 16"

"Walker Ranch" ©

31 degrees, 7am, the sun is just grazing the earth in our canyon for the day, fighting the storm clouds on their way out.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Tejon Creek" ©

Headed to Fort Bragg last weekend to run our speeder on the Skunk Railroad, as we headed up the 5 Freeway the view of the Tejon Ranch was stunning. To capture the winter hues I jumped at the chance to paint this dry creek at the ranch.

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Hog Heaven" ©

A pile of straw and a puddle, hog heaven.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

Happy Thanksgiving!

"November Snow" ©

It snowed today up the hill. This scene is one I have painted in the past, still a favorite and the painting has already found a home, thankfully.

Oil on Canvas, 8" X 10"

"The Scent Of Rain" ©

It's coming, you can tell by the scent of rain in the air.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

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"Frenchman's Flat" ©

Plein air painting I am always hunting for that "good idea" that can be worked into a studio painting. As simple as this little piece is the rim lighting and canyon walls folding into one another was the idea I hoped to gather.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Paramount Ranch" ©

Thanks to George Malone and the California Art Club we had the opportunity to paint at the Paramount Movie Ranch in Agoura. The day couldn't have been more beautiful, especially the clouds drifting in from the sea.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Cottonwoods In The Afternoon" ©

The painting is simply about being there, on the bank, looking over the water to the Cottonwoods beyond, with a trout breaking the surface now and again.

Oil on canvas, 12" X 9"

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"Sliver Of Sunlight" ©

I was mowing the lawn, my mind drifting and thought about the hills of Malibu. Nice thing about painting, you can dive into a piece and be any place you desire. So the decision was made to spend the rest of the day painting a sliver of sunlight in the Malibu hills, what could be better?

Oil on Linen, 12" X 16"

"Sunlit Vineyard" ©

Yesterday I painted in the 3rd Annual Falkner Vineyard Invitational, near Temecula, Ca. When I saw the little road that leads though the vineyard to the eucalyptus trees in the distance I got excited, set up and got to work. 31 artists painted thoughout the vineyard and we ended the day with glasses of wine, thanks to Falkner Vineyard and Segil Fine Art Source.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"A Break In The Moss" ©

This morning walking down to Hansen Dam to paint I discovered the lake blanketed in moss. The ducks cut right through the carpet effortlessly, while conversing with one another. The cool breeze gave clue to break in the heat, thank goodness.

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"Grand Canyon" ©

I have always wanted to paint the Grand Canyon with it's rock formations in the rosy morning light. Now that travel and shows are slowing down till spring there is time to experiment, guilt free. So today, I played!

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Colors In The Canyon" ©

Today I went to a figure painting session, it felt great to paint a lovely lady, Jennifer, although I kept finding myself holding my breath. What a challenge for a landscape painter. After pushing my brain and brush so hard it was nice to paint a local canyon and breath calmly.

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"