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I was a bit intimidated by the idea of painting a plein air nocturne on main street in Mariposa. While I was out of my comfort zone, it was fun painting this small slice of the town through the glowing window of the Gypsy Queens Hat Shop.

In this piece, I was drawn to the gentleness of this creek on a perfect spring morning.

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.

I painted this on the bank of Mariposa Creek in spring. The area was thoughtfully sprinkled with lovely wildflowers all of which were California natives.

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.

I painted this late winter as the pansies were first showing up. At this time of year, their emergence brings a smile and feeling of optimism.

I painted this as part of an outing with the California Art Club to Cotoni Coast Dairy Open Space Park near Davenport. It was my first time painting in this newly opened park. So delighted to be out painting in the winter sunshine.

This piece began as a plein air painting that was later finished in the studio.

I love the texture found in sand dunes and the variety of low growing native plants. In this piece, I’ve focused on the hint of a path amongst it all.

I began this just outside Mariposa and when I brought it home I felt the painting needed something so I added cows.