Weir Canyon

I have been exploring this week, painting the same scene several times.  It did not seem to come any easier with the progression.  Each one carried it's own set of problems.  From painting to painting shapes morphed and the emphasis changed.  I though I would post this one because it is the last one.  It is the largest one being a 12x12.  

This exercise reminds me of my childhood.  If I liked something I drew I would draw it over and over.  I remember being so proud that I wanted to sent them all off to my relatives in New York.  I would love to have that feeling back.

Weir Canyon is a beautiful hiking area not far from me near Anaheim Hills.  It is a favorite place for my husband and I to hike.

oil, 12x12

Park Life

Today was a fun day out painting with friends.  I am taking a couple of plein air sessions with Kim VanDerHoek and today we were at Eisenhower Park in Orange.  Lots of pretty scenes of water, ducks, geese and trees on the lake and ponds.  This loud goose modeled for us and would take a break and return to almost the same spot.  

Today I mostly wanted to work on water reflection and setting the background back.  I took lots of photos and I think I will work out a few studio pieces from them.  The tree and water value contrasts are strong.  Working the composition out in studio is much easier for me than on location.  I tend to paint what I see.

10x8 oil on canvas

DPW Auction

Refuge

In an effort to return to plein air painting a friend allowed me to come to her home. I took photos for future reference. And then I took refuge in a small corner of her beautiful home and yard.  I have a thing for pathways and entries.  This, though not obvious, is the front entrance to this cottage nestled in the hills of Tustin.  It is a warm place of reception.   This was a place of comfort for me as I started to paint with some assembly of order and thought.  There is a strong process to painting.  The direct dialog with the left and right side of the brain must be refereed.  Being dazzled by what we see and want to paint is our right side.  Seeing the order and understanding the materials in the process of painting is the left side.  Putting it to poetic verse and music is the right side and getting that far is like climbing a mountain. Plein air is not very forgiving to those who turn their backs for any length of time.  I am happy with my progress and hope to be up and running for when I meet with Kim Vanderhoek next week for her class.  

Green is not green.  It is an infinite range of hues within the spectrum.  Make me crazy and it does.

8x16 oil on canvas board

Balboa Cove

Took a ride down to paint at a friends house today.  It was overcast with a strong light burning through.  This little spot is from my friends back porch out onto the canal.  Houses are packed in on a circular edge of sand with boats and kayaks coming in and out of view.  This is the view of the neighbors and their boat up on shore just a few feet out of the water.  In this view is also large buildings which are across Coast Highway and a bit of sky that falls between.  I wanted to suggest something in the background without putting in every detail.  Working on an 8x8 I must remember not to put in too much.  The contrast between the hustle and bustle of the busy road and the hospital behind them is amazing to me.  It was all out there, but I did not care and just enjoyed the tranquil water.

It was a lovely day to be down there to enjoy the fresh air and the peaceful view.  Thanks Cindy :)

8x8 oil

Fallen Tree

Went out last week to Irvine Park to brush up on plein air painting.  In June I am going out plein air painting with Kim VanDerHoek's class.   It is always an adjustment to get set up and ready to paint.  Once ready I did enjoy just being in the quiet and painting.  I felt a little out of it in my approach.  I had too much paint on the surface and a whole lot of slip and slide going on.  I enjoyed being out with my friend Judy.  We both got in the zone and barely spoke a word.  It is very zen!  In the end I was unhappy with what I had done, even though I enjoyed every minute of being there.  Funny how that works.  I took it home and did not look at it again for several days.  In the mean time I did another plein air painting and then went back to look at the first one.  I decided it was a fine attempt and being critical at this point is useless.  Painting is an action.  It is always in movement; a continuing process to observe.  So it is my job to keep it in motion and observe the comings and goings of it's nature order.  

Checking The Lines, Irvine Lake

Irvine Lake is a local fishing venue not far from my home.  I was out there for a concert on the shore and decided to take in some of the activities via my camera.  Not much for fishing myself, mainly because I have only fished once from the shore.  Might be something to think about taking up.  Seems relaxing and tranquil from what I have been told.  My husband has spent some time out on this lake and enjoyed himself.  It could be fun to paint out there.  

6x12 pastel on Wallis paper

Low Horizon

It feels so playful.  Lots of color.  This was late in the day on another trip to San Jose.  Driving and looking out the window at natures artwork.  This was a wonderful place to start exploring color.  I enjoyed mixing it up and laying it down.

