"One Brilliant Moment"

9 x 12 California poppy oil painting on plein air panel

Poppies near the Lancaster Poppy Reserve, Antelope Valley

Every year we hope that there will be enough rainfall to bring forth the wildflowers in our local high desert. This wasn't the best year on record, but there was enough rain to germinate the seeds and give a colorful show in some areas.  This painting is now SOLD but I have more.  write karen@karenwinters.com   

See more of my work at my website  KarenWinters.com

Or visit  My wildflower paintings site

Pampas Grass by impressionist Carol Smith Myer

On Fridays, I often take students out plein air painting. Yesterday, I painted at a student's home, looking out her back door at the sunlit Pampas Grass. 9x12", oil on linen panel. carol@carolmyer.com

Main Street Mendocino by Carol Smith Myer

Just got back from Mendocino Plein Air Paintout, this is one from an afternoon facing Main Street. 9x12", oil on linen panel.

Fort Baker Andirondacks by impressionist Carol Smith Myer

The old army post where my mom worked is a fabulous destination to stay, hike, dine, or look out to the bay from the Andirondack chairs. 9x12, oil on linen panel. email

Sea and the Shore by Carol Smith Myer

This is technically the bay and Tiburon, but I was singing Robby Hecht's "Sea and the Shore" while I was painting, so that is how I will remember it. Great love song between the elements. 9x12, oil on linen panel.

Matanzas Creek Winery by Impressionist Carol Smith Myer

Our Friday plein air class went to the Lavender fields of Matanzas Creek Winery. Got a nice place in the shade looking over to the fields and the chairs and umbrella. 12x12", oil on linen panel.email

Greenstrings Vineyard by colorist Carol Smith Myer

Sonoma County Farm, Greenstrings also has vineyards. 9x12", oil on linen board.

Lover's Point Cypress by Impressionist Carol Smith Myer

(x12", oil on linen panel, Along the path towards Lover's Point in Pacific Grove, CA. email

Corner House by Carol Smith Myer

14x11", oil on linen panel. email

Purple Lilacs by Colorist Carol Smith Myer

Plein air painting in Petaluma neighborhood. 8x10", oil on linen board.

Mill Valley Book Depot by Carol Smith Myer

In the heart of Mill Valley, people enjoy the bookstore/cafe. 9x12" oil. email

North Beach Crossing by Carol Smith Myer

Painted this while standing in Washington Square Park in the freezing cold. 9x12, oil. email

Papa's Barn by Carol Smith Myer

9x12" oil on linen board. Email for price

Tomales Bay by Marian Fortunati

Tomales Bay 9x12 Oil on linen panel

The California Art Club arranged a paint-out retreat at the Marconi Center in Tomales Bay.  CAC Artist member, Richard Lindenberg and several other artists from the club worked hard to help organize this wonderful event for all of us.  Seventy-five or so artists gathered together to laugh, paint, exchange ideas and simply have a wonderful time together.  - Thanks to all of you!

I had never visited Tomales Bay and it was a real joy to be able to spend time doing what I love doing in a beautiful part of the world.  After a surprisingly winding and topographically varied drive through San Francisco to San Rafael and then toward the coast to get to the Marconi Center, Sharon and I checked in and wandered around the center to explore spots for future painting spots and to chat with those who had arrived earlier.  It was late afternoon and although there were artists painting everywhere, neither of us wanted to do more than settle in and explore.

We had a fun both at dinner and afterwards.  The food itself throughout the weekend was exceptional...  as well as plentiful.  The fact that it was delicious was especially deadly and I had to make sure I didn't eat everything I would have liked to eat.

This painting "Tomales Bay", is a plein air piece done on Saturday morning.   We had been told that there were several "good spots" with parking further south toward the mouth of the bay where the river empties into the bay.  Sharon and I drove around a bit and then decided on the spot we had seen a bit earlier.   We pulled off the road and began to paint.    Both of us liked the beautiful bright orange rust and ocher colors of the wetland area against the other colors in the water.  After about one-half hour we were joined by five or six other artists.  It was interesting.  We were all looking at the exact scene and yet each of us approached it differently and each painting turned out differently.  

It was a pleasant morning.  After a bit we headed back to the Center to hike around and chat with the other artists who were gathered together.  This fourth day of our road trip was starting out to be another great day!

 

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Looking Inland by Marian Fortunati

Sharon Weaver and I were driving up the coast of California on our way to meet other artists in the California art Club at a paint out retreat in Tomales Bay, north of San Francisco.   We stayed in Half Moon Bay just south of San Francisco on our second night.

