"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"

"Afternoon Warmth" ©

This is the season for miniature paintings to be submitted for the flurry of December holiday shows. It's a great excuse for me to explore compositions and palettes quickly on these little canvases.

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Bridle Trail" Will Rogers State Park ©

Yesterday the California Art Club had a paint out at Will Rogers State Park, near the ocean. The deer wandered about oblivious to people clicking away on their cameras, while the varied eucalyptus trees tempted the painters. I chose to paint this little scene on the bridle path, being very careful to give the horses plenty of room to pass. Thank you George and the CAC for a great day!

9" X 12" Oil on Panel

"Gardens of Place du Cardinal, Morning Mist" © Richelieu, France

The one and only sculptor on the France trip, Karen and I wandered onto the grounds of the Place du Cardinal very early in the morning. We were the first people to see the sun cut though the morning mist. The acres of gardens sat quietly in the cool air waiting for the day to begin.

Oil on Canvas, 9" X 12"

"Moss Covered Canal" ©

The moss is so thick at first glance the canal looks like a pathway. This canal is part of the Chateau de Saint Loupe built between 1609 and 1626, now owned by Count Charles-Henri de Bartillat. If you would like to spend the night in a castle this might just be the spot, it's extraordinary.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 16"

"Placerita Canyon, Late In The Day" ©

Today I was suppose to go painting in Whitney Canyon, my painting buddy bailed and I promised my husband I wouldn't go into the canyon alone. Now what?

There are several small works shows in the wings, probably gallery owners are thinking of holiday shoppers, so I painted my street, AGAIN. I thought hard about this and decided that since Monet painted hay stacks several times and Kevin Macpherson painted his pond hundreds of times, I have artistic permission to paint my street as much as desired. Plus it might make a nice entry for one of the small works shows. Good use of a blown day.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

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"A Brief Interlude" ©

Clouds are a rarity in our valley, other then a distant thunderhead rising out of the desert heat. Today clouds blanketed the world, thunder rumbled, lighting flashed ushering in the rain. You could feel the relief each leaf felt and then the skies broke open with a brief interlude, until it rained again.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

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p.s. I tried to post this last night and the wet phone lines chewed open by squirrels gave up and I was off the gird.

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"Late In The Day" ©

I haven't painted this scene in a couple of years. It's just out my driveway about 50 yards down the dirt road and luckily the weeds haven't been abated yet. This weekend I'll be showing paintings at the 19th Annual Craftsman Furnishings and Decorative Arts Show, at the Pasadena Convention Center and thought it would be nice to paint the view that is on my business cards. Even though it's just wild brush and dripping oaks, "Late In The Day" it's beautiful.

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