Leslie Landers

June 17 update … I’ve wrapped up my participation in this year’s event. The organizers at North Lake Tahoe Arts did a great job. It was a very good learning experience and lots of fun. Through the week posted some in-process plein air photos here. A few of the paintings are also featured Oil Gallery Page.

Tuesday (Day 1) … The painting at the top of the post was my first of the week. It’s a view of Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe City Public Pier and some geese that stopped by to keep us entertained. It was a good experience trying to paint these wiggly devils. The Gatekeeper’s Museum grounds in Tahoe City are a gem. I came back to paint another scene with lupine later in the week. I’ve posted “Tahoe City Geese” to my oil painting gallery.

Wednesday (Day 2) … Loved painting Blackwood Creek in the Blackwood Canyon area.  A bonus was a nice “French Picnic” arranged by the event organizers and a really helpful plein air demo by Philippe Gandoil. The location by the river delivered both beauty and mosquitos. “Blackwood Creek Afternoon” has been posted to my oil painting gallery page.

Thursday (Day 3) … The 2 hour quick draw at the Tahoe City Farmers Market was a great experience.  We started at 9am and needed to finish by 11am with all paintings framed and on display by 11:15. Whew! “Market Day Tahoe City” is also now on my oil painting gallery page.

Friday (Day 4) … The road workers had moved by the time I wrapped this up.  Some models just don’t cooperate. “Dam Roadworks” seems like a good title for this piece since the cafe that is the focus of the painting is the Dam Cafe in Tahoe City.

I was also chasing the light at 5:30 am. I tried to capture the feel of a calm sunrise from the beach at Tahoe Commons over two very early mornings. The first morning was very still. The second (seen here) was more blustery with windswept clouds. As I finished up the painting, I worked to keep the still feel that I started with. Lots of geese both mornings. I don’t think I’d take a nap on that grass.

There are more paintings from the week that I will get to posting once I am home. I will also be leaving Tahoe with lots of studies for future paintings, more than a few mosquito bites, admiration for the participants and organizers of this exceptionally well run event.

My painting “Stone Bridge at Alum Rock” and another of my rural Silicon Valley plein air paintings will be on view at the Corison Gallery in Tahoe City next week.

The Artists Reception will be on Friday June 15, 2018 from 5-7pm. If you’ll be in the area, please stop by the Corison Gallery, North Lake Tahoe Arts. The address is 380 North Lake Blvd. in Tahoe City, CA.

Looks like the weather will be great in Tahoe next week. I will be participating in what has become an annual event hosted by North Lake Tahoe Arts.

I love that the image used in the flyer for the artist reception features a piece by one of my painting buddies, Nancy Takaichi.  This year two of my rural Silicon Valley paintings plein air paintings will be on view at the Corison Gallery. I’ll be participating in a “QuickDraw” competition at the Thursday at the Farmer’s Market. All of the paintings the participants are brave enough to hang will be on view at next Saturday’s Tahoe City Wine Walk.

 

I will always have happy memories of painting this piece next to Penitencia Creek in Alum Rock Park. Even though it’s not that big (11″ x 14″) it is the largest plein air oil painting I’ve completed so far.

The sound of the rushing water and birdsong was wonderful and a beautiful white egret came by for a visit and for the fishing.

I will be bringing this piece with me for the Lake Tahoe Plein Air Event that I’ll be participating in a couple of weeks.

 

I’ve made pretty frequent trips into Alum Rock Park recently to paint.

Alum Rock Park Park is definitely worth a visit. I have come to learn that is is the oldest municipal park California with great trails along Penitencia Creek and up into the surrounding hills.

This painting received an award through the Los Gatos Art Association in August, 2018.

 

 

 

 

September, 2018 Update:  I’ve finished my painting from these studies.  “Indian Ladder Falls” is an 11″ x 14″ oil painting.

I’ve brought some of the beauty of Indian Ladder Falls back in my sketchbook and in my heart. My plan is to use the drawings above, the watercolor I recently posted and the gouache painting below as references for a studio oil painting.

I’ve already decided that the studio painting will be from more of an angled vantage point. My first watercolor of Indian Ladder Falls (painted onsite) has a composition that feels to head on and blocky.

This is a challenging project for me … how to thoughtfully plan the painting while keeping it fresh.

 

I’ll admit some bias. When I hear “The Poconos” I think dingy hotels with heart-shaped tubs. One week at the incredibly beautiful Skytop Lodge had me fantasizing about future visits.

I painted every day.

Skytop Lodge is a stunning property consisting of 5,500+ acres, a grand old stone hotel from the 1920’s, a couple of swimming pools, beautiful gardens and excellent gardens. The property includes a charming lake, the lovely Leavitt Branch River and three waterfalls. All I can say is Wow!