Catalina Sunset Painting

 Catalina Island, California... 26 miles across the sea from Los Angeles.

                Painting in Avalon, the main harbor of the island, looking towards the casino.
This is one of my favorite places to paint from.  I usually plan on finishing two view points with canvases and thumbnails ready to go. But with early daylight savings, I rain out of my precious light.  You can see how within moments, the colors changed behind me to a warm purple hue in both the water and the sky.

This oil painting, at 8 x 10" is an example of fat over lean paint application and multiple layers of hues.

The yellow lights below the casino came on just when I needed them.

I had to paint fast to capture the light on the harbor filled with sailboats.

They are indicated here, as more of a softer impression. The focal point is the casino & lights.

I can't wait to return. There's another canvas waiting to be painted from this spot!

Ten Days in Greece...

I arrived on the Ionian island of Corfu on September 13, after three days and four airplanes from San Diego.  As a volunteer artist for The Silvaland Equestrian Center, I am here to plan a new art seminar for next year... Same week... Here's how each day has evolved so far with artistic inspiration from this very unique island...

Plein Air Painting Big Bear

Photo was taken in full sun, but I painted this underneath park tent...so it was important to see the colors in full light...
to compare to the real view before I left.  Photo below is so different!

Black and white photo option on my camera is a great tool!

The colors shifted by the moment... with warm hues in the foreground
 and actually teal cool blues in the distant hillside...

Could you ask for more in Provence?

At our favorite cafe in Venasque ordering... what a wonderful group of artistic friends!!!!!

TARTE Tartin... once.. twice...Mai oui!!!

Watercoloring Fountain of Venasque

Watercolor painting in Venasque, France....NO PARKING, but YES PAINTING!

Pencil sketches and preliminary washes...of watercolor paint, that is!

'Venasque is such a charming village!!!  To capture the 'life' of the village in my art,
 I chose to paint the centerpiece... this wonderful fountain.

One of my students, Judy, watches so intently as I explain the levels of washes and allowing time to dry int between applications....

...and of course, we have the usual challenges one faces as a plein air artist... how to paint around sudden changes to the view...

Its starting to come together...

..as Susan joins in and we discuss our plans for lunch at the cafe nearby with the most AMAZING
Tarte Tarin!   Ann waits patiently at the fountain and Doris keeps on painting...

Let's Paint Provence: 2012

A group of seven wonderful artists from Florida, New York and California joined me in Provence last May...with Jackie Grandchamps as our guide from French Escapade.

We found THE poppy field....

Painting France 2011

Cigar Box/ Travel Paintbox...watercolors at L'Arc de Triomphe.

Morning colors and reflections underneath Le Pont Neuf

The TOP of THE tower was closed, so I painted THE tower from below...

One of my favorites... Place de St Michel... les fontaines des grifons

Ahh--- Luxembourg gardens..working from my painted sketchbook, to a larger watercolor.

Monet's lily poned, in the early evening...oil on canvas

...and day five of five...  magical.