Capay Valley Ranches

. This painting was done under adverse conditions. It was cold with a strong wind. I bungeed my paint palate to the easel to keep from blowing away. Wind is definitely the worst condition for painting. Usually I find something to duck behind but out on this hill nothing worked. I danced around to keep warm and kept putting my hands in my pockets to warm them. I finally gave up, got into my car with my stuff and drove off. Finished the painting at home. It is a beautiful place and even returned a second time to do a painting.

Copay Valley Ranches

. This is a beautiful ranch. The trees are starting to blossom. Birds are chattering. Great vistas are everywhere you look. The hill trees and lake are still and look cold. That's because I am cold painting on a hillside early on a February morning with no sun. It is Art&Ag's first printout of the year. We have unusual low temperatures for this time of year. It is unfortunate because this place is the most picturesque ranch I have been to for painting over the years. I was here two days ago to paint and have not finished that piece. It was cold and windy with no place to hide. I painted with a large oak tree behind to be a shield. I gave up after 2 hours. If only the sun would come out and create shadows and light.

Little House on Campus

Finally, the weather cooperated for our painting group. The forecast called for rain so we chose a site close by in case it was wrong. The morning turned out chilly but no rain. The sun was bright and this little yellow house on the University campus just jumped out wanting to be painted. It was on the airport road so I had a few visitors while painting and that was a good distraction. I also worried about someone practicing take-0ffs and landings at the University airport. All of which kept me from thinking about being cold. As Californians we don't often deal well with weather issues. I just returned from the warm sunny coast of Mexico. The contrast with painting here is how long it takes paper to dry with these cold temperatures.

Should We Eat?

. This quick watercolor sketch was done from my patio. I complained that I gained 6 lbs from a week at an all inclusive Mexican resort but I had plenty of company. There were many eating places to choose from. Sitting at the beach brought waiters taking orders for food or drink. When traveling, any discipline is lost. Too many foods to taste and too little time.

Wychmere

Plenty of rain is continuing so I am indoors looking for something to paint. Found this sketch that I have painted many times over the years. There is no order to my collections of sketches, so I can spend hours looking for something I remember doing. It is the excitement of discovery. I painted from this sketch with an emphasis on values. It is a morning scene and the little harbor is not filled with its usual hundreds of boats. I was not as concerned with color as with contrast in value. As a result, I was never sure of when I was finished. I could always find something to alter, but stopped after a couple of changes.

A Visit to the Davis Train Station

. Returning from a vacation means getting restarted. There are always many things to attend to and they always assume priority. In order to jump start my painting, there is my muse, the train station. I paint it often and it works. We have recently had plenty of rain, so I photographed this between rain showers and waited for the sun. It was on and off with the black clouds but the sun did appear briefly and I caught it. The painting was done in my studio. I did exaggerate values, painted no black thunderheads and I like it.

Puerta Vallarta Old Town

Just returned from Mexico and am 6 lbs heavier. Great all inclusive place that means you are never without something to eat or drink. Reality is going to Old Town. Plenty of trinkets and taco stands. It was hot with lots of people milling around. A tour group even stopped and took pictures of me. I found this alleyway down to the beach. Set up in some shade and quickly painted this. I couldn't finish it as it got very busy and my shade was gone. It is a reminder of an exciting place.

Solitude

. A friend just returned from Aruba. His wife took a photo of him on this very sandy beach just gazing out to sea. The clouds did look somewhat stormy. I painted from the photo adding a lot of light along with editing the original lineup of chairs. By putting the subject in the white chair and showing his head and arm backlit, I found a focal point. I also made the cast shadows from palm trees point to the focal area. I love the softness of the clouds and think that this is only possible with watercolor.