Sun Lite Hillside, Santiago Oaks 9x12 pastel

This scene is one often seen on a sunny morning while hiking in Santiago Oak Regional Park.  It is refreshing and inspiring to hike along the many trails.  

I enjoyed demonstrating this view point last night at Chemers Gallery in Tustin with fellow artists, Kim Vanderhoek, Julie Hill, Dana Cooper and many more.  The live music made for a lively good time. 

Golden

I spend more time combing over my photos looking for new subject. Many times I will pass up photos that don't seem to strike me only to find on the hundredth view it does. So much is in my head and somewhere along the way my vision changes. Hard to say, but this one struck me and so hear it is. It feels loud and confronting, with strong temperature contrasts and intensity. This direction kind of scares me. Discomfort always turns out to be good for me.
Pushing through.

Riding Open Space In The OC

This is a regular scene in Santiago Oak Park. Riders, hikers and cyclists can move through some of the most beautiful land in the OC. I am grateful to have this space and access to it so close to home.

Morning Hike

This is a 6x6 oil of a local trail I painted once before.  The last time I did it I used pastels.  It is fun to see the differences in the mediums.

Bid here -DPW Auction

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.  

Dry Creek "Pony" Trail

Back to pastels with this 12x18 scene from a hike a few weeks ago.  Right past the tree is a creek bed that is used to release water to areas down stream.  It is dry a good part of the time and easy to cross over to the mountain side of the park.  I like this trail a lot because it has dry brush and cactus.  

I started this painting on a sanded surface called Uart.  The surface can take washes of turpentine,alcohol and water.  This allows for under paintings in wet pastel, oil, ink or watercolor.  I really like the texture each of those mediums bring to my work.

Offered through Chemers Gallery

Branching Out

Last night was another evening painting under the setting sun at Chemers.  It was so much fun visiting with all the artists and talking with friends that I didn't finish my painting last night.  So today I put the finishing touches on it.  This is a 12x18 pastel on sanded paper from Kitty Wallis.  The fun thing about it was I started with a ink under painting in colors that supported the subject.  I typically start with a value painting in a dark nu pastel that I apply turp to get it into the paper.  It is usually a gray on color value under painting.  So painting with these colorful inks was very freeing and fun.  It created a value map in color the support the soft pastel.

The subject is from our local hiking park.  This is one of the pretty trails my husband and I enjoy hiking in Santiago Oaks Nature Park in Orange, California

Branching Out, 12x18 pastel is available through 

Chemers Gallery
17300 Seventeenth Street, Suite G, Tustin, CA 92780
714.731.5432     info@chemersgallery.com

Happy Trails

This is the starting place for many trails.  Santiago Oaks is a hidden jewel in the city of Orange.  It is a place that connects to other local parks.  You can walk for miles and miles with still more to see.  Hiking these local trails has become a wonderful past time for my husband and I.  It is a great place to shake off the duties of the day and let your mind travel.  Being in this environment has helped me in seeing values and color as they are, ever changing with the day.

14x24, pastel, available

In Enderle Center Since 1978
17300 Seventeenth Street, Suite G, Tustin, CA 92780
714.731.5432     info@chemersgallery.com

The Road Between

 12x18, soft pastel

Fresh Air

6x6, pastel

Another day on the trail and observing the locals enjoying a hike.

Santiago Creek Trail

16x12, Pastel on Wallis, sold

This is a trail my husband and I take often.  It takes us to many trails in Santiago Oaks Regional Park.  Hiking has become one of our favorite past times together and this park is too.  It is a hidden jewel only 7 minutes from home.

"LOOKOUT POINT"

5x7 oil on canvas board

Hiking in the local mountains has been a new adventure for me.  I am amazed at the massive areas of land with trails for biking , horseback riding and hiking.  It is a whole new world.  Last year and almost every year there are fires in our local mountains.  This area has grown back beautifully with only the black chard tree trunk and branches scattered over the landscape to remind us just how venerable nature can be.