Category Archives: plein air

A Disruption of Distraction {Painting up the California Coast}

Posted on by Laura
17 Jun

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.

Grand Canyon Views

Posted on by Laura
18 May

 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!

Spring in the Eastern Sierras {Painting with Frank Serrano}

Posted on by Laura
15 May

This spring I traveled to the Alabama Hills in the Eastern Sierras for a painting adventure with
master plein air painter Frank Serrano.

 

{The view of sunrise on Mt. Whitney from my hotel parking lot.}

Frank demonstrated painting the backlit mountains, horses, and hay bales,

focusing on seeing correct values–something I’m eager to learn!

{Frank finishing up his demo.}

Later he added a horse and figure in the studio.

Below is the finished piece which he will use as an idea for a larger painting. It was such a valuable experience to see his process moving from plein air sketch to studio.

 {Frank Serrano’s finished sketch.}

{My first painting of the weekend.}

{Late afternoon light on the Sierras}

 {View from my easel.}

The Alabama Hills are a beautiful, austere place and the weekend was filled with good company and great instruction. Thanks Frank!

California Impressionism: Plein Air Painting Past and Present

Posted on by Laura
03 May

I’m honored to have two paintings included in this beautiful show.

The exhibition will be open through July 4th. Hope you can make it!

Click here for more info.

Huntington Beach Art Center presents California Impressionism: Plein Air Painting, Past and Present, an exhibition for art-lovers who also love Impressionist painting. The bold color, bravura brushwork, and “captured light” of this historical and contemporary artistic movement have captivated audiences on the West Coast since the turn of the twentieth century. The Southern California community will now have an opportunity to view paintings of historical masters, as well as purchase those of contemporary painters who are inspired by light, nature, climate, and creative fellowship.  The Huntington Beach Art Center will open its doors to give viewers a glimpse of a group of artists united across history through their love of subject and their passion to paint outdoors en plein air. “Our vision for this show is to present to the public an exhibition that they’ve never before seen, that is beautiful, historical, educational, and spectacular,” Director of the HBAC, Kate Hoffman notes.

This exhibition will have a dual focus. On one hand, it will feature masterworks of painters who were inspired by this area in the early decades of the 20th century; enough to move here, build here, and start a colony of artists known today as the city of Laguna Beach. Alongside those works, the exhibition will also feature the creations of a select group of artists from the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), many of whom live in California, and all of whom have painted within the State. The Art Center has invited both Signature and Artist members of LPAPA, whose works you see in galleries, magazines, competitions, exhibitions, and shows across the country.