This Yosemite plein air painting was painted just as the colors were turning on the beautiful elm tree that stands under the watchful eye of Half Dome.
Autumn in Cook’s Meadow
11″ x 14″ oil on linen panel
Leslie Landers
Afternoon Shadows, Trinidad
9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel
The Humboldt County Coast offers so much. I started this piece in the Trinidad Harbor paying close attention to the colors of the water both in and out of shadow. Now that I’ve finished this up at home I want to head back to further savor the beauty of far Northern California.
2021 Humboldt Paint Out
One of the great joys in outdoor painting is getting to know an area in a way that is personal and deeply experienced. This painting trip was especially delightful in that I was able to share it with some amazing painter friends. We set off for a morning spot and an afternoon spot each day. In the evenings we returned to a large ocean front house we rented to share dinner and look at that day’s work. I am, bit by bit, becoming a better painter. Painting immersion with a group like this is as valuable as a class with a master painter to generate growth.
The six paintings above were hung at a lovely art gallery for a show that included about two dozen participating artists. I was so happy that my painting “Ready to Go” received an award for “Best representational Painting.” It’s the one first painting in the gallery above. I so appreciate the Redwood Art Association for hosting this terrific event. See you next year.
Standing Watch
12″ x 9″ (private collection)
As I was setting my gear to paint this scene at Sue-Meg State Park (formerly Patrick Point), it was clear the weather was about to change. Blue sky to the right. A bank of clouds to the left. I noticed a gorgeous celadon color in the water and hung on to that as worked as rapidly as I could to capture the moment.
Ready to Go
11″ x 14″ oil on linen panel
The gorgeous color of the backlit water drew me to this late morning scene in the harbor of Trinidad California. I painted this for the 2021 Humboldt Plein Air Paint Out and was delighted later to learn I received an award for “Best Representational Work.”
Low Tide
8″ x 10″ (private collection)
This was painted from a spot tucked into a rock outcropping at Luffenholtz Beach Park in Humboldt County as the tide receded. At one point some fun loving Siberian Huskies arrived to chase each other in the sand (as they evaded their person). They reminded me of a long ago loved Husky who didn’t go into the surf either.
Cypress Path
9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel
I painted this as part of the 2021 Humboldt Open Plein Air event at Table Bluff County Park. The Waloplh-Lighthouse trail moves between grassland and cypress trees as it finds the way to the ocean beyond.
September Shade
10″ x 12″ watercolor
In this painting, I’ve explored the beauty that is to be found at the edge of a small bass pond. The same gentle water presents itself so differently as light transitions from sun to shade. Colors are amplified under the leafy canopy and washed out in the glare beyond.
September Shiraz
16″ x 12″ watercolor
In this piece, I worked to capture the fall colors of backlit grapevines all in one go with the water color wet allowing colors freely mixing on the paper.
A Bit Twisted
8″ x 10″ (private collection)
This piece was painted at the San Jose Friendship Japanese garden en plein air.