Leslie Landers

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.

Awarded …

Best Representational Work, Redwood Art Association, Humboldt Open plein air painting event (2021)

Dappled Redwood

8″ x 6″ (private collection)

There is a lovely Community Redwood Forest in Arcata that is easily accessible to the town yet a world away. As I painted this, I was attracted to the light as it made its way through the canopy and curled around the trunks of Redwoods and Douglas Fir trees … changing minute by minute as I tried to capture the sense of this special spot.

Low Tide

8″ x 10″ (sold)

This was painted from a spot tucked into a rock outcropping at Luffenholtz Beach Park in Humboldt County as the tide receded. At one point some fun loving Siberian Huskies arrived to chase each other in the sand (as they evaded their person). They reminded me of a long ago loved Husky who didn’t go into the surf either.

Cypress Path

9″ x 12″ oil on linen panel

I painted this as part of a Humboldt Open Plein Air event at Table Bluff County Park. The Waloplh-Lighthouse trail moves between grassland and cypress trees as it finds the way to the ocean beyond.

September Shade

10″ x 12″ watercolor

In this painting, I’ve explored the beauty that is to be found at the edge of a small bass pond. The same gentle water presents itself so differently as light transitions from sun to shade. Colors are amplified under the leafy canopy and washed out in the glare beyond.