"Antiques" ©

One of the many advantages of belonging to an art club is the opportunity to exhibit in many different types of shows.  I almost always paint landscapes, as you know.  The California Art Club is offering an exhibit soon of still life paintings and so I was pushed into leaving my comfort zone of trees and mountains and delve into flowers.  It took me a couple of days to find my way in the petals and I'll keep at it till it feels right.  

Oil on Canvas,  16" X 20"

p.s.  This Sunday, July 29th, 4pm - 6pm, if your in the Pasadena area, stop by Gales Restaurant and say Hi!  Belinda Del Pesco and I are showing about 45 paintings.  Gale will have wine and appetizers for everyone.  

"Eaton Canyon Riverbed" ©

Yesterday I visited the Edgar Payne exhibit at the Pasadena Museum of California Art with a group of artist friends.  Beyond the brilliant compositions I was struck by Payne's use of gray.  Wanting to put some of what I learned onto canvas right away I painted this scene using all shades of gray, as much as possible.  I had a great time, a bonus to a special day, my 26th year of being married to my number one guy, Mike.  Love you!

Oil on Canvas,  20" X 24"

"Grazing On Gold" ©

While framing and hanging a new show for Gales Restaurant in Pasadena I painted this piece.  It was more about the color then subject.  The location is near the Monastery in Carmel, California.  I am still dinking with the cows, looking at size and placement.  Yes, someday they will be cows.  Or the whole thing may get scrapped.  The untold secret is I painted this painting on top of a painting of Half Dome in Yosemite that should have never seen the light of day.  

Oil on canvas,  16" X 20"

"Malibu View" ©

George Malone planned a California Art Club paint out at the Adamson House in Malibu today.  I jumped into my art-mobil and headed out early this morning.  As I headed toward the ocean the fog was drifting onto shore in waves.  I decided to paint looking towards inland so I would have the least amount of shifting light as possible.  After painting all morning we ate lunch talking about art, shows and all the typical art speak.  Afterwards we headed to the Weisman Museum at Pepperdine to view the "On Location in Malibu 2012" exhibit of CAC Artist/Signature members.  There are some real gems in that exhibit and if you are in the area it's a show that is worth your time.  

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Rocky Riverbed" ©

"Rocky Riverbed"

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

I started this painting a while ago and pulled it out today to see if I could pull it together well enough to frame it.  Scott Christensen told me, to know if a painting is done, just ask yourself if you would hang it on your own wall.  It's a nice high bar to consider and usually the answer is no.  

This image shows the painting before I tweaked it.  The original painting was a 12" X 12" plein air that sold so I didn't have the reference.  Note to self, don't sell the plein air pieces until I am sure I am done with them.  What I wanted to solve is the leaves on the Sycamore, strong diagonal of the brush in shade in the lower right corner, river rocks, tree trunk and brush on the other side of the riverbank. OK, I can see by writing this, I painted the whole piece over again.  

Here is the finished painting on the easel, so you can compare the before and after easily.  

"Rocky Riverbed"

20" X 24", Oil on Canvas

Happy Fourth of July!

This morning I painted this 6" X 8" study to figure out a large canvas of Bryce Canyon.  Painting a small piece is a quick way to discover the possibilities and challenges in making the scene larger.   Anything that is just a little off in the small painting will be a huge problem in the larger version.  

"Summer Day Ends" ©

It has been a while since I posted a few images of a painting in process and thought this would be a candidate.  The scene is located in Eaton Canyon.  Usually I look for a view with an entry, such as a river or path.  Today I just went for the light on the distant mountains and hope that will pull the viewer into the painting. 

To help keep the values nailed down, I painted a loose wash in all the local colors, on the blank canvas.    

My goal is to cover the entire canvas thinly with paint.  

I was ignoring our hungry cat and she reached up from the floor and gently placed her paw in this pile of Viridian paint.  Lesson learned: don't ignore the cat, unless you have lots of time to clean a paint covered paw.  

At this point I have each element covered in paint.  Now I start again, working from dark to light.  I did paint the sky in before the tree so that I could work the leaves into the wet paint of the sky.  

