The Month of June

This was one of my favorite paintings.  I sold the painting and gave away two beautiful giclees of the original.  Please see the post of two days ago to purchase calendars.  This painting was of the Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, California.  

"Natural Bridges"

"Natural Bridges"

11" x 14"

$250

oil painting on canvas

I'm happy to say that Hurricane Florence turned into Tropical Storm Florence for Charlotte, North Carolina.  I left California on Tuesday where it was perfect weather everyday to come home to a threat of a Hurricane.  I pray for all the was hit by it on the beaches of the Carolinas.

So while visiting a good friend in Santa Cruz we got a chance to walk West Cliff Drive to the Natural Bridge State Park in the morning.  The first morning was beautiful fog which I really miss.  Where I grew up I could hear the fog horn across the San Francisco Bay.  The second time we walked, the fog lifted to a clear sunny morning.

Day 11 "Baiting the Hook"

30 paintings in 30 Days

Day 11

"Baiting the Hook"

6" x 8"

oil on canvas panel

This man was fishing in Santa Cruz, California.  I loved the stillness of this scene.  The challenge for today was painting a person in the scene while giving the impression of a man fishing without the detail.,

Day 7 "Through the Mist"

30 paintings in 30 days

Day 7

"Through the Mist"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas panel

$95

buy through www.dailypaintworks.com

I took this photo for my painting from West Cliff also, but on a misty morning. I tried a different palette for this painting.  The green on the cliffs are ice plant.  When the ice plant is in bloom, it is gorgeous.

Day 5 "Pacific Blues"

30 paintings in 30 days

Day 5

"Pacific Blues"

8" x 10"

oil on canvas panel

$95

California Series

Trying out different blues to get the right colors for the ocean.  The far away color is cooler and the water close to the shore which is greener.  The water was very fun to do.

Day 4 "West Cliff"

30 Painting in 30 Days

Day 4

"West Cliff"

oil on canvas panel

8" x 10" 

$95

California series for day 4.  I went to my local art store today, Binders and discuss what color blue is the Pacific Ocean by Santa Cruz.  We discussed French Ultra Marine blue.  I finally picked Indigo Blue and mixed it with Payne's Grey.  Let me know if any West Coast oil painters have any good color suggestions.  With my artists license I took out the fence along the highway by the ocean.  Maybe it looked like this when it was still natural so many years ago.

Day 2 "Tree With a View"

30 paintings in 30 days

Day 2

"Tree with a View"

oil on canvas panel

8" x 10"

$95

This is another Santa Cruz Live Oak in a beautiful little park with a play ground and a Art & Wine Festival.  It was probably the hottest day out of the ten days that I spent there.  A quick look around and off to the swimming pool. 

"Coastal Live Oak"

30 paintings in 30 days

Day 1

Coastal Live Oak

10" x 8"

$95

oil on canvas panel

I am painting along with Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge.  I have done this challenge in January for three years.  It is exciting to once again be doing this daily challenge.  This month I'm going to paint 30 paintings of my trip to California last month.  Some will be of West Cliff such as this one and succulents in my friend's garden, Los Gatos and who knows what else.  Check each day to see what I paint.

Misty Morn

"Misty Morn"

11" x 14"

oil on canvas

I spent ten days in Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz this August visiting a friend and helping my daughter move.  Three of the mornings we walked West Cliff for the beautiful views of Santa Cruz.  Some mornings were misty and grey and some sunny and bright.  I want to do a series from my photos of the beauty that is along that coast.  Last weekend I visit the Florida Gulf coast and saw the beauty of those teal waters.  I plan to portray the colors and the feelings of both coast in future paintings.

Going Home to California

A wonderful visit from Sacramento to Carmel.  Some future paintings.  Above photos are Yountville, Mission Carmel, Woodside, and Santa Cruz.

"Mission Santa Cruz"

This is a 7" x 5" study for my third mission in my California Mission Series.  I would like to go back to California sometime and paint all 21 of the missions.  Each one is so unique.