California impressionist landscape “Oaks Guarding Oranges” backroad oil painting
“Oaks Guarding Oranges”
9 x 12 oil painting
California Central Coast, near Cayucos
Available
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Through the years, some of our most enjoyable travels have been along the many backroads that criss cross California. This small road goes inland from Cayucos, just a little north of Morro Bay. Closer to the water, the marine layer softens all the edges. The fog is soft and gray. As we drive inland, the fog burns off and takes on other colors. There are many orange and avocado groves along these country roads, which proves that the area does not often get frost. But it is hot as blazes in the summer. We will commonly see eucalyptus trees used as windbreaks to protect orange groves, but along this road the California live oak trees were doing the job.
Norfolk Terrier Dog Pet Portrait
“Jack and Lucy”
Norfolk Terrier double portrait
12 x 16 inches, original oil painting
SOLD
These adorable dogs were the subjects of a recent portrait commission for a long-time client and friend of mine. Her two dogs are getting up there in years, and she thought it was a good time to have their portraits done for posterity. Lucy, on the left, is the younger of the two. Jack, on the right, is eleven, I believe. Jack had already had his summer haircut, but Lucy had not.
Now, there’s no way you can get two dogs to pose and hold a pose with the light on them “just so” … so every portrait begins with a photo session. That involves a fair amount of crawling around on the ground to shoot them from the right angle. My husband and I were shooting simultaneously, to maximize the number of reference photos we’d get before the dogs ran out of energy or patience with us. The next step was to edit the pictures in Photoshop to put together a composite where the light and direction of their gaze was consistent. After client approval of the reference composite, it just comes down to the painting, which was very enjoyable.
If you’re interested in having a portrait done of your favorite pet, please write.
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Russian River oil painting
Russian River Drifting
8 x 10 inch
Original oil painting on panel
SOLD
The Russian River, in Northern California, near Guerneville, is a wide tranquil river (in summer at least) where people come to swim and float rafts, and to kayak. Our daughter did a 2 mile swim in it one July a few years ago when she was participating in “Barb’s Race” triathlon. A wet suit helped keep out the cold.
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Maui Hawaii oil painting, Napili Bay Waves
Napili Beach Waves, Maui, Hawaii
16 x 20 inches
oil on canvas
Available
This painting comes from our vacation in Hawaii last year, where we enjoyed some time on Maui as well as Kauai. Napili Bay is a lovely lagoon on West Maui, a little north of Lahaina. It features a beautiful soft sandy beach, tide pools, shallow water for wading and excellent snorkeling. Across the bay you can see the island of Molokai, which I featured in this painting. I’m guessing that this is a popular wedding destination, it’s so beautiful.
What attracted me to this scene, other than the gorgeous turquoise water, was the huge thunderhead which was building up over Molokai.
Interested in this painting?
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California eucalyptus sunset lagoon oil painting – Golden Master
“Golden Master” (study)
8 x 10 inches, oil in plein air panel
A stately eucalyptus tree towers over a quiet lagoon in San Diego County (Batiquitos Lagoon)
The master of all it surveys. Golden sunset colors are reflected in sky and distant waters.
This painting is available for sale.
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Spirit of the Sunset – California landscape lagoon oil painting sunset tree reflections
Spirit of the Sunset
18 x 24 inch original oil painting
California Central Coast
Available for sale
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I’m getting a lot of enjoyment from painting reflected trees in still water, like this scene from a California slough. Only a heron stands by to watch the enchantment.
Japanese Spitz dog portrait painting
SOLD
“Japanese Spitz Dog”
12 x 16 inches
oil on canvas
Interested in having a portrait of your pet? Please write.
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When we were in Arizona not too long ago, and visiting a beautiful lake, my attention was suddenly diverted from the sparkling water by the dazzling fur of this little dog, who was being treated to a walk. I asked the owners if I could take some pictures of her, and they happily agreed. I explained that I was an artist, always on the lookout for an interesting subject. I almost always paint animals from photography (they aren’t the best at holding still) so I worked on this portrait when I got back home. More than a year later the painting found a new home with the owners of a dog who looked identical to this one. The Arizona folks called it a Japanese Spitz dog, but it greatly resembles the American Eskimo dog, an AKA breed.
California landscape eucalyptus painting with poppies Scent of Springtime
The Scent of Springtime
8 x 10 oil painting
California Central Coast
I love the contrast of dark green eucalyptus trees and bright wildflowers. This California Central coast scene gave me the opportunity to paint both.
Interested in this painting?
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Pt. Vicente Lighthouse – Palos Verdes California Seascape Oil Painting
“Pt. Vicente Lighthouse – Palos Verdes”
11 x 14 oil painting
The lighthouse at Pt. Vicente is a Southern California landmark in Palos Verdes, just north of San Pedro Harbor. It was constructed in the 1920s, and has served faithfully since that time, guiding boats and ships as they make their passage up and down the coast. The lighthouse was automated in the 1970s, but the original lens still magnifies the beam of light. The Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, nearby, is a beautiful location for weddings and receptions, with the dramatic lighthouse near by.
There are a multitude of tide pools near by – great for exploring.
Interested in this painting?
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Eaton Canyon Stream – California landscape painting
SOLD
“Eaton Canyon Stream”
9 x 12 oil painting
In the years when we have heavy rain, the stream coming out of Eaton Canyon is full and fast-flowing. Other years, not so much. At the headwaters there are several waterfalls, some of which are quite risky to get to.
This view of the stream is looking south, from the east side of the canyon.
Interested in this painting?
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