Leslie Landers – Page 32

Santa Cruz Art Association – Landscape Exposition

11/15/2021 – 1/15/2022

It was an honor to be included in the 91st annual landscape show hosted by the Santa Cruz Art Association with my painting “Coastal Quiet.”

Yosemite Sketchbook

When the California Art Club’s San Francisco Chapter announced a plein air painting event in Yosemite a few friends and I quickly signed up. As it turned out there were 60 participants and it was so much fun. Here are 4 of my paintings from this trip to Yosemite.

The last painting is my favorite from this trip to Yosemite and it was later purchased. Here’s a photo one of my painting friends took of me as I was just beginning this piece.

Discovered Road

9″ x 12″ (sold)

This painting began as a plein air piece in rural San Jose at a spot in Santa Teresa Park where I enjoy painting. In addition to the friends I painted with this day, I also appreciated seeing a few local equestrians and lots of turkeys.

Sentinel Beach Autumn

9″ x 12″ (sold)

This was painting at a lovely spot along the Merced River in Yosemite.

Waiting at the Bend

6″ x 8″ oil on linen panel

This plein air painting was painted at a beautiful spot along the Merced River in Yosemite known as Devil’s Bend.

Autumn in Cook’s Meadow

11″ x 14″ oil on linen panel

This Yosemite plein air painting was painted just as the colors were turning on the beautiful elm tree that stands under the watchful eye of Half Dome.

Afternoon Shadows, Trinidad

9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel

The Humboldt County Coast offers so much. I started this piece in the Trinidad Harbor paying close attention to the colors of the water both in and out of shadow. Now that I’ve finished this up at home I want to head back to further savor the beauty of far Northern California.

2021 Humboldt Paint Out

One of the great joys in outdoor painting is getting to know an area in a way that is personal and deeply experienced. This painting trip was especially delightful in that I was able to share it with some amazing painter friends. We set off for a morning spot and an afternoon spot each day. In the evenings we returned to a large ocean front house we rented to share dinner and look at that day’s work. I am, bit by bit, becoming a better painter. Painting immersion with a group like this is as valuable as a class with a master painter to generate growth.

The six paintings above were hung at a lovely art gallery for a show that included about two dozen participating artists. I was so happy that my painting “Ready to Go” received an award for “Best representational Painting.” It’s the one first painting in the gallery above. I so appreciate the Redwood Art Association for hosting this terrific event. See you next year.

Plein Air Painting at Sue-meg State Park — This painting of Sue Meg Park (formerly known as Patrick’s Point was my favorite of the week. When I decided on the spot, there was ample blue in the sky and a beautiful Celadon color in the sea but I had to work fast. As I was wrapping up the rain had started.

Standing Watch

12″ x 9″ (sold)

As I was setting my gear to paint this scene at Sue-Meg State Park (formerly Patrick Point), it was clear the weather was about to change. Blue sky to the right. A bank of clouds to the left. I noticed a gorgeous celadon color in the water and hung on to that as worked as rapidly as I could to capture the moment.

Ready to Go

11″ x 14″ oil on linen panel

The gorgeous color of the backlit water drew me to this late morning scene in the harbor of Trinidad California. I painted this for the 2021 Humboldt Plein Air Paint Out and was delighted later to learn I received an award for “Best Representational Work.”