9″ x 12″ (private collection)
I painted this plein air piece at Fieldbrook Valley Winery in McKinleyville, California. They were great to host a bunch of us painters for the afternoon as part of the 2022 Humboldt Open Plein Air Event.
Exhibited …
2022 – Redwood Art Association “Humboldt Open”
10″ x 8″ (private collection)
As I painted on site just south of Pigeon Point I kept reminding myself to honor the foggy conditions of the day by ensuring the lighthouse held a quiet rather than commanding presence in the background.
9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel
As I was setting up my painting gear the fog dissolved leaving a perfect day for painting and enjoying the rocky shore at Pacific Grove. There was just enough time to capture the image before the rocks gave way to the incoming surf and rising tide.
Exhibited …
2023 – Coastal Arts League “Seasons of Beauty” (2nd place award)
2022 – Los Gatos Art Association “Juried Member Show” (Honorable Mention)
9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel
In painting this scene, I was trying to capture the variations of color and patterns in the water. And, if you look very closely, you may see the dragonflies that I included. They were so entertaining to watch as I painted.
12″ x 9″ oil on linen panel
My much loved friend Susan has a grove of Aspen adjacent to her property. In this painting I am catching them at daybreak in late summer.
9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel
I painted this on a day when weather reports indicated the sun would be fleeting. Instead, it was sunshine all day. Such a joy! This painting began with an interest in the reflections of boats in the Santa Cruz Harbor. From my painting spot I was able enjoy the activity of sailors and kayakers heading in and out.
Exhibited …
2024 – New Museum Los Gatos “Greater Bay Area Open”
2023 – Coastal Arts League “Seasons of Beauty” (2nd place award)
6″ x 8″ (private collection)
There are lots of beautiful scenes to paint near Pigeon Point Lighthouse and have almost painted this large rock outcrop several times. I did some rambling around to find it’s “good side” and had this go at it.
9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel
Usually I think of a plein air painting as finished as I’m packing up my gear to leave. This time, I added the riders later to give the piece more of a sense of a story and to provide additional balance to the composition.
10″ x 12″ (private collection)
The carousel in Parc Monceau in Paris is an all time favorite. Maybe because it references my childhood literary favorites. The Nautilus Submarine is from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The plane from Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry. Regardless it brings a bit of joy to the heart to see children play and at Parc Monceau some of the little girls do so in charming summer dresses.
Exhibited …
2022 – Coastal Arts League “Kindred Spirits”
8″ x 10″ (private collection)
Spring is such an amazing time of year in the area foothills. In this Plein air painting, I’m appreciating the cool shade of a nearby oak surrounded by late spring greens punctuated a sense of the summer yellows to come.
