Crystal History

 

Crystal History   oil 12x16 inches

Purchase info here.

I used one of my photo references for this piece.  A few years ago my husband dropped me off on the side of Pacific Coast Highway to paint this view.  I was just uphill from the Shake Shack safely behind a guard rail.  (If you aren't familiar with the history behind Crystal Cove's cottages, it's worth a Google.)

I painted for about three hours, and in just a few days the painting sold.  This one is for sale unfamed, but I have a beautiful custom white with silver lip frame available for purchase if you like. A very "beachy" look!  

Visiting Crystal Cove

 

Visting Crystal Cove  

 a plein air painting in oil 9x12 inches

Click on image to enlarge. 

Purchase info here.  

This is the last painting done during my February camping trip at Crystal Cove,  My backpack had nearly washed away in the morning, but I felt I had gotten a pretty good painting.  I ate my sack lunch and settled in on this building which is part of the visitors center.  While working I noticed this man (probably a volunteer with Crystal Cove Conservancy) walking around inviting children to come and do a craft. I remember hearing the appreciation of the mothers and excitement of the children showing what they had done.  The gentleman sat down just long enough for me to add him in, with a little head in the opposite chair.  If you're familiar with this scene, you'll know that the staircase leads up to the Shake Shack on PCH.  I hope this painting brings up your own memories of Crystal Cove.    

Sunny Day Cottage & Some Workshop Demos

 

Sunny Day Cottage -an original oil 12x9 inches

Painted on location at Crystal Cove Historic District

Purchase info here.

In March I camped for a few days at Crystal Cove State Beach.  It rained most of the time, but I was able to paint between storms.  On the one predicted sunny day I took my first Uber to the historic district.  I got two paintings in that day.  I had just the right vantage point for this one, but apparently too close to the surf.  A surprise wave came up and swept my backpack into the nearby creek.  My tripod stayed put!  I was so relieved that my phone was in my apron, not my backpack!  Lesson learned.  And another:  I did the next painting with a drippy roll of Viva paper towels and they still worked!  I came home from camping and the quarantine and lock downs began.  So long ago, it seems.

Here are a few demos from my recent workshop.  It will give you an idea of what I teach; mostly how to get a clear division of light and shadow (among other things!)  These are simplified small studies.

Mustard In The Canyon

oil 8x10 inches Purchase info here. In March I camped and painted en plein air at Moro Campground which is part of Crystal Cove State Park. Everything was blooming from our abundant rain this year. Speaking of rain...Yesterday's Artwalk on Balboa Island had plenty of rain and wind! What a challenge it was to keep my work and wood frames dry! Thank you to all who visited me; old friends, collectors, fellow painters and future painters who want to take one of my workshops. On a challenging day your interest in my work was VERY much appreciated!

Seashore & Tulips

oil 12x9 inches For a closer look and purchase info, click here. A pretty warm day even for the beach, I hid under our awning for this one. Mother's Day tulips from my grandkids...is this a still life or a seascape? Hummm.

Beach Stroll

oil 9x12 inches For a closer look and purchase info click here. In May we camped for a few days at Moro Campground in Crystal Cove State Beach. I squeezed in a couple of paintings, this being the first. That wet sand color can be very illusive, but I'm happy with my color here. We'll have a high of 104 degrees here today. This beach scene looks pretty good!

Beach Cottage, Crystal Cove

oil 12x9 inches magnify/purchase info On that day in Crystal Cove, I had driven for 2 1/2 hours to get there, so to make it worth the drive I painted again after lunch. Often times I end up wiping off my second painting which I attribute to lack of stamina. Plein air work does require stamina, and I'm wondering if others of you have found this to be true. I hope to build stamina with more practice. However, I'm happy with how this one turned out. I remember something crawled up my pant leg and started biting me on the buttocks. There I am grabbing frantically at my butt trying to kill whatever it was. I turned around to see a few people staring at me with dropped jaws. Ahh, the perils of painting outdoors in public!

Crystal Cove Painter -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info In March I joined the American Impressionist Society's paint out at Crystal Cove. About 50 fellow members had come from all over the country. It was fun to see a favorite painting spot full of artists doing our thing.

Overcast, Abalone Point -a plein air painting from Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, CA

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Third day of the Strada Challenge I had the pleasure of joining the PAM (Plein Air Mission) painters down at Laguna Beach. Painting can be a very solitary endeavor, so getting together with like minds was refreshing! Thanks to Bob Francis who invited me.

L-5 Cottage At Crystal Cove -a plein air painting from Crystal Cove State Park -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify This was a fun little piece which sold practically off the easel. The next day we headed home and I started preparing frames and packing up for the Just Plein Fun Invitiational on Balboa Island. Nine paintings in six days, and meeting other artists...it was a great experience! Sorry I'm slow lately in my postings, but they're coming up next.

Crystal Cove Overlook -a plein air painting of Historic Crystal Cove -SOLD

oil 11x14 magnify/purchase info I got out to paint one day while we camped at Moro Campground. This view has been painted my many artists over the years, and I was glad to finally have my turn. The morning started cloudy which allowed me to get my shapes in, and as the sun burned through I added the light. You can see that in the progress shots below. Today I'm packing up for Just Plein Fun on Balboa Island. So excited! Wish me luck!

Yellow Cottage -a plein air painting from Crystal Cove -SOLD

oil 12x9 inches magnify/purchase info Yesterday I met others from SOCALPAPA to paint at Crystal State Beach Historical District. While I set up the sun started to burn through the overcast giving my subject some nice shadows. In the shots below you can certainly see the change in light conditions. (The last shot of the painting is more accurate than above.) By the time I finished, my subject was pretty much buried in shadow. It's always a surprise when I finish and look around me. The beach had filled up with sunbathers and children played in the waves. I chatