"Dawn's Light" © 14 x 11 Sold

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.

"Winter Bliss" © 16 x 20 NFS

I chose this painting today because it is now 100 degrees outside and our air conditioning just died a sudden death. What timing! Anyway, this painting made me feel a little cooler. This scene is from Twin Lakes, CA and was done from a photo I took when Frank and I went up there on a business trip. Twin Lakes is a special place for us because that is where we got married eight years ago. We were married in July of 2001 and since then we like to go up there as much as we can on our anniversary. We won't make it up there this year, unfortunately. I am so in love with the beautiful Sierras and always feel blissful when are there.

"A Stop Along Highway 1" © 16 x 20

I was attracted to this scene along the Pacific Coast Highway because of all of the colors I saw in the cliffs and in the ocean. The ocean was showing its array of colors, ranging from greens, to blues, to violets. Also, I liked the atmospheric perspective. Atmospheric perspective is the way things in the background appear grayer, cooler and paler as they recede. There is nothing like the ocean to soothe the soul!