Early Morning Fog Bank - SOLD

I went out again early this morning hoping for fog at the Back Bay. I have this picture in my mind of the bluffs reappearing and disappearing into the foggy mists. When I got there though, it was a little too late, about 7:15 am, and the early morning fog was breaking up, with every once in a while a beam of sunlight breaking through to strike the bluffs across from where I was painting. I tried to capture this fleeting moment and this looks close to what I saw. The cliffs of limestone, or whatever material they are made of, absolutely radiate light when the sun strikes them. It's incredible. A beautiful breezy Memorial Day morning, and another painting to save for our Socalpapa Back Bay Show: July 23,24 & 25.

Back Bay Bluff 1pm - 3pm

Here is a view of the same bluff at Newport Back Bay that I painted last week. This time  though, it's a couple of hours earlier in the day, and about 200 or more yards east along Bay Drive. I feel like I could paint this scene over and over and over and never get tired of it.

The weather was again sublime, with a brisk but not too cool breeze. Not a lot of cyclists or walkers either. They were all at the beach I guess this holiday weekend.

Back Bay Mustard

Here is a scene that I painted last week, or was it two weeks ago at the Back Bay. Anyway, it was the same day I painted the cliffs. I just turned my chair and painted in the other direction, looking at the bike/walking path that goes up the East side of the Back Bay.

The mustard that was covering the hillside was amazing!

Laguna Rocks and Sea

Several of us from our Socalpapa group went to Heisler Park in Laguna Beach today, for another glorious morning. JoAnn, the chief organizer of our excursions, has a special deal with the gods I think. Every day we've painted together has been one of almost mythical perfection. Today I tackled rocks and sea, as I looked down from the walk at the edge of the cliffs.

Sunlight Through the Sycamores

On Thursday, a friend and I went out to Casper's Regional Park for a late afternoon painting. After driving through the whole park, we settled on this stand of Sycamores, with the last light of the day streaming through the branches.

Morning Walk on the Grand Canal

I've been working on a couple of larger paintings, getting ready for the summer shows coming up. This one is for my second submission to our "Islands" show, (along with the Fish Market painting), coming up in June for the Socalpapa Gallery. I'll post the details of that show very soon.

This is a scene of the walk surrounding that little part of Balboa Island that is separated from the main island by a canal. In fact the sidewalk is called the Grand Canal I think. Anyway, the shadows in the morning are beautiful as they rake across the walkway, while the canal glistens in the sun.

Fish Market 21st. St.

Here is a painting of the Dory Fisherman's Market at the Newport Pier, really early in the morning when no one was there yet. I love how the morning fog and sea spray obscure the pier and make it look like a mirage.

Back Bay Bluff

I went to the Newport Back Bay yesterday because our Back Bay show is coming up in July, and the deadline for the juried competition is in June. This is probably my favorite place to paint. The breeze off the ocean is usually mild, there are many bird species to be seen flying about or feeding in the mud at low tide, and the silence is pure and restful. I can really concentrate there. I did 2 paintings yesterday. This is the first one, and is about 99% finished. Yes that is a gnat stuck to the canvas in the sky area looking just like a bird flying away in the distance. So, I left it there. Although, I will probably pick it off when the paint dries. Perhaps it will leave an imprint I can use to paint in a bird there. This view, by the way is painted from the south end looking north from about 2pm to 4pm.

Strawberry

In my unofficial promise to myself to paint seasonal fruit I offer a strawberry. For Spring. My first. This photo doesn't quite do it justice, I may try to photograph it again under more favorable light conditions, but for a first one I'm pretty ok with it.

View East from Topaz Ave. - Balboa Island - SOLD

Today I went down to Balboa Island to do a painting for our upcoming show at the Socalpapa Gallery: "Islands". I arrived  and found a view looking east into the late morning glare. It was such a beautiful day that to just say so doesn't seem enough; the sun and the slightly cool breeze were perfectly balanced to make a truly perfect day. We are so lucky here in Southern California.   Lots of people walk around the island everyday. Walking for exercise, walking with friends, walking their dogs, or their Cockatiels! Yes. I met a couple of people I knew even, several very friendly dogs and one cat. This back lit view is my favorite kind to paint because the busy background is simplified and greyed out, while leaving the foreground boats still sharp and colorful. I may have made a sale of this one, so no buy now button until I hear for sure.

Tomatoes on the Vine

Here are some tomatoes still on a vine, on a dish. Very homey. Now I can slice them up for a sandwich.

Magic Key

A little something different today. I have a small collection of objects I've been wanting to paint for a long time. Here is one of them. I found this old key amongst some stuff of my husband's in a box and asked if I could have it. I like keys, especially old ones. I like them because they are heavy, and the metal has aged, and the shapes suggest large old locks on lovely large old doors. But really it's the symbolism of a key that I like the best. A key opens whatever is locked. It's so simple but also so profound. A key like this lives in two worlds, the mundane and the metaphorical. So here is my magic key.