Leslie Landers

In this piece, I’m seeking to convey the feeling of unsteady unpredictability along with the beauty as the tide comes in on the rocky shores of Bonny Doon, CA.

I wasn’t sure I was going to make it to Yosemite on this painting trip. There were torrents of rain driving up to Mariposa and a big road closure between there and the El Portal entrance to the park. My painting buddy and I decided that we would watch the weather and if it was favorable we’d get an early start for the Yosemite entrance on the Fish Camp side. It added an hour to the trip since we were in Mariposa but we were rewarded with a magically sunny spring day that I will remember always. This painting was done from Cathedral Beach with Sentinel Rock in the Background.

There is a bustle of activity on the docks as a group of new sailors prepare to learn the ropes.

I painted this a couple of years ago from Moonstone Beach in Westhaven California. As I began the painting the fog was lifting so I raced to catch the veil it cast over the distant trees before the sun took over. The sunshine lasted for about 20 minutes. After that, the fog came back in full force. So … this painting is really about the moments in-between and catching a sense of peace even as things constantly change.

This piece began as a plein air painting on a day that started with clouds and ended up full of sunshine. In finishing up the painting, I decided to lean into the sunshine. Once I did that, I felt the need to add beach goers which I did in the studio.

I began this just outside of Mariposa and was focused on the layers of hills slowly emerging from morning haze. When I brought it home. I felt the painting needed something so I added cows. There were cows checking us out while we were painting so it seemed to be an apt choice.