Afternoon Flower Garden

A few weeks ago I painted this property from the side yard. This time I saw the beautiful flowers and late afternoon shadows on the planter boxes and had to paint it. This place is in Bodega, CA, and the owners say it's been painted countless times. Can you see why? Plus the weather was gorgeous and stayed that way all day.

Poplars

While at a paint out in Alexander Valley in Healdsburg, CA, I was struggling to find something to paint when I saw these poplars and pasture gate. It was a challenge because of all of the green, so I tried to get a variety of greens. I also tried to create a pattern of darks to move your eye throught the composition.

John's Garden

Marilyn and John live on a fabulous piece of land in Healdsburg, CA, where Marilyn is a Master Gardener and has landscaped multi-acres. Every once in a while they invite people to paint their place. What a treat! There's never ending material to paint. This piece is a converted barn, now a guest house surrounded with gorgeous flower beds.

Occidental, Yellow House

Besides Tomales, I really like to paint in the small town of Occidental. The buildings are old and interesting, many turn of the century. I like this one because of the shadows it has in the morning. Copyright 2009.

Cow Palace

This cow barn is on a back street behind Tomales. It looks so cozy under the big eucalyptus trees. I liked the added palm tree. The cows have it good here. 16"x20" oil on canvas.

McMurray Ranch Barn

The McMurray Vineyards are private, but a small group of us got to paint there this year. They're very good to us when we are there, serving us their wonderful wine with our lunches. The shadows were the attractions for this plein air painting. 16"x20" oil on canvas.

Vistas from Paradise Ridge Winery

The view from this winery looks all the way across the Santa Rosa plain towards Bodega. I love the foggy distance that always disappears in the afternoon. 16"x20" oil on cradled gesso board.

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.

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.