Artichokes and Barn

A group went to Lynmar Vineyards last Wednesday and I couldn't resist painting this barn. That's Mount St. Helena in the background. The lighting was just right which created some dramatic value changes. 16"x20", oil on stretched canvas, $425.

Beginnings of Spring

Last Monday our Monday Morning Painters group went to this private vineyard estate. I had planned to paint the rolling hills with the vineyards, but this image grabbed me. It was windy and cold, and worth it. 8"x16", oil on stretched canvas, $275

Vines and Blue Mountains

While driving through vineyard areas I stuck my camera out of the window for this shot. I like the simplicity of the composition -- diagonals, a few verticals, and a touch of red/orange with all of the summer green. 8"x10" oil on canvas, framed, $125+$10 s/h.

Along Bennett Valley Road

This was just a little spot along the road that my painter friend spotted. The diagonals and little buildings made it interesting and occupied looking. I thought the colors of the late spring grasses as they were turning were a nice complement to the greens. Oil on stretched canvas, 16"x20", $450, framed.

A Day at the Beach

Duncan's Landing north of Bodega Bay has great ocean views, both looking east and west. I like looking down at the bathers from the cliffs above. The water is very cold in this area, but on a hot day it doesn't stop anyone. It's also a good place to picnic. Oil on stretched canvas, 30"x22", framed, $850.

Kunde from the Kenwood Inn

While painting at the Kenwood Inn I noticed across the highway this view of Kunde Vineyards. The dark shadows under the oaks especially caught my eye, plus the vivid vineyards. This is oil on stretched canvas, 14"x18", framed, priced at $325.

Palace of Fine Arts

San Francisco is a wonderful city to paint, especially on a sunny warm day. This was one of those days. I picked this view of the building for the reflections, sculpted people on the building, and architecture. It is 30"x22", oil on stretched canvas, framed. Price $875.

Gualala Beach

While on my painting trip to Gualala, we went to the beach where I found this cozy little spot to paint. This is done with a pallette knife, which I think captures the ruggedness of the cliffs and rocks. It's 8"x10", oil on stretched canvas, and framed. Price $125+$10 s/h.

Clock Tower

The Oil Painters of America sponsored a paint out in Petaluma put on by one of its members. It turned out to be a gorgeous day and we all toiled from 9am to 4:30pm. There was some nice work produced. I picked this spot because of the clock tower and the umbrellas pointing the eye up to it. It is an oil on canvas, 20"x16", framed. Price $350+$10 s/h.

Spring Lake Park Colors

Spring Lake Park in Santa Rosa is always gorgeous and always different, depending on the weather and time of day. This piece was done in fall and I was glad to capture some fishermen in there boat. This is a 16"x20" oil on canvas board, framed, and is $425+$10 s/h.

Incoming Fog (study)

A friend and I took a little two day trip to Gualala and The Sea Ranch on the Sonoma/Mendocino coast and found this exciting spot to paint. This is an 8"x10" oil pochade on canvas, framed. The wind is often so strong in this area that the trees are permanently bent east, and the fog comes in nearly every day in the afternoon. It makes for some interesting scenes. Price $125+$10 s/h.

Rolling Vineyards

I often paint in Healdsburg, CA, with its vineyards and wineries, and it's rolling hills landscape. The colors seem more intense there. The only problem is sometimes I drive around for too long because the next area is even more beautiful than the last. It makes it easier to procrastinate.

While out scouting for a place to paint that was dramatic I came across this. I loved the way the shadows went across the hill shading part of the vineyard. I did this with a pallette knife, trying to capture the feeling quickly. It's an 8"x10" canvas, framed with a floater frame. Price $125+$10 s/h.

Back Roads of Penngrove

When I came around a corner this nice little view was there just asking to be painted. I love the strong lights and darks and the shadows across the road. This is another small piece, 10"x8".

It's so easy to drive around for ages looking for the perfect scene to paint, especially in this Sonoma County area. I get on overload a lot and someday I'm afraid I'll drive off the road while trying to compose a picture. Price $125+$10 s/h.

Oak Studded Hillside

This piece is 5"x7" oil, framed, another in my daily series of small, hopefully expressive, pallette knife pieces. I was attracted by the shadowy tree areas with the quiet and warm area on the left. I love the pallette knife.

I found this spot by driving up the large steep hill in Armstrong Woods. There are also vast views from way up there and, in spring when we've had enough rain that previous winter, there's a place called Bullfrog Pond surrounded with some sort of pink trees -- very dramatic. Price $99+$10 s/h.

Luther Burbank Home and Gardens

I've been trying to paint a very small and quick pallette knife painting each day to loosen up. This is a 5"x7", oil on canvas, framed, that I liked because of the complimentary colors and multiple shapes. It's in a section of the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens, always a colorful place.

I've done a larger version of this, but actually prefer this little gem because it's not so realistic. Oh, to do large looser paintings. Price $99+$10 s/h.

Mustard and Vines, Sonoma

A painter friend phoned me to paint one day saying she had found a great spot behind an old post office. Sure enough, this is the image from her spot. We had to hurry to finish our pieces since the huge mail truck was arriving in about an hour and a half and there was NO room for us with the truck there. It sure helped to keep things loose. This 12"x16" oil on RayMar canvas board, framed, is $425+$10 s/h.

Mustard and Oaks

I belong to Monday Morning Painters where we meet at paintable locations each Monday, weather permitting. This time of year the mustard is in full bloom and is very striking against the leafless oak trees. The sense of loneliness is strong here, especially with the twiggy bare tree in the right foreground. This 12"x16" oil on RayMar canvas board, framed, is $325+$10 s/h.