Sharon had contacted another artist named Kristen Olson whom she had met at one of her plein air events.  Kristen lives up near Palo Alto and she brought a friend, named Tara Norwood to paint along with us.  We initially had selected a place south of Half Moon Bay which looked nice in the fading light of the day, but it really wasn't where we wanted to paint when we saw it the next morning.  So off we went following the two more local artists to a place of their choosing just north of Half Moon Bay.

We had a delightful morning painting away.  Each of us painted something entirely different.  Although Sharon and I were each in different spots, for some reason, we both chose to face inland rather than painting the coast.  If you visit her website you'll probably see her version from her spot.

This was my painting called, "Looking Inland".

After we all packed up, we spent some time admiring one another's work then headed into town for a chatty lunch.  We spent our time getting to know one another and talking about the art world in our different parts of California.   It's always fun to make new friends.

(Just as an aside... Sharon and I both submitted the paintings from our first day of the trip to a local art exhibit. [See my last post.]  The paintings were totally different, but painted from about 20 feet apart.  Each painting was juried in AND Sharon's won a Best Of Show Award and my painting was awarded a FIRST PLACE!!   Wasn't that wonderfully seredipitous?)

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Along The Cambria Coast

Last week, my friend, Sharon Weaver, and I drove up the beautiful coast of California on our way to a California Art Club paint-out in Tomales Bay which is north of San Francisco.  Seventy-five CAC artists were expected in Northern California on Friday and would stay at the Mosconi Conference Center there in Tomales Bay.   I had never been, but everyone told us it was a beautiful place to be -- "painting heaven".

Sharon and I decided to take Highway One up the coast.  It is a longer route than through the center of the state, but has far more spectacular scenery.  Over the years, storms have washed out parts of the road below Monterey, but the wonderful highway engineers are working to restore the iconic road and the delays were worth the vistas.

We stayed in Cambria, near Hearst Castle on our first night.  We got there in late afternoon after stopping in several beautiful spots to take photos.  Although we COULD have painted that day, we were tired and it was rather cold and windy so we opted to bundle up and walk up the coast then to take in a delicious fish dinner near the hotel.

The next morning we got up early and found a spot to paint.  What a gorgeous place!   We chatted with several visiters, each of us had fun painting AND we got to see lots of cows, seagulls, elephant seals and (surprise) a herd of zebra!!!  This is the painting I created that morning:

Along The Cambria Coast

Finishing up our plein air sketches, we packed up and headed north toward Half Moon Bay where we planned to stay the second night.  Along the way of course, we stopped for a picnic lunch, lots of photos of every beautiful thing we could capture, and some nice walks.

Life is good -- especially for those of us who love to paint plein air!!

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Ford Point, Santa Rosa Island - Plein Air by Marian Fortunati

Ford Point, Santa Rosa Island - 9"x12" Oil on RayMar Panel

So much has been going on and I seem to be getting behinder and behinder.    I'm trying to keep up with my art club obligations AND paint and be part of my family.

So this is another post about my September trip to the Channel Islands.   This painting was painted on the last day we were on Santa Rosa Island.  I still had my cold and had been painting while on the island earlier in the day.   I painted this from the top deck of the boat.  The waves were constantly crashing against the sloping sandstone rocks on the edge of Ford Point.   When the wave crashed up on the slope, the water would rush to the top of the slope, then come crashing back just before the next wave crashed.

The seas reflected the colors of the sun and the island rocks.   It was a beautiful time -- late afternoon.

Ford Point, Santa Rosa Island

Earlier in the week one of the paintings that I painted last year from the Channel Islands trip was purchased by a client in Georgia.  It was called, Cueva Valdez, and was painted off the coast of Santa Cruz Island.

I'm on another painting trip now heading up the coast to Tomales Bay to paint with a large group of California Art Club Artists.   We've been really having a great time and have seen some absolutely gorgeous scenery.

Painting at Leo Carrillo State Beach -- Again -- Plein Air by Marian Fortunati

Cormorant Rock - 10x10 - Oil on Linen Panel

Leo Carrillo State Beach
I've been going to Leo Carrillo State Beach to paint often lately.  It is almost always nicer there than in the very hot Valley where I live.  It seems, however, that each time I go, it is a bit different and I find another beautiful scene to try to capture.  I am continually amazed that no matter how often I paint in the same area, I capture it a bit differently.