  12" X 16" Oil on Canvas

"San Clemente Beach Path" ©

This little painting is one of the plein air pieces that I painted during the "Paint San Clemente" event.  I was standing on the edge of the beach path, the train tracks and ocean were on my right.  During the week the path is wide open, without the parade of people running and walking past.  There are changes I would make looking at this now but at the time it was what I saw and how I responded.  

Oil on Linen,  11" X 14"

"Calafia Palms" ©

Calafia Beach in San Clemente is packed with families frolicking in the warm Pacific waters, once the sun breaks the marine layer of clouds.  I painted this piece very early in the morning looking up the little canyon from the parking lot before the sun and people arrived for the day.  The interesting shapes of the palm trees were captivating.  

Oil on Panel 16" X 12"

The "Paint San Clemente" event ended last weekend with an art fair in the park outside the gallery.  I like to participate in these occasionally and  think it is valuable to hear peoples comments on my paintings.  Often when sales occur online or in a  gallery, you never actually talk to the new owners.  I enjoy having the personal contact and knowing the families that will hang my paintings in their homes.  

"Monday Morning, San Clemente State Park"

Painting San Clemente last week during the plein air event I tried to search out spots that were beautiful  and possibly different locations from where the other artists would choose to paint.  Early Monday morning I was exploring the state park, while the low cloud cover refused to burn away.  I decided to paint these Eucalyptus trees and while I was working away a fellow walked past and told me that he walked though there everyday and never noticed how beautiful the trees are.  He made my day.  

Oil on Linen,  12" X 16"

sold

"Breaking Up" ©

Late one afternoon in Carmel the clouds began to break up and the promise of a sunset was let loose.  I was chasing that feeling with this piece.  Tomorrow morning I am off to San Clemente for the plein air event.  I'll post what I can from the event.  Sometimes it's tough to get online and selfishly I don't want to give up painting time to sit in Starbucks and blog.  Tomorrow is the quick draw then we have the week to paint, delivering our 2 best pieces for the gala next Saturday night.  With 100 artists participating it's a lot of fun.  

Oil on Canvas,  12" X 16"

"Morning Haze" ©

Last month plein air painting in Carmel California I had a good start on this scene and decided to give it a go in the studio.  The morning air had the effect of gold gauze and it was my hope to capture that.  

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Tammy" ©

This little painting will be a birthday gift for a gentleman turning 80 next month.  His wife was looking for one of those gifts that are so difficult to find for the person that has everything and decided that a portrait of his beloved Tammy would be perfect.  

Oil on Panel, 12" X 9"

"Rocky Cliff" ©

Painter, Margot Lennartz told me once that often rocks look like potatoes in paintings.  During her many critiques of artists paintings, over and over again she would mention the potato problem.  It was one of her common comments that seemed to pop up on so many artists paintings.  Today I am posting my "don't paint potatoes" practice.  

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 16"

"Sands of Carmel" ©

Finally home for a couple of weeks and back at the easel I started to explore the sands of Carmel that I discovered while painting up there in the festival.   Our sand in Southern California has a warm hue and heavy grit. The sands of Carmel were pristine, almost white and very fine.  It seems like everything about the little seaside town is special.  

Oil on Canvas,  18" X 24"

sold

"Carmel Sunset" ©

While painting in Carmel one evening, the fog lifted, the clouds broke apart and for about 15 minutes the sun had one last hurrah for the day.  I was toasted from painting all day, looking forward to a hot shower and dinner but thought why not and broke out my easel to just paint color notes of what I was seeing.  Maybe someday this little study will become a painting in the studio, who knows?

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Whalers Cove", Point Lobos State Reserve, ©

Home safely from participating in the 19th Annual Carmel Art Festival 2012, as one of 60 plein air painters I have been reflecting on what a great week it was.  Carmel is a tiny town, that is pristine from the sidewalks to the beaches.  Painting in the area is endless and finding spots to paint in a competition is so easy you can almost close your eyes, turn your body, open your eyes and start painting.  The town could also be titled the "dog loving capitol of the world".  It was truly a perfect event and the volunteers that pull it off deserve gold stars, they worked so hard on behalf of the artists. 

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14", $800.

