California plein air landscape painting – Wildflower Hills

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California Wildflower Hills
9 x 12 plein air painting
oil on linen panel

See more of my landscapes here

A few months ago, after keeping an eye on the wildflower reporting sites, we took a trip up into the foothills of the western Sierras. The online sources were right – they really were really spectacular this year. I started this painting on site, and have been waiting for the opportunity to touch it up in studio before posting here. Among the challenges at this location was a storm system that cast ever-changing shadows over the golden hills. One minute the foreground was in light and the background in darkness. Five minutes later it was the reverse. At the point of laying in my darks I decided to go with the cloud shapes on the distant hills and leave the foreground hill bright, and then to paint it that way no matter what nature was doing.

Next week, after my show is hung this Saturday at Gale’s Restaurant in Pasadena, I should be back to painting and posting regularly. There are just too many details to take care of right now.

Comments

  1. Karen Coe
    June 2, 2009

    Lovely paintings. I love their softness. I would like t o know how to do plein air painting. do you always paint a smaller painting?

  2. Ken
    October 29, 2009

    Very nice paintings I especially like the one on the beach with the couple walking
    you do have some very nice landscapes also thanks for your display

    Ken

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