Leslie Landers

The watercolor perched on the wood stove in my studio was purchased recently by a person who found my website and this painting via the magic of Google. It is so meaningful when a painting of mine makes such a connection.

I love and appreciate positive feedback from family and friends. Still, it is so encouraging to receive affirmation from a person I will likely never meet. My smile will last for days.

I’m heading to San Francisco this weekend and hoping for a break in the rain and a ride on one of the water taxis. This small piece in oil is a view from the Pier 1.5 stop which is near the Ferry Building and Exploratorium.

Stanford University’s campus is beautiful and the chapel is a jewel on the main quad. This watercolor was a fun opportunity to work with Interference Copper from Daniel Smith Watercolor. It’s part of their line of luminescent watercolors.

My life lately has been full of physical therapy. I’m working to get back to 100% after a late summer injury. Just this week, I’ve started going on walks … outside and everything! For now, it’s just a loop around my block under my husband’s supervision.

Today, I noticed a neighbor’s rhododendron was blooming. I think of rhododendron blooms as a spring confection so it was a delight to see these second blooms. Early this spring, I was able to spend several days painting in a beautiful private garden in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their Rhododendrons were in full bloom. So … I pulled out a photo.

When I was up in Lake Tahoe at the beginning of September, I managed a pretty spectacular fall on scree covered granite. The results include scrapes and scratches, 2 ankle fractures, a broken tibia and a sprained wrist. There is good news though:

#1 – This is only temporary and it looks like I won’t need surgery as was originally thought.

#2 – My husband is amazingly helpful and my wrist sprain is on my non-dominant hand.

#3 – I’ve been receiving some stunning flower bouquets and I’m painting them.

The paintings I did on this trip to Lake Tahoe are divided in my mind into two chunks. The paintings I did before I broke my ankle in 2 places (and leg) and those I did after.

The  painting above is an “after” painting. If I had to be stuck on a porch, the one I was on at my friend’s house in South Lake Tahoe was pretty much perfect with shade and a view through a trees of a meadow. The lake is just behind the trees in the distance.