19th Annual Carmel Art Festival 2012

"Creekside", one of the many paintings sold at the Sierra Madre Art Festival and Art Matters, Encore! at the Huntington Library and Gardens, last weekend.  

This morning I am off driving my art mobile to Carmel for the next 6 days as a juried participant in the 19th Annual Carmel Art Festival.  The artists will paint 4 paintings, 2 for judging and 2 back up for sales.  Sunday morning is a quick draw, which is always a challenge.  My car looks like I am leaving home forever, between the 12 wired frames (you never know what will look best till you finish the paintings), painting gear, big coats (I have been told it will be cold) and all the usual traveling gear, it's a full load. 

I am really excited about painting in the area of Carmel, catching up with the artists I know and learning about this event.  Wish me good luck!  

"Tejon Ranch Paint Out" ©

The last couple of days the California Art Club held a paint out at the Tejon Ranch in Kern Country, CA. Laura and Dwight Dreyer put the event together from arranging our admittance to the ranch to lunch served alfresco in the ranch vineyard.  About 20 artists participated, painting from 6am - 7pm on Thursday, ending the day at a great little Mexican restaurant, Los Pinos, in Lebec.  

This little painting captures the morning light on a sea of spring greens.  It was painting in the exact location that a State Farm commercial, including some bison, was filmed.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

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"

"Sandy Trail" ©

This trail winds under the cypress trees down to the ocean along the Big Sur coast.  I'll be painting in Carmel in a few weeks during the 19th Annual Carmel Art Festival and looking forward to meeting the other artists and painting my "socks" off.  

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 11"

sold

"Creekside" ©

After a week of traveling the state, time at the easel today completed the process of being home.  California is very dry.  The wild flowers are trying with all of their might to bloom, without much luck.  This painting is a spot I have painted many times and will continue too.  The lovely meeting of the trees over the creek create a window to the mountains beyond and that is what keeps bringing me back to this spot.  

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

sold

"Light and Land Show'

"Winter Puddle", Oil

"Sunny Afternoon", Oil

These 2 paintings recently sold at the "Light and Land" show at Segil Gallery. The show will hang until April 28th, so there is another couple of weeks if you would like to see the show. I am headed out of town for a week to paint and ride the rails in our speeder with my husband. His Mom passed a couple of weeks ago and a he could use a break.

"Early Morning on the Rails" ©

Tonight I had the chance to "play" in the paint and just have fun. We are headed on a rail trip, so this was the perfect subject to try to capture.

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

"Rocky Riverbed" ©

Over the past 6 years I have been adding to this blog, very rarely has "life" taken the front seat. We buried my husbands Mother last week and another family member is gravely ill. Artwork took a back seat to all that you do at times like this. I am finally in good enough shape to paint and this rocky riverbed was my first effort after several days away from my easel. It felt very good to disappear into a painting. I am thankful everyday to have art in my life.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Summer Retreat" ©

This location is close to the backside of Aspen Colorado, in the town of Marble where I used to go to get marble from the Yule quarry and carve stone at the MARBLE/marble Symposiums for 16 years. The brochure for the symposium arrived in the mail and fond memories came flooding back. Painting a scene allowed me to remember all the good times in the mountains.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Evening at Vasquez" ©

Tomorrow evening is the opening of my solo show "Land and Light" at the Segil Gallery. I try to stick to the subject of painting within this blog and stay away from mentioning shows. Today is an exception. For months I have been painting for this show. Many of the paintings that have been blogged recently are hanging in the gallery. If you live nearby I would love for you to see the real artwork. My photography is poor at best and with varying resolution /color on everyones computer screens I can only imagine what people are seeing. The reception is from 5pm - 7pm, the gallery is located at 110 W. Lime Ave., Monrovia, CA. The show will hang till April 28th. After tomorrow night, I will be back at the easel happily painting for the next set of deadlines.....

"Vasquez Juniper" ©

Artist George Malone organized a California Art Club paint out today at Vasquez Rocks. The Juniper bushes that seem to grow up out of the desert stone floor caught the mid-morning light and we painted while shadows slowly creeped into the scene. Thank you George for a nicely planned day.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"Walker Ranch Trailhead" ©

A couple of days ago I checked on the washed out Walker Ranch trail and it was totally repaired. If any of you hike in the SCV this spot might be recognizable, as the trailhead to Walker Ranch in Placerita Canyon.

