Leslie Landers – Page 32

Poolside Conversation

8″ x 6″ (sold)

I didn’t end up swimming in the pool at the Volivoli Dive Resort in Fiji though I’m glad I had a chance to paint it. I love the color of the shadows that seem to dance on the bottom of the pool.

While painting this plein air piece in Fiji, I was focused on the shifts in the yellows between the sunlit areas and shadow along with the reflections in the water. The name of the yellow boat is “Rush” though I never saw it move (aside from the action of the tide).

Volivoli Mangroves

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

Tropical mangroves play a vital role in healthy coastal ecosystems by helping abate erosion and serving a vital habitat for juvenile sea creatures. Mangroves are adapted to areas that are periodically submerged by salty tides. I love their ‘long legs’ and painted these on a visit to Fiji.

View Through Palms

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

I painted this from the deck in front of the room shared by my dive buddy and me in Fiji. The twin Christmas Palms are on the left side. They’ve long been one of my favorite types of palms though this think these are the first I’ve painted.

Singular

10″ x 8″ oil on linen panel

I loved painting palm trees in Fiji. In this painting, I was really took in the shadow cast in the shallow water.

Lakeside Palm Tree

8″ x 8″ oil on linen panel

I painted this piece at Lake Almaden in San Jose a couple of days after returning from a trip to the South Pacific. I think I still had kind of a palm tree sensibility going on.

Fiji Sketchbook

For divers like me who love colorful reefs replete with soft coral, there are few places that offer up more beauty than the Namena Marine Reserve in Fiji. Diving amongst these reefs is a little like swimming a produce market just above intensely purple broccoli with hot pink and orange fish as companions. Pretty magical.

While there were multiple dives each day, I was able to fit in some painting too.

As it turned out, my long-time friend and dive buddy, Judy, was training for an upcoming Ironman Triathlon so while she swam / ran / biked and exercised, I painted.

I brought water mixable oils on this trip. They are not as yummy to work with as more traditional oils but I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable with them. And … it’s great to avoid sharing a room with solvents even if they are ‘odorless’.

July 4 New Almaden

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

Fun to paint a bit of New Almaden with flags flying for 4th of July celebrations. This historic town is nestled in the San Jose foothills with a heritage associated with cinnabar mining and quicksilver (mercury) production.

Rush Creek Morning

6″ x 8″ (sold)

This plein air piece was painted near the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite. I was tuning into the olive and rust colors of the rushing water in the early morning light.

Seasons of Beauty – Coastal Arts League Plein Air Painting Show

7/27/2023 – 8/29/2023

Three of my paintings are currently on view as part of this year’s juried plein air painting show hosted by the Coastal Art League. I am really delighted that my plein air painting “Coming and Going” of the Santa Cruz small boat harbor was awarded with 2nd place as part of the show. The show is up through August 27 at the Coastal Art League gallery at 300 Main Street in downtown Half Moon Bay. Gallery hours 12:00 to 5:00 most days (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

These pieces were painted on location at the Santa Cruz Small Boat Harbor, on the shore in Pacific Grove and a pier on South Lake Tahoe. The photo at the top of this page was taken while I was painting the incoming waves in Pacific Grove.