Leslie Landers

Mariposa Hillside

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

One of my goals for this painting trip was to take in the fresh green essence of spring in California. In this piece, I was sitting under an oak tree enjoying the change grass colors. It was a pleasure to observe the variations related to sunlit area vs. the shaded foreground as well as the impact of distance.

Blushing Prickly Pear

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

While I went to a small ranch with a painting group thinking I would be painting horses or goats, it was the blooming prickly pear cactus that captivated me. It was interesting to see the stages of these cactus blooms … bright tangerine orange new blooms fading to light pinks as they ebbed and ending in the development of dark magenta-brown fruit.

Spring in The Foothills and Yosemite

So fun to spend time paint in Mariposa. I went up with a wonderful painter friend in the middle of a pretty epic rainstorm. We had a blast painting around Mariposa in the sunshine that followed. We met up with a group of group of artists who all participated in an event sponsored by the Sierra Artists Gallery there. We were all encouraged to paint a nocturnal on Main Street which took me out of my comfort zone but it was fun and I like the painting that resulted from it.

“Mariposa Creek, Springtime”
Spring native flowers
“California Poppy”
“Mariposa Hillside”
Gypsy Hat Shop
“Mariposa Hat Shop”
“Blushing Prickly Pear”

I also made it into Yosemite to experience a postcard beautiful day. I was hoping that the dogwood would be blooming and they were. I was able to paint them backlit by the afternoon sun alongside Tenaya Creek on the trail that leads up to Mirror Lake. That morning we painted at Cathedral Beach.

Teneya Creek Redwoods
“Yosemite Dogwood”
“Beneath Cathedral Peaks”

The plan is to head up again soon. I am looking forward to it already!

Members Exhibition – Pacific Art League

5/8/2026 – 6/23/2026

My painting “Sidewalk Stories” is part of this year’s Pacific Art League Show at their gallery in downtown Palo Alto. The address for the gallery is 668 Ramona Street (on the corner of Forest & Ramona). The opening reception is on Friday May 8 from 5:30pm to 8:00 pm.

Cafe Geneva Switzerland

This studio painting was developed from a sketch I made while traveling in Geneva Switzerland. While it’s a spot I really enjoyed, I want the viewer to put themselves in the scene. Imagining their own cafe experience.

It was the light coming through the red fabric umbrellas and awning that got drew me in. As the painting developed, I put close friends chatting at the center back of the scene. My hope is that viewers can place themselves in the convivial cafe scene on a day filled with sunshine and good conversation.

The woman to the left caught my attention. Lovely but one wonders about navigating the cobblestones in her impossibly high heels.

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.

Native Palms, Indian Canyon

These paintings were also accepted into the show:

Coastal Mustard Field
Coastal Interplay

“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

Roatan Hibiscus

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