Leslie Landers – Page 42

Crissy Field Plein Air

This plein air watercolor was painted on site at the West Bluff Picnic Area in Chrissy Field. A terrific place for views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay. Being next to the warming hut meant my friend and I had hot coffee to enjoy while painting in the bracing breeze.

Yesterday didn’t seem like it was going to be a promising day to paint outside. My friend and I thought we’d be scouting out a spot under one of the overhangs near the Ferry Building. Instead the rain stopped just as we entered the city and we had a couple of terrific hours of dramatic clouds and sparkling sunshine on the other end of the city.

Plein Air Painting at Garrapata

Officially spring is a month away and it has been a wet winter in California. Still yesterday was all blue sky and crashing waves. What a perfect day to paint and enjoy the company of friends. Lucky me!

Garrapata State Park is located on California Highway 1 about 7 miles south of Carmel. There are beautiful up into the canyon and down to the water. I’m going to have to get back when the spring flowers hit full force.

Standing Watch

16″ x 20″ watercolor

Lakeside eucalyptus from sketches made at Vasona Park in Los Gatos.

Shoulder to Lean On

8″ x 10″ (sold)

Sometimes all you need is a shoulder. Nice to also have a harbor.

San Juan Bautista

The watercolor perched on the wood stove in my studio was purchased recently by a person who found my website and this painting via the magic of Google. It is so meaningful when a painting of mine makes such a connection.

I love and appreciate positive feedback from family and friends. Still, it is so encouraging to receive affirmation from a person I will likely never meet. My smile will last for days.

Fertile Valley

9″ x 12″ oil on panel

Sometimes it’s a vivid slash of green in the middle of a muddy field that signals the arrival of spring.

Two Friends

8″ x 10″ (private collection)

I have painted these two little rowboats several times. I’m drawn to the rough but cozy intimacy between them.

SF Water Taxi

I’m heading to San Francisco this weekend and hoping for a break in the rain and a ride on one of the water taxis. This small piece in oil is a view from the Pier 1.5 stop which is near the Ferry Building and Exploratorium.

Stanford Chapel

Stanford University’s campus is beautiful and the chapel is a jewel on the main quad. This watercolor was a fun opportunity to work with Interference Copper from Daniel Smith Watercolor. It’s part of their line of luminescent watercolors.

Rhododendron Second Bloom

My life lately has been full of physical therapy. I’m working to get back to 100% after a late summer injury. Just this week, I’ve started going on walks … outside and everything! For now, it’s just a loop around my block under my husband’s supervision.

Today, I noticed a neighbor’s rhododendron was blooming. I think of rhododendron blooms as a spring confection so it was a delight to see these second blooms. Early this spring, I was able to spend several days painting in a beautiful private garden in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their Rhododendrons were in full bloom. So … I pulled out a photo.