Tule Ranch with Rose Colored Glasses

. Our Wednesday group was out to Tule Ranch today. A very large 'umbrella' barn greeted us with a windmill nearby. There was solitude as we chose our painting spots. My value study was done quickly as the roof of the barn is clear to the grassy area in places. The sky was blue and the large roof was full of rust. I tried but didn't like my painting so glazed over it with transparent color. It changes it from a harsh rusted scene to the abstract. Maybe I'll do more of this. Watercolor is wonderful in its transparency.

Quick Visit to the Muse

I have not been painting because lots of projects have popped up and taken more time than anticipated. Isn't that always the case? The Davis train station has always been my go to when I need a jump start. It was late afternoon when I set up my easel and then started paining right away. It was hurry up from the beginning. After an hour or so, my phone went off and away I went. This was my painting and I just added the shadows of the people when I looked at it today. Sometimes I find some good things happen with rushed painting. I have been painting but it has been chairs and doors. Lots of plein air coming up with good weather and groups.

CURIOUS

. A sunny day and we went to paint wild flowers. They were disappointing. Very few and with the grasses so high from all our rain, it was difficult to paint. We were looking for carpets of wild flowers. After attempting a few sketches, I left the flowers and did this landscape which included the tree. After getting home and looking at it I added a cow for interest. We have that license.

Sunny and 70

The rain stopped and the sun came out on Saturday. This is the road to Valley Oak Wool Mill which was an Art Ag paint out site. There was an excellent turnout for the event. Most of us couldn't wait to get out and paint. Sunshine, warm air and plenty of artists gets the juices flowing. We got a tour of the woolen mill which was interesting. I did a quick value sketch and between greetings with many artist friends, got this painting done. Just a perfect morning.

Abstract Lightening Fish

. We focused on abstract art for the final two weeks of the course. There were lots of questions as most of us are representational painters. There is plenty of bias so those concerns were opened. Once we started, everyone seemed to enjoy the exercise. This is a painting started with 11 random dots that need connections. The comments that interested me were that people felt they were never finished. They kept returning to the dots and adding to the painting. I also had the experience.

Snow and Birch Trees

I have been teaching this past month and it has been so enjoyable. We have been dealing with snow by doing paintings of snowy mountains and the birch tree. There were some wonderful paintings done on these themes by the class. The birch tree is always a favorite. It has the contrast of a soccer ball with its black and white color. My demonstration was off balance so I added a small child with a sled to create some informal balance.

Sunshine and Painting Again

. It was a Wednesday without rain and our group met at the Berryessa Dam in Winters, CA. The water level is high with the 'Glory Hole' sucking down water. There was wind so we just went around the mountain and set up in the sunshine, shielded from the wind. We had a large group as everyone was suffering cabin fever. The greens are lush and the site was fun to paint. I did a quick value study and then had what I wanted for a composition. I found myself low in green paint as I had not checked my palate, so had to mix colors for my greens. Always a challenge but always surprised at the results.