Red Rock Evening

8 x 14 watercolor on paper

I'm just a couple of weeks away from my Fall trip to Zion N.P. and I'm starting to tune up a bit for all of the red.

Down By the River

6 x 12 pastel on sanded paper

It's getting a little too hot to stand around in the sun and paint so I headed down to the San Diego River (yes, there's still water in many places) and set up in the wonderful shade to do this little study.
Painting water has always been my nemesis (pretty funny for a Pisces) so I have officially declared this the “Summer of Water”. I’m gonna figure it out if it drowns me. (Ha).

Goleta Beach

We Just returned from a long weekend in Santa Barbara. While there we took a morning trip up to Goleta beach, made notable by California artists like Marcia Burtt.

Here are a couple of studies I did from that trip. I have several good photos that will, hopefully, lead to some more paintings of this great spot.

 

 
9 x 12 acrylics on canvas panel

 

8 x 8 acrylics on board

Desert Chamisa

I had so much fun painting a red rock scene with these flowers that I wanted to do something that showcased these wonderful blooms.

The scenery of the red rock country can be huge and breathtaking but sometimes I like to get up close and take a look at what makes the whole landscape.

 

11 x 14 pastel on sanded board

Virgin River Rocks

This fall I’m heading back to Zion National Park so I’m going to start tuning up with a few little studies from photos I have brought back from previous trips.

This is a little scene from along the Virgin River which runs the length of the canyon.

 

8 x 10 oil on linen panel

Black Eyed Susans

We don’t have these growing here in Southern California except where they have been planted in gardens like this one in Balboa Park.

I remember these from our trips to Michigan and I always enjoy them. So when I found these I had to paint them!

 

9 x 12 pastel on sanded paper

Across the Street

Every time I leave my house I come to the bottom of the hill where my street begins and look across to an empty field. Usually it’s full of dried weeds but right now there’s still a hint of green and some lovely wildflowers left over from spring. So, I decided to paint a small study to remember it by. A few days later all of the color was gone…

 

6 x 8 oil on canvas panel

Fun (?) with Acrylics

I’ve been obsessed lately with the work of California artist Marcia Burtt. She paints exclusively in acrylics and does an incredible job!

As an oil painter, acrylics can be very different and frustrating. Especially outdoors where they can dry before the paint hits the canvas. My plan is to try these outdoors but first I want to get used to the medium in the studio where I can have a bit more control. We’ll see how it goes…

 

10 x 10 acrylic on panel

 

5 x 7 acrylic on aquabord

6 x 12 acrylic on aquabord

A Morning at the Lake

I’ve been hiking a lot at a recreational lake close to my home named Lake Hodges. We’re coming out of spring and the grass is still green and the flowers numerous. So, I decided to leave my hiking pack at home and put on my painting backpack for a morning at the lake. If was gorgeous!

I also decided to try painting a little larger so this one is 12 x 16. Not huge, but much bigger than my usual 8 x 10.

 

 
12 x 16 oil on canvas panel

Blue Skies

Spent the weekend out in the desert and managed to survive one wild and wooly storm. Rain and snow in the desert and 60 mile per hours winds! Yikes.

Fortunately, the storm blew out and left behind some great weather and scenes like this hillside in the mountains on the way home. There's still lots of snow up there from the storm. This IS April, isn't it??!?


8 x 8 pastel on paper

This painting can be purchased here

Hidden

10 x 8 pastel on paper

I'm getting back on my feet again so I took my lightweight kit out to a local park, set up a chair next to a field of green and peered into the tangle where I found a few small yellow flowers that didn't want to be found. Good to be back out in the warm sunshine!

After Last Night’s Rain

6 x 8 pastel on paper

If rained most of the night so I expected to wake up to more clouds but instead I was greeted with this view across our valley. Nice way to start the day!

Taylor Creek Canyon

8 x 10 pastel on sanded paper
Taylor Creek is one of the best kept secrets in Zion National Park.

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Queen Anne’s Lace

8 x 10 pastel on sanded paper

Finally had a little time to paint and.... rain! Oh well. So I sifted through my photos and found this one from our last trip to Michigan.

I started this with a watercolor underpainting, to establish the color patterns:

 

First Light

I went out to Cabrillo National Monument today to paint with the San Diego Plein Air painting group. This park Is known for it’s fabulous old lighthouse and spectacular ocean views.

But for some reason I was feeling introspective today so I wandered away from the crowds and found this view of a cliff above the ocean just as the morning light was coming over the crest. Peace.

 

 
8 x 10 oil on panel

Arbor

9 x 12 pastel on sanded paper

I’ve  walked this path every time I go to Wilderness Gardens Preserve as it’s along the only way into the park. Each time I passed under this tree I said, “I have to paint this”. But I always walk past it to something else. Something “bigger and better”.

I Finally stopped and painted this view and it was a wonderful experience. Somehow, I think there’s a lesson from life here…..

More Gouache

Here are a couple of new little gouache studies. I’m still figuring out this medium. Lot’s o’ fun, though!

 

5 x 7 on watercolor paper

 

6 x 12 on watercolor paper