18x18 pastel on Uart sanded paper

Trees On A Hill

Continuing the "Out The Window" landscapes.  I did this a while ago as a 6x6 in oil and decided to try it again larger at 18x18 in pastel on Uart Paper mounted on foam core.  I did do an under painting, with water based pigments, that shows through in places, but for the most part it is pastel.  

I love working with a square format.  It seems to keep me on the page.  I need to think about that more, so I will get back to you on that.  Right now it just feels right to me.

18x18 pastel

Color Play

This little 8x6 was painted from another photograph of our drive to San Jose.  It was late in the day and very gray so I decided to push the color around on iphoto.  I liked the yellow sky and left the photo enhanced to work out the painting.  Certainly changed my feeling about the day and I love the fun color.

Cloud Cover

Here is a 6x6 pastel of Central California.  This was a day of mighty clouds that towered over the land.  Fun to observe and wonder how to paint.  I find clouds somewhat tricky with their bellowing shapes and values.  I will keep at it and hopefully get to where I can paint them on a larger surface with confidence.

Passing Rows of Growing Stuff

Like I have been saying for a few posts, I like looking out the window of my car.  Passing rows of trees is really optical at 70 miles per hour.  The rows flash by.  I would love to tell you what's growing here, but I'm not sure.

14x11, pastel

Open Sky

Working in pastel and experimenting with stroke application.  This is another scene from my car window between L.A. and San Jose.  I love the visual space.

18x18, pastel, "Open Sky"

Good Times

Freedom and fun out in the salty surf.  Good times are had and the memories last a life time.  We remember and we return with the next generation to enjoy the wonderful sensation all over again.  

There is a beautiful illumination that comes when using pastels on a sanded surface.  I love the richness of the medium.  Simply yummy.

12x16, pastel on ampersand pastelbord

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Mighty Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus Trees are trees I have enjoyed most of my life in Southern California.  

They are trees with beautiful bark and tall, graceful profiles.  They are the mighty giants I remember that divided large parcels of land.  It was tricky putting a big tree in a small place.  Working small is a challenge for me in pastel.  Mainly because I like to work with chunks of chalk.  Working that way makes it difficult to be exact and supports my impressionistic style.  I am just loving color right now.  This is a 6x6 painting in soft pastel on Uart sanded paper with a compliment under painting.  I have been having fun paint with pigment as a foundation to apply pastel.  Sometimes the paint shows through and other times I cover it up.  I am okay either way.  

Forgotten Road

Forgotten Road is from a hike that Dana Cooper and I took sometime last year.  We decided to explore a road off the regular path at Irvine Park.  It was a fun hike that took us out of the park and on to a local highway.  

Forgotten Road, pastel, 12x12
Donated to United Society of Pastel Painters

Care Free

Life in Southern California weather makes it a good place to live if you enjoy getting out.  The temperatures make hiking an easy outing for my husband and I.   This is a place called Peter's Canyon that is not to far from home.  You would never know that housing surrounds this place.  Once in on the path, the cares of the day are long gone.

Care Free, pastel over watercolor on sanded Uart, 14 3/4x16 3/4

Among The Giants

When hiking through the forested parts of Santiago Oaks I love the feeling of towering trees.  It feels like a forest of giants.

18x12 pastel
Offered through Chemers Gallery

Trail To Robber's Roost

I have been working through a series of Santiago Oak using pastel.  This is a 9x12 that I did as a demonstration painting for the Orange County Fine Art Association this month.  It was an awesome experience.  I look forward to next month when I will be demonstrating for the United Society of Pastel Artists.  More info to come on that.
Offered through Chemers Gallery

Trail To The Top

12x9 pastel of the upper side of Santiago Oaks in Orange, California.  When I am in this park and I reach this point I feel pretty good.  It means I have worked hard and there is a view to the pacific on a clear day to enjoy.  

High Grass Trail

This is what my allergies just love.  Even though my eyes start to water I  think it is wonderful to be out hiking in the tall grass every once in a while.  

I enjoyed the handling and laying in of color with pastels on this and feel a little abstract application coming on.  I found myself working in vertical and horizontal strokes, loving the balance of each mark. I think what I love most about pastel is the fun of the application.
High Grass Trail, 14x11, soft pastel on Pastelmat paper
$475