Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Railroad Trestle Pastel Painting

9 x 12″ – pastel on Mi-Teintes paper

I plan on opening an ebay store in the next week or so, and this will likely go in it.

The Amtrak Surfliner goes up and down the Pacific coast through Santa Barbara and passes by the bird sanctuary near Montecito, the inspiration for this artwork.

I just don’t think I’ll ever get tired of drawing and painting eucalyptus trees … their forms have so much variety in color, size, shape of foliage.

Comments

1. 

   TeriC
   October 6, 2006

   Karen, this has to be one of my favorites of yours. I was just struck when I saw it. So gorgeous.

2. 

   Debbie
   October 6, 2006

   Your pastels are wonderful! I really like this one….I hope you paint more in pastel.

3. 

   lin
   October 6, 2006

   SPECTACULAR, KAREN!! I ESPECIALLY LOVE THOSE CONTRASTS — THE BLACK OF THE TRESTLE AGAINST THE WATER AND FOLIAGE .. IT HAS SUCH A DREAMY QUALITY ABOUT IT — ONE OF YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST!

4. 

   Jana Bouc
   October 6, 2006

   When I first saw it I thought it might be a photograph that had been Photoshopped in some way. It’s really great–I love the foreground grasses, the curvy shapes contrasting with the straight trestle, and the great contrast of the strong trees. You’ve really mastered landscapes!

5. 

   Karen
   October 6, 2006

   This is beautiful, Karen. It’s one of my favorites of yours. You really hit a new mark here, I think. The texture is amazing.

6. 

   Tami
   October 6, 2006

   Karen, this is absolutely beautiful! Something with the combination of the wispiness of the Euc’s and the Straight solid lines of the bridge, jsut give the painting a lot of punch!

7. 

   Miyuki Mouse
   October 6, 2006

   I don’t know if it’s because I’ve never seen you do pastels before, but this seems to be quite a different style for you! I can’t put my finger on it but it reminds me in part of Turner’s landscape paintings, and other Impressionist works.

   As an aside, isn’t it fun using Mi-Tientes? I love applying bright coloured pencil crayons to the darker coloured ones.

8. 

   Jackie
   October 7, 2006

   Hi, I’m a regular lurker on this site though I don’t think I’ve posted before. I agree, this is a stunning picture. Maybe I should get over my eBay phobia and bid for it!

9. 

   Detlef
   October 7, 2006

   Magnifico!!!

10. 

    Kate (Cathy) Johnson
    October 7, 2006

    Wonderful job on the eucalyptus! I meant to paint them while I was out there, but it seemed as though we were always whipping by in the car…

    Well, as you know, the CA weekend didn’t turn out QUITE as I’d hoped. Thank God got in one painting session…but it is so wonderful to see the places you find, and the way you depict them. Glorious…

11. 

    Brigette
    October 8, 2006

    Awesome! Keep painting “my” Eucs for me!!! They are so beautiful!!!! The light and the colors and textures are perfect for California!

    Also, love that little bit of red on the post to the left. Gives it a little edge.

12. 

    shanti
    October 12, 2006

    I’l like to know how the store is going, I’m thinking of doing one, but I don’t know if the collector’s market for watercolor is as strong for the oils.

    All the paintings I have sold thru ebay didn’t really make much of a profit after fees, also it was time consuming.
    shanti. I like this landscape and the one that is up on the daily painter’s page today.