Zion National Park, Utah, plein air landscape painting


“Virgin River, Zion National Park”
9 x 12 oil on plein air panel

A beautiful summer day in Zion National Park, Utah, down by the river. The water level was low, but flowing. We had just returned from a hike up to the Emerald Pools, and the water looked so refreshing. This was the first time I’ve visited Zion, but it won’t be the last.

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Colorado plein air landscape painting – cloudy day

“Colorado Cloudy Day”
8 x 10 inches, oil on plein air panel
Available.

I painted this as we were on the way from Monte Vista, Colorado to Gunnison. It was just a turn off the highway into a campground, but when I saw it I knew I had to stop. The sky was clear when I started blocking in the scene, but before long large clouds starting rolling in and completely filled the horizon. I had just finished when raindrops started to fall, so we scrambled to get everything under cover and into our car. Not long after, the storm blew through and the sky was sunny again. Then more clouds and raindrops, more sun. It was like that for our whole trip. I guess that’s what they mean by Monsoon Season!

Gold Rush Country Ranch California landscape oil painting

Gold Rush Country Ranch
20 x 24 inches
oil on canvas

SOLD, but I have more paintings of California’s rolling hills at karenwinters.com

This new painting depicts a ranch on highway 49, not far from Murphys, California. There was something about the sculptural mass of the big oak tree that really spoke to me. Although I most commonly paint eucalyptus, I find live oak trees irresistible as well. I haven’t spent as much time painting Gold Rush country as I have the eastern Sierra and California’s Central Coast, but it’s really starting to grow on me. Maybe it’s all that gold?

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Yosemite Falls California landscape oil painting

Yosemite Falls in Summer
18 x 24 inches, vertical
Oil on canvas

At more than 2400 feet high, from the top of the upper falls to the base of the lower falls, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in the continental United States. Peak water flow comes in late spring to early summer, the time that this was painted. The falls are fed by Yosemite Creek, and after the water leaves the falls, it joins the Merced River on its course out of the valley.

The challenge in painting a waterfall is to capture the soft edges of mist that perpetually rise from the thundering flow. Paint the edge too hard and the falls look like a cutout. Paint the edge too softly, and it looks like a big cottonball.

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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.

Yosemite Half Dome California landscape painting

Half Dome, Yosemite
6 x 8 inches
oil on canvas

Almost everyone I meet in California knows someone who has climbed Half Dome or they’ve done it themself. In our family, my husband did the climb in college, and our son did it just a few years ago. It’s a rite of passage, and a beautiful one at that. I’m too squeamish about heights to attempt it myself, but I admire those who have.

This little painting is the perfect size for a holiday gift, to commemorate a friend or family member’s climb to the summit.

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California landscape – Eaton Canyon with San Gabriels oil painting

SOLD

Eaton Canyon with San Gabriels
6 x 8 inches
oil on canvas

This little study is from September, when the summer grasses were showing a wide range of colors. Water runs through this area and is collected into a settling basin which recharges a local aquifer. Nature’s soft pastels seem to harmonize under the late summer sun.

Oak Tree Meadow – Paso Robles California impressionist landscape painting

Oak Tree Meadow
12 x 16 inches
Oil on canvas
SOLD

Although this painting is sold, see more of my California Central Coast paintings here

The area around Paso Robles is one of my favorite California locations – from the vineyards to the ranches to the oak covered hills. This new painting is from the area near Lake Nacimiento/Jolon. I think scenes like this look best in the late afternoon or in the early morning, when colors are their richest.

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California vineyard painting – Sauvignon Sunset

SOLD
Sauvignon Sunset
18 x 24 oil painting on canvas

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This painting is a larger studio version of a smaller study I did last year. I had been wanting to paint the same subject larger, and just needed the time to get around to it. This beautiful vineyard is on highway 46, in Paso Robles. At sunset the hills just glow. I can’t say for sure that these are sauvignon vines, but I liked the alliteration, so there it is.

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Cloud Shadows, Edna Valley, California landscape vineyard oil painting

Cloud Shadows, Edna Valley
16 x 20 oil painting on canvas

This painting is SOLD but I have more at vineyardpaintings.com

In the early fall, the vineyards of the Edna Valley, in San Luis Obispo County, are heavy with fruit. Days are filled with blue skies and white puffy clouds racing across the sky.

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