Oil on canvas, 11" X 14"

"Eaton Canyon Sycamore" ©

Victoria Finlay has written more about color in her book, "Color, A natural History of the Palette" then imaginable. One of the first chapters is on the color Ochre, describing the mines in Australia and how Ochre played a major role in the lives of the Aboriginal people. While reading about Ochre, I used a great deal of the pigment in the painting of "Eaton Canyon Sycamore", making the experience all the more pleasurable.

Oil on Canvas, 18" X 24"

"Peace and Quiet" ©

Last night was the artists reception for the Contemporary Masters Exhibit at the Pasadena Museum of History. The show is beautiful and if your in the Pasadena area would be worth a peek. Today I painted this little piece purely for the fun of it.

6" X 8", Oil on canvas

sold

All of these boxes contain framed paintings for my solo show in a couple of weeks. There are about 10 more now that aren't in the photo and you can see that I have been working hard even if my postings have been slow lately. I don't have a box for the large seascape and will sew up a custom "bag" to protect the frame, for delivery. The show is at the Segil Gallery in Monrovia, the reception is Saturday March 24, 5pm - 7pm. I am really excited to present all of these new paintings to my friends and collectors.

"Back Road" ©

This scene is the back road to Walker Ranch in Newhall. Just around the corner are several white Bee boxes and it's a good idea to skirt the mass of humming Bees and paint a few yards away.

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

"Canyon Lands" ©

Painting the red rocks of Canyon de Chelly, while on break from framing and packing paintings for delivery on the 18th, I was reminded how much I miss painting in the field. Time for a painting trip!

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"A Little Field of Gold" © Frazier Park

Hard to believe this spot is behind a Jack in the Box, off the 5 Freeway in Fraizer Park. Tomorrow I get to start framing for my solo show, I think I have 32 paintings left to frame. Thank goodness for the electric drill.

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

"Through the Trees" ©

Near Big Sur, California this little trail meanders though the trees and down the hill.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Golden Hour" ©

Yesterday Pete Cole, President of Gamblin Artists Colors, gave a talk on Gamblin oil paints and Mediums at Carter Sexton Art Supplies, in North Hollywood. If you ever get the chance to hear Pete talk, GO. He made sure everyone was comfortable and could see and hear each other. Every question was answered clearly and fully. One of the sample's Pete handed out was a tube of Indian Yellow. I don't usually have Indian Yellow on my palette but you know the lure of a sample, as soon as I got home I squeezed out a bunch. It was perfect timing, because in looking at the inventory of paintings I have ready for my show next month I didn't have enough small warm paintings. I painted my street late in the day when all the wild brush turns gold. Indian Yellow is all over that painting. The tinting strength of the Gamblin Indian Yellow is what really surprised me. I can see many uses for the paint, from under paintings to glazes. Thanks Pete!

"Whitney Canyon Path" ©

So many times I am emailed about blog postings with questions on how I have painted a piece and almost without fail I tell you what I am going to change. That image never seems to make it onto the blog because I have moved on and am so excited about the next painting. With this piece I took a painting that I started months ago and did what I so often talk about in those emails. By comparing the images you can see how I added value, brought in more color harmony and more interest in every area. I also knocked out the stripy path and broke up the middle field with little grasses. In the morning I'll see other issues, of course, are we ever truly done?

(above is the old version, that is gone forever)

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Heritage Valley Farmland" ©

Next month I will deliver 40 paintings for a solo show at the Segil Gallery in Monrovia. This place looks like a studio / gallery / framing store, anything but a home where people actually live. I didn't realize until a couple stopped by to pick up a painting today and I saw all of it with their eyes. What can I do? So, I am back at the easel, painting "Heritage Valley Farmland".

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 18"

"Palms in the Desert" ©

I find it amazing that Palm Trees thrive in our Southern California deserts. When you are painting them you can hear the rustling of their skirts in the wind and it's amazing to watch all the little birds and mice scurrying in and out of the shelter of the palms.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"