Winter Afternoon at Moro Cove

I didn't mention on the last post, that the person who bought the overview painting of Crystal Cove, bought this one too! Pretty amazing. Anyway, this one is a favorite of mine too. I loved being there with only a few people on the beach. Up until a few years ago, there was a sort of trailer park there that had been there for years. I don't really know the background of how long they had been there, but what an amazing place to live! Right on the beach like that. To the left of this image, the beach only goes for maybe another 50 yards at most before a cliff rises up to where Coast Highway makes it's way along the coast to Laguna Beach.

Trabuco Creek Morning

Here is a little morning view from down in Trabuco Creek where it runs through O'Neill Park. It's amazing to me that this beautiful place lies practically out my back door. If I were a bird I could fly to this spot in about a minute. Amazing.

Palm Springs Early Morning

Here is a painting I did in the studio from a photo I took just after dawn. The light changes so fast at that time, I really can't capture it on the spot...but I love that quality of light so much I had to try and get it.

Palm Springs Morning #2

Here is a painting I did the next morning. I got there even before the sun came up. It was wonderful to be up at that time...something I can't seem to manage at home. Having a partner who works a swing shift may have a small amount to do with that.

Palm Springs Morning

Whew, finally getting a chance to post something new. We were in Palm Springs last week. Joel was taking photo workshops and I was playing the tourist, but also managed a couple of paintings. Here is the first, painted very early in the morning before the wind and heat of later in the day. I'm planning to submit these two to an upcoming show in May, so they are not for sale now.

Crystal Cove Sunset #2

Here is the second sunset down at Crystal Cove, this time with some of the yet to be restored cottages toward the north end of the cove.

Trabuco Creek

Here is one of my favorite views down in the creek bed that runs through part of O'Niell Park. I can't get enough of this spot, so expect lots more as I get closer to the deadline for our "Paint the Parks" show in May. Anyway, this was done a couple of weeks ago, mid-afternoon. Our recent huge rainfalls have guaranteed that all the creeks are still relatively full, which really enhances the scene and makes it that much more fun to paint. This particular painting is on display now at our SOCALPAPA Gallery until June 12 , for the current "Impressionism Then & Now" show.

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.