Continued Learning
One of the the wonderful artists who has been commenting on my FASO website blog posts lately, Russell Black, often reminds me that I'm painting a painting, not a photograph and that, while I should know and employ the "rules" I should also ignore them when I want -- pirate style.   This is very true -- and I need to work on not really TRYING to capture the scene as a camera might, but, well, I guess more as I FEEL it.   Truthfully, even if I WANTED to be photorealistic, I couldn't, but what he and others have said is to move things around to improve a composition, and basically do whatever is necessary to make a pleasing piece of art.   The artist I study with, David Gallup, is always reminding us to use "playful" color -- especially in dark areas.   From a distance darks all read as dark anyway, but close up they are definitely more interesting with colorful passages of paint and complex surfaces.  David talks about obfuscating strokes and edges to create mystery and let the viewer's imagination kick in.   He says paintings should be seductive, leaving things to discover and things to be revealed by further viewings.   David is always saying that there should be a play between contrasts and harmonies and that highlights are often more important in describing a form than draftsmanship.   To make a painting believable is more important than making it accurate.

It's not that all of this great advice is lost on me... It just takes me a long time to really make it mine so that I can paint and enjoy and be the best painter that I can.  

SALES
Last week, by a happy stroke of luck (and a GREAT FASO website) I sold four coastal scene paintings to a person who lives far from California.  They were all plein air pieces and most were painted right there at Leo Carrillo State Beach.

California Coastal          Carrillo Splash Zone          Splash Point          Cueva Valdez

I know selling isn't main goal of painting, but it IS a nice bit of validation.    

Next week I'm off on a painting trip with my friend, Sharon Weaver, up the coast to Northern California.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Santa Rosa Rocks - Plein Air from the Channel Islands by Marian Fortunati

"Santa Rosa Rocks" -- 8x8 Oil on linen

Perched high on a steep rock, I tried to keep my balance while enjoying my time with adventurous friends on the Island of Santa Rosa in the Channel Islands National Park.  The rock formations were unusual and beautiful even on this overcast morning.
Happily, I completed my plein air sketch without falling or slipping down the side of the rock!

"Santa Rosa Rocks"

On the third day of our trip, we arrived at Santa Rosa Island.   From the painting you can tell that the skies were overcast.  We had been on the island during the trip last year and had hiked up to the top through the torrey pine forest.  This time, however, our anchorage was on a different part of the island and the most striking feature were the wonder wind and water shaped sedimentary rocks that edged the coast.  

We hopped into the rubber dingy and the crew motored us the the beach where we had to jump out at just the right time to try to stay as dry as possible between wave surges.  This would normally not have been too much trouble, but since we were all carrying our paint gear, it was a bit more difficult.  

\

Comment on or Share this Article >>

Painting In The Channel Islands by Marian Fortunati

Kelp 8"x8" Oil/Linen plein air

	"Santa Barbara Seaside"
	A ray swims below me.
	A playful sea lion "buzzes" me.

This 8"x8" painting called "Kelp" was painted from the top deck of the dive boat, Conception, looking down into the sparkling sea.  "Kelp" was the second of three paintings painted on this day.   "Island Dawn" was painted in the early morning.   "Santa Barbara Seaside" was a study painted in the winds of day one while we were still anchored off of Santa Barbara Island.

Either I was exposed before I left, or painting out in the wind on that first day and evening did it, but by day 2 I knew I was coming down with a cold.  I'm sure all of you know that feeling.   You're just not yourself.   You're not really "present".   I had the miserable cold the whole rest of the trip.   There wasn't much I could do about it except forge ahead.   I was there in the middle of the island paradise adventure and the best I could hope for was to get the most of the experience and hope not to infect the entire boatload of artist friends (or die of pneumonia).

I had rented a wetsuit and snorkel outfit.   Couldn't let that go to waste.  I was already sick so I went snorkeling.   I went kayaking, I painted.  I tried to absorb as much of the experience as I could despite the cold.  It wasn't the trip I had hoped for, but It was all I had so I did as much as I could of the boat activities, except the nighttime hilarity.  I went to my bunk and slept, and slept and slept ---- all night --- every night.  Not as much singing, and story telling and night-time activities.

David Gallup, who once again lead this painting adventure, often tells us that half of what a painter needs to create beautiful paintings (once they have pretty much mastered the technical skills) is to absorb life and beauty around you.   The more you can store in your soul, the more you can call on it when you're painting.

And so I did.  (And look... I'm still here and nobody else seemed to catch the cold from me!)

I've been really so busy getting ready for and enjoying my one woman show reception called "One Lucky Artist at Gale's Restaurant" that I haven't had time to blog about how it went.   I'll be sure to do that in my next post.

Comment on or Share this Article >>