Northern California and Sonoma Plein Air 2015

 "Autumn Morn" (18x18) oil on linen SOLD

 Just got back from Sonoma Plein Air -- had a wonderful time painting surrounded by rolling hills of undeveloped land -- what Orange County used to look like back in the 60's...beautiful coast there too!

                                             "The Scarlet Conclusion" (9x12) oil on linen

 Had the opportunity to paint with friends, which was a real treat, and it only rained half of Wednesday but the rest of the week was perfect weather. Looking forward to going back next year!

"Blue Sonoma" (6x8) oil on linen

 "September's Glow" (crop 12x16) oil on linen

"California Road" (8x10) oil on linen

 Hot Potato Rock (10x12) o/l

 This January I had the opportunity to go painting with my friend, Saim Caglayan (pronounced, "Shallion") in the Anza Borrego desert. This desert in Southern California is the largest national park in the United States full of colourful mountain vistas, winding slot canyons and sun-bleached dunes. While I was fortunate to stay at a friends vacation home in Borrego Springs, the small local town there, Saim and another artist from Laguna, Terry Thornsly camped in Glorietta Canyon (the area pictured in the painting above). 

 Indian Head Sunrise (10x12) o/c

Although a little chilly at night, the weather was consistent in the low-to-mid 70's with clear sunshine every day -- a welcomed retreat from the cold grey northwest winter!

 Smoke Tree in Ella Wash (10x12) o/l

 I have always had an affinity for the desert ever since I was very young when my grand parents kept a trailer in Palm Springs where we used to go in the 1960's and early 70's. There's a mystery about Borrego, especially when the population is scarce (unlike Palm Springs) and if you love the sunshine and open spaces, it's the perfect place to escape during winter months. Hiking, exploring and just enjoying the sun on my face was a treat in between paintings...

 Above Rose Canyon (10x12) o/l

 Back in Orange County (near Laguna Beach) where I stayed with my brother and his family, I was blessed with good weather after rains just the week before; I painted in and around O'Neil Park in the foothills of Saddleback Mountain and on the cliffs in Laguna Beach where I met with local 418 Gallery owner, Vaness Rothe. She invited me to show there with her small group of west coast artists and Russian painters, and I left behind several unframed studies for sale as well as a framed piece for the current "Winter Collection" show she is curating...

 

 Split Rock, Laguna (8x10) o/c

 Laguna Beach is also a special place I have an affinity for -- our family visited there often thru the years, starting in the early 1960's where my mother's best friend who passed recently had settled to raise her family. For several years I lived right next door in Dana Point, renting studio space in North Laguna when I was a graphic artist in the 1980's. Although it has changed and grown over the years, Laguna Beach still has the beautiful charm and atmosphere that hosted artists such as Edgar Payne and William Wendt a hundred years ago...

  Shady Mountain Trail (8x10) o/c

 At the end of my stay, I was able to spend time with my artist friend, Tim Solliday and see his new studio in the tower of an historic church in downtown Pasadena where we also caught the LA Art Show...Tim is big in the western art scene and was instrumental in opening my eyes to outdoor painting in the late 1990's.  

All in all it was a very productive and encouraging trip,  and now I am back in my northwest studio, energized and happy to be with my loving family and back at the easel!

More from Sonoma Plein Air...

  Bodega Head (8x10)

 Vintage Vespa (6x8)

 September Country (9x12)

Hill & Vineyard (6x8)

Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational

"Trabuco Canyon Nocturne" (16x20)

Off to Laguna Beach this week for the LPAPA Invitational...been wanting to do this one for awhile as that is the area where I grew up. I had studio space in North Laguna for a couple of years back in the mid-eighties, and have been going there with family since the 1960's -- many happy memories of that beautiful town. Hoping to get a last grab of summer weather while I'm there too... The sale day of the show is Sunday Oct 20th, 10am to 3pm at Aliso Creek Inn in Laguna Beach, CA.

 Sonoma Coast (9x12)

Here are a couple of the 10 pieces I painted last week at Sonoma Plein Air... The weather was perfect at the beach when I painted this one above; no wind, sunny and warm. The rest of the week went pretty much the same until the dreaded outdoor sale day -- it rained, no poured ALL day long! They gave us plastic to put over the display boards that our paintings hung on, but they still got wet as the water blew around...  All in all though, it was a good experience. The volunteers and SPA folk did a great job taking care of us and really put on a nice gala dinner on Friday night (as usual). 

Vineyard Spirits (16x20)

My "collector" Tina Shone, who bought my grand prize winner from last year stepped up to buy my silent auction entry this year (both of which have full moons rising as the subject matter -- thank you, Tina!!). I also sold 3 more pieces on the 'rain day' and had a good time seeing my painter friends... Even though the weather no doubt kept a number of would-be buyers away, the ones who did make it out had a great selection to choose from, and little competition to buy... Glad a few of them chose my work -- made the 9.5 hour drive home a bit easier...