Leslie Landers

Signs of Spring – Coastal Arts League Juried Painting Show

3/27/2026 – 4/27/2026

What a delight to learn that my painting “Oasis Palm Canyon” received the top award as part of this year’s show. If you find yourself in Half Moon Bay in April, I encourage you to check the show out. The Coastal Arts League Gallery is located at 300 Main Street in Downtown Half Moon Bay.

I’ve been to the Palm Springs area many times but only ‘discovered’ the Indian Canyons area in recent years. Now that I have, the location tops my must do list. There are great hiking trails. It is particularly stunning in the Spring when the seasonal streams is flowing and the wildflowers are abundant. These palm trees are the only true “native to California” palms we have.

These paintings were also accepted into the show:

“Early Spring, Half Moon Bay” savors our early chartreuse fields and “Intertidal Morning” encourages us to enjoy (but watch our step) along the rocky shore of Pescadero.

Painting Roatan

Every year I take a trip with three wonderful friends that I met when I was living in Colorado. This year we were in Roatan with plans to catch up over good meals and morning scuba dives. I had been to Roatan before but pretty much stayed and had all my meals at a dive resort so I didn’t see much of the Island and I was looking forward to exploring a bit. While this was not really a painting trip, I did make time to paint between activities.

I’ve added the people to this view of West Bay Beach to convey a sense of the activity. Turns out this is a really nice snorkel beach. We enjoyed daytime snorkeling near the point and a night time snorkel just a bit beyond. I lost count of the free swimming octopus we saw in our flashlights. “West Bay Beach” (11″ x 14″ oil on linen panel)

The rock outcropping at the end of the beach is made of ancient coral which has been undercut by the waves. This made a particularly good painting spot because it was the only spot on the beach with shade. I enjoyed observing the color changes (shade vs sunlit) on the beach and foreground water while I was painting. “West Bay Rocks” (10″ x 8″ oil on linen panel)

The town of West End is actually east of West Bay Beach. I think the road was extended after the town was established. I really enjoyed this town particularly because of the low key local (rather than resort) feel. And, it’s easy to catch a water taxi between the town and larger beach. “Roatan Water Taxis” (8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel)

One of the places we stayed was a very nice house in a small resort development. I am not completely sure that I would have thought the adjacent horse stable would be plus but it was all so well kept there were no downsides and I was able to practice painting one of the residents. “Island Pony” 8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

Hibiscus flowers just sing of the tropics making it fun to paint the intense colors and happy forms. “Tangerine Hibiscus” 6″ x 6″ oil on panel

A Bit Prickly

8” x 10” Oil on linen panel

I have grown to really appreciate the sculptural forms of succulents. In this piece I am focused on a cluster of agave parri and barrel cactus.

Points Beyond

6″ x 12″ oil on linen panel

intense waves and a rising tide kept me off the beach as I painted the rocky outcrops of Bean Hollow Beach.

First Kiss

8” x 10” oil on linen panel

It was fun to paint this on a hot spring day. I.was drawn to the lipstick colors of the crabapple blooms.

Capitola Shimmer

14″ x 11″ oil on linen panel

There is something magical about sunny winter days on our local coast. I painted this piece on a perfect day in at New Brighton Beach in Capitola. As I began painting the sun was bouncing golden tones into the water beneath the cliffs. I so enjoyed all of the activity … kayakers, a few paddling surfers and Monarch Butterflies passing by. Perfection.