"Sierra Stream" © 6 x 8 - Sold

I thought I would continue with the subject of the Sierras. This little painting is of a scene somewhere along the 395 but I can't remember the exact location. There was a old beaten shack along the highway and that is what we stopped to photograph. We took lots of photos of the shack with the mountains in the background and neither one of us has ever painted it! The other pictures we took of the surrounding natural beauty ended up as paintings instead. This is one of them. When you're an artist, plans "morph" as you go along.

"Blue Sunshine" © 12 x 16 Sold

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.

"Highland Light" © 16 x 20 Sold

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.

"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!

"Painting En Plein Air" © 9 x 12

In our last blog, we featured a painting of the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena and that reminded me of this painting that I did last Fall. There were several artists painting in the area that day and I was having trouble finding a spot to paint where I wouldn't be blocking someone's view or wouldn't have someone else in my view. Since the light was quickly changing and I was getting tired trying to find a spot to paint, I decided to paint this scene and include the artist. I am happy with this painting because it is much more interesting with the figure in it. The artist who was "in my way" turned out to be the central focus of the painting!

This painting is currently being exhibited at "The Old Mill" in San Marino (1120 Old Mill Road). The Old Mill ("El Molino Viejo") is a charming historical building and is the gallery of the California Art Club.