Sketchbook

My May visit to Greece was pretty much perfect. For decades, I’ve taken an annual trip with three friends I first got to know when I lived in Colorado. This year we headed to Athens and points beyond.

While I painted in Athens, my favorite spot for plein air painting was along the rocky shore just below the apartment we rented at Cavo Kortia which is near the small town of Kyparissi in the Peloponnese. The piece with the boats was painted while enjoying cocktails with my friends on the terrace of our rented apartment. Then it was off to a wonderful dinner at a terrific open air restaurant on-site. Doesn’t get any better.

I have long appreciated the La Playa Hotel in Carmel for its historic feel, beautiful gardens, swimming pool and ocean views. I love it even more now with three of my small paintings hanging in the entry salons.

My paintings “Standing Watch “ and “What Remains” are in the reception foyer. “Pocket Cove” hangs alongside an Alice Weil still life in the fireplace lobby area.

The paintings were acquired as part of a $15 million hotel wide renovation lead by the Post Company. The beautiful renovation respects the historic nature of the hotel and delivers an elegant calm. The project was recently profiled in New York Times’ T Magazine.

The property began as the stone home of painter Chris Jorgensen in Carmel’s early days becoming a hotel 101 years ago.

This trip was with my mom. Our main plan was to swim, snorkel and enjoy the tropical sunshine. A bonus for me has been to paint at the adjacent harbor as well as near the beach.

Bonaire is a delightful island in the Leeward Antilles and just 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela.

For divers like me who love colorful reefs replete with soft coral, there are few places that offer up more beauty than the Namena Marine Reserve in Fiji. Diving amongst these reefs is a little like swimming a produce market just above intensely purple broccoli with hot pink and orange fish as companions. Pretty magical.

While there were multiple dives each day, I was able to fit in some painting too.

As it turned out, my long-time friend and dive buddy, Judy, was training for an upcoming Ironman Triathlon so while she swam / ran / biked and exercised, I painted.

I brought water mixable oils on this trip. They are not as yummy to work with as more traditional oils but I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable with them. And … it’s great to avoid sharing a room with solvents even if they are ‘odorless’.

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.

Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff for the Tahoe summer season. I was so fortunate to be invited to stay with good friends the week before this summer start. There was lots of time for hiking at favorite spots and enjoying the rush of waterfalls after our wet winter.

I was able to spend time painting before breakfast. These three paintings were done from a beach with a pier that was just steps away. Lucky me!

Spring 2023 is a stunner and it was a beautiful time to be in the blooming desert. I spent a week with friends exploring Joshua Tree, enjoying a poolside jazz event and hiking Indian Canyon Trails.

Here are watercolors from my sketchbook.

The first is a sunrise view from the hotel. The second is of a nearby historic adobe. The last two are from Indian Canyons.

I have visited the Palm Springs area many times. Still, this is only the second time I ventured into Indian Canyons which now tops my must do list in the area. The palm trees here are the only type that are native to California. There were ample spring wildflowers this year and with ample shade and water in the river it absolutely delivered on a full on oasis vibe.

I have traveled with these amazing friends each year (except for that first pandemic year) for decades so I will end here with a photo of them in Joshua Tree National Park.

It’s been quite of a winter where I live so for the first day of spring here are a couple of watercolors featuring early blooming quince.

Hang in there … we’ll be drying out soon!

I lived in Colorado for six years and return to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and good friends as often as I can. This visit offered up a chance to paint aspen trees. The two views on the left are painted in oil. The one on the right is a watercolor.