Egg Rock, Pacifica

11″ x 14″ oil on linen panel

1I started this on the Devil’s slide trail on a glorious early fall day. The main thing I was trying to capture was the warm glow into the water of the sun hitting the rock and the action of the surf. I have painted the Egg Rock Sea Stacks several times and realized when I got home that this time I didn’t catch the rocks at their best angle so I took some liberties with the shape of the main rock back in the studio.

Painting Mariposa

I’m posting this while on a on a painting trip with Allied Artists West. We are chasing fresh air and fall colors.

Most of these pieces were painted on the property of a friend who has a home here. Veronica hosted dinners each evening of our Artists Retreat and taught us a bit about mono-printing as well. I may post on that separately.

Next … A few of us are on our way to the Eastern Sierra hoping to catch some fall colors.

Beneath the Headlands

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

Perched on a bluff in Mendocino, this painting invites us to lean over the edge and feel the power of the Pacific below. The turquoise water churns against dark rocks, while bright wildflowers cling stubbornly to the rugged coastline. It’s a reminder of the delicate balance between the raw force of the ocean and the quiet resilience of life along its edge.

Late Summer Clarity

8″ x 10″ (sold)

On an impossibly clear late summer day along Highway 1 near Elk, CA, I set up my easel overlooking the rugged beauty of Coffey’s Cove. This piece is all about the contrast of the golden grasses in the foreground and the blues and turquoise tones in the water.

Autumn Lundy Canyon

8″ x 10″ oil on linen panel

This was painted by a quiet beaver pond along mill Creek in Lundy Canyon. The fall colors were peaking in the Eastern Sierras as the time and I felt so exhilarated to catch the scene. I was also fortunate to be with a friend with a very beefy 4WD truck as the road to the spot was challenging.

Reflections of Half Dome

14″ x 11″ oil on linen panel

This piece was created on location in the heart of Yosemite Valley in early autumn. I have painted Half Dome many times. For this painting, I focused on the contrast between the towering iconic granite formation and the softness of its reflection with the rocks in the foreground revealing themselves below the surface.

Navarro Beach Morning

12″ x 16″ oil on linen panel

In this coastal scene from Mendocino, I’ve focused on that quiet, fleeting moment when the morning sun begins to burn through the lingering fog. The air is fresh, the beach is hushed and rising tide is creeping closer. You might get your feet wet if you linger too long.