Los Olivos Twilight, with oak tree California impressionist oil painting

“Los Olivos Twilight … with oak tree”
Backroads California impressionist oil painting
11 x 14 inches, oil on plein air linen panel

We attended a friend’s wedding in Los Olivos many years ago, and while we were in the area, we saw this remarkable sunset with incredibly vivid pinks, oranges and violets. The silhouette of the old oak tree made a lasting impression on me, and I’ve always wanted to paint the scene. If you look carefully, you can see golden grapevines on the left side of the road.


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California Golden Hills and Oak Trees oil painting

California Golden Hills and Oaks
18 x 24 inches, oil on canvas
SOLD, now in a private collection.

This is a theme and location that I will keep returning to — California’s beautiful rolling hills, studded with majestic live oak trees. The rain has been light this year, so the hills are not as green as we have seen them in the past; which means the swaying grasses will not be as tall this summer and fall. But it’s all a cycle and will be repeated again and again. I’ve even seen some of the local oaks starting to re-sprout that were scorched by last fall’s fire. Nature renews itself endlessly.


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Naturally Napa – California vineyard impressionist oil painting

“Naturally Napa”
12 x 16 inches
Oil on canvas

This recent painting was completed before the terrible wildfires swept through the Napa and Sonoma areas. I was afraid to look at the fire maps for fear that this beautiful vineyard, quite close to the city of Napa, had been harmed. Thankfully, it seems to have survived just fine. I look forward to my next painting trip to the area.

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El Capitan Summer Yosemite oil painting

El Capitan Summer
9 x 12 inches
oil painting on oil primed linen

The view of El Capitan from the Merced River is one of my favorite sights in Yosemite. I always enjoy returning to paint there, any time of year. One of these days I’ll brave the elements and do a winter painting with snow capping the rocks. For now, the summer greens decorate the scene.


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Sunny Day, Laguna Beach seascape oil painting

“Sunny Day, Laguna Beach”
12 x 16 inches, oil painting

This plein air style painting was fun to paint, capturing the breezy, easy warmth and salt spray of Laguna Beach, California. Marine paintings and seascapes always take me to a happy place.
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Cottonwood Breeze Owens Valley Sierra fall oil painting

“Cottonwood Breeze”
Owens Valley 14 x 18 inch oil painting
Eastern Sierra, California

Owens Valley was a blaze of color last fall. The cottonwoods fairly glittered in the sun. This is one of my favorite locations to paint, near Swall Meadow, Round Valley.
The blues and golds complement each other so well.

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Golden Panorama California rolling hills oaks oil painting

“Golden Panorama”
15 x 30 inches oil painting
SOLD

I don’t usually paint in series, but lately I’ve been focusing on different explorations of California’s golden rolling oak covered hills. This is the first wide-format one that I’ve done. The other most recent ones were both 20 x 24 inches.

This painting represents the California Central Coast region, near Cambria, Morro Bay, Cayucos and Paso Robles. I wonder how much the oaks have recovered this year following the several years of drought.

This painting is now sold, but you can write for information about others.
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Yosemite Sentinel Bridge Reflections – Half Dome oil painting


“Sentinel Bridge Reflections”
Half Dome, Yosemite Valley

16 x 20 inches, oil on canvas

This painting is quite special to me as it was the 1000th one I completed. I thought I had posted it on my blog last year, but discovered that I missed it.
If you’ve been to Yosemite Valley, you’ll recognize the view from Sentinel Bridge, with Half Dome reflected in the calm waters. With our current snowmelt, I’m guessing that the Merced River is anything but calm right now.

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Yosemite Paintings

A perfect poppy day California poppies landscape painting

“A perfect poppy day”
9 x 12 inch oil painting on plein air panel
SOLD

It’s poppy time in the high desert – the Antelope Valley – and this year’s rains mean everything is positively brilliant.
This new painting of California poppies blooming as far as the eye can see also includes touches of lupine, fiddlenecks, and other spring flowers.

My California poppy paintings sell quickly every year, so don’t hesitate if this one calls to you.

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Carmel Bay Shimmer – beach seascape marine oil painting

Carmel Bay Shimmer
8 x 10 inches, oil painting on plein air panel
Carmel Bay, Monterey County California

 
This new painting features one of my favorite ocean scenes – Carmel Bay on the Monterey Peninsula. This viewpoint is looking southward across the bay toward Monastery Beach. The Carmel River enters the bay on the left. I’m not sure what kind of rocks these are – they seem harder than sandstone or I think they’d be more worn away … but they are certainly rounded into interesting shapes via wave action. There’s something about them that reminds me of Henry Moore sculptures.