Shady River Spot

. We all knew that the day would be hot. Our group traveled to Winters and Putah Creek where there was shade and a river running by. It was hot and as soon as you sweat the flies and bugs zero in. I did a couple of sketches and a value study and then settled in and painted this scene. The hills are very high and my focus was on the rocks. I left the background a mix of greens without boning out anything definitive. I think that it worked.

Country Road

. The days are hot and on Wed. we were all looking for shade. I did a number of value studies and then this quick sketch and painting in a wet into wet technique. It was dry very quickly so I could add the detail in a darker value. I wanted the mail box to be a focus and now see that it needs more contrast to make it pop.

Walnut Planters

. Last week was the Plein air Festival in Winters, CA. Winters is a wonderful venue for an artist. They have mountains, hills, barns, and a bustling downtown. Everything is there and I have painted in these events for the past 10 years. It does attract lots of artists. I was brought to this home high in the hills and looking out saw this planting activity. The hills were all carefully groomed and cross hatched for planting. Now, they don't plant walnuts but dig little holes for seedlings to be planted. The men walk the acres of field with shovels and then return later planting the little seedlings. The hills of Winters are usually blue but after all of the rains they are still with some greenery. It was a perfect background for me.

Capay Farm

In the spring the Yolo Art/Ag printout was in Capay across from the Cash Creek Casino. The grounds were manicured and immaculate. A barn with a rusted roof and an old rusted truck caught my eye so I put them together in this painting. It seems as though I've been painting a lot of corrugated barn roofs so I added lots of bends and waves to this one and left out the rust. I mixed some grey with ultramarine blue and orange. I made my rust with burnt Sienna and new gamboge. There also was some cobalt blue added to darken some areas.

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.