“Shadow of the Rock”
16×12
oil on linen
I’m thrilled that my painting “Shadow of the Rock” has been juried into the upcoming California Art Club exhibition, “Golden State Sunshine”! The exhibition opens May 27th at the Altadena Town & Country Club in Altadena, California. It’s an honor to have my work included in this show. Thanks CAC!
Contact Altadena Town & Country Club
2290 Country Club Drive
Altadena, CA
“Evening Etude”
9×12
oil on linen
I live in a beautiful place that often feels overrun by people and cars and freeways.
It can be difficult to find undeveloped spaces. I think this challenge speaks to one of the gifts that art can be to all of us who have to fight for time and space, for peace and reflection.
Painting these places and moments encourages me to seek out and appreciate the beauty around me, take the time to notice and give thanks for this land and light.
This painting is one of several studies I’ve done recently of Crystal Cove State Park, a strip of wild land between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar that looks much the same now as it did a hundred years ago when William Wendt and his contemporaries painted here.
“Evening Etude” is available now at Forest and Ocean Gallery in Laguna Beach as a part of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association’s exhibit – Inspired by Van Gogh.
I recently returned from a beautiful trip up the California coast to Cambria, a quaint town just off Highway 1. Beautiful rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and wonderful light provided plenty of inspiration for painting. Here are a few of my sketches from the trip.
{North side of Morro Rock}
8×10
oil on linen
{Evening Light at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria}
12×12
oil on linen
(Sold)
I’m still working (as I suppose I always will) to get better, to practice, practice, practice, and thinking about why I paint. There is something crucial about capturing the world truthfully, about communicating that arresting moment of seeing something that causes one
to stop,
to focus,
and to appreciate the beauty of the world.
Some scenes are more naturally picturesque than others, but it’s not about recording the postcard views. I’m trying to share my experience of the feeling of a place, to bring that home and into my life and hopefully others’ lives too.
Painting as a disruption of our distraction.
Beauty to counteract our busyness.
Over Spring Break, our family took a trip out to Arizona. We spent a few days exploring the beautiful landscapes of Northern California from the Grand Canyon and Slide Rock in Sedona to the Cliff Dwellings called Motezuma’s Castle.
And I had the chance to set up my gear and paint a few of the glorious views.
{View from my easel.}
I could spend months painting the light and shadow on those red rocks–so beautiful.
{The finished painting.}
Summer’s almost here and I’m looking forward to more painting adventures up and down the coast. I’m so thankful to live so near to wide open spaces–the atmospheric light of the the West is so inspiring!
