Leslie Landers – Page 8 – Leslie Landers

Riverbank, Los Alamitos

8″ x 8″ oil on linen panel

I’ve enjoyed painting along this urban stream in San Jose many times. In this piece, I tried to catch the backlit tree and strong reflections it cast.

Fun to paint a bit of New Almaden with flags flying for 4th of July celebrations. This historic town is nestled in the San Jose foothills with a heritage associated with cinnabar mining and quicksilver (mercury) production.

Rush Creek Morning

6″ x 8″ (private collection)

This plein air piece was painted near the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite. I was tuning into the olive and rust colors of the rushing water in the early morning light.

Seasons of Beauty – Coastal Arts League Plein Air Painting Show

7/27/2023 – 8/29/2023

Three of my paintings are currently on view as part of this year’s juried plein air painting show hosted by the Coastal Art League. I am really delighted that my plein air painting “Coming and Going” of the Santa Cruz small boat harbor was awarded with 2nd place as part of the show. The show is up through August 27 at the Coastal Art League gallery at 300 Main Street in downtown Half Moon Bay. Gallery hours 12:00 to 5:00 most days (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

These pieces were painted on location at the Santa Cruz Small Boat Harbor, on the shore in Pacific Grove and a pier on South Lake Tahoe. The photo at the top of this page was taken while I was painting the incoming waves in Pacific Grove.

Caribbean Sailboats

9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel

While I’ve highlighted the sailboats in the title, my primary interest in this scene is the interplay between the between the oranges of the rocks and particular blues of the waters in the Caribbean.

Dock Mates

11″ x 14″ oil on linen panel

The Spirit of Tahoe is berthed at a dock in South Lake Tahoe where it is ready for day long cruising excursions. Early in the morning it sees the arrival and departure of several smaller fishing charter boats. I painted this scene from a nearby dock with a great view of all the comings and goings. In this piece, I am working to capture that moment early in the morning when the sunshine catches the boats and brings on a glow. This was painted as Memorial Day was set to kick off the busy Tahoe summer season. Coming after a very snowy winter, I also enjoyed painting the mountain backdrop still covered in all its snowy glory.

Exhibited …

2023 – Coastal Arts League “Seasons of Beauty”

Yosemite Sketchbook

My mom and I were so fortunate in the timing of our recent visit to Yosemite arriving between closures for spring flood risks and early summer overcrowding. The weather was perfect too. Mostly the visit was a chance to enjoy the beauty that is Yosemite with mom, but I did have a chance for a little painting.

The painting on the left was painted near the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite Park in the early morning. I was struck by the variations between rust and olive tones in the dark water as it flowed over granite slabs. The middle piece was painted mid-day at the point where Teneya Creek leaves Mirror Lake. There was considerably more flow than I’ve seen in previous spring visits yet the water is shallow in this spot passing over a sandy bottom. This is what gives rise to the pronounced chartreuse colors. My final plein air painting for the trip was alongside the South Fork of the Merced river near the Wawona Lodge. These willow bushes usually line the shore. Here they find themselves stranded in the midst of the rushing water.

River Willows

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

I painted this in June along the banks of the South Fork of the Merced River near the Wawona Hotel. Most years, the willows would be defining the banks of the river. With the super wet winter we had, the willows now find themselves knee deep and in the midst of rushing water.

Below Devil’s Slide

6″ x 8″ oil on linen panel

I was drawn to the churn of the surf around this collection of rocks just below the Devil’s Slide area near Pacifica and the way the colors changes in the sunlit and shadow areas.

Morning at the Lake

11″x 14″ oil on linen panel

I painted this early in the morning from a small dock in South Lake Tahoe just as the sun was inching above the treetops. A flag was up alongside the small cabin on the left and with Memorial Day Approaching, I had to include it.