This is one of the paintings that resulted from our March 2009 trip to the Visalia, CA area (Southern Sierra Foothills). We participated in a week-long paint-out sponsored by the California Art Club and the Sequoia Riverlands Trust. Arrangements were made for the artists to paint at three different private ranches in the area and the views were stunning. I wish we could have stayed for a month! The first day, we traveled to Battle Mountain Ranch. We had to drive several miles from Visalia to the ranch and on the way, the rain came down so hard that we had to slow our cars to a crawl several times. When we reached the higher elevation where the ranch is, it started to sleet and snow and blow. Not a very auspicious beginning, but it was exhilarating! It was actually too cold and windy to paint but we took abundant photos. This is a scene at Battle Mountain Ranch as the weather was just starting to clear. I loved the rich colors that resulted from the wetness and the reflections in the puddles.
‘Grandpa’s Workshop’ was one of the easiest titles to come by for my painting of this old rustic barn at Circle J-Norris Ranch. Located in the spectacular foothills of the Western Sierras near Springville, CA, Circle J-Norris Ranch was one of several beautiful ranch properties we had the opportunity to paint during this year’s CAC- Sequoia Riverlands Trust plein air painting event. As I was laying in the structure of the barn on my canvas an unexpected visitor walked by and said “Oh my, that’s Grandpa’s workshop. Grandpa spent nearly every day tinkering behind those doors.” Well Grandpa has passed on and the barn continues to intrigue passersby like myself. Interesting, I had a feeling there was something special about this place and felt compelled to paint it. I think Grandpa helped me paint this painting, don’t you? ---Frank Lennartz
Continuing with images from the Mammoth Lakes area, this is a little intimate scene from Twin Lakes. It attracted my attention as Frank and I were canoeing on the Twin Lakes because of the peacefulness of it and because of the light and reflections. Subconsciously, I think it also reminded me of my childhood and the special days of fishing with my Dad. It touched my sister as well because she chose the painting for her home where it now hangs. I thought that this painting was one that I was doing just for me and I didn't think anyone would take much notice of it but it turned out to be just the opposite. Lots of people loved this painting. I guess it proves that you should always paint things that you feel inspired by because the inspiration shines through.
As long as I'm on the subject of the Sierras, this is from a Ted Goerschner workshop that Frank and I attended at Lake Sabrina. We went there one frosty dawn, wearing our very warm clothes and by the afternoon we were sweltering in shorts and T-shirts! I did several little 8x10 field sketches of this scene during the workshop and also took photographs. I used them as references to paint this painting in the studio later on. The most difficult part was the water. I think I re-painted it four or five times and finally got it the way I wanted it. This is another wonderful memory of painting with friends in the magnificent Sierras.
Since our last blog was a scene from Twin Lakes, I thought I would stay on the same subject. This scene is the view we had from our room at the Lodge during one of our visits. One morning I woke up early, just as the sun was rising and I saw this magnificent display of colors through our window. I was too tired to get up and venture outside to take pictures but we made a point of setting the alarm for early the next day. We were hoping and praying we would have the same light effects the next morning and we lucked out. Bleary eyed, we got up at the crack of dawn and got some wonderful photos. I think this scene would have been impossible to do en plein air because the light changes so fast at that time of day. Within one or two minutes, the light effects were completely different. I held on to the feeling of the scene and painted it as soon as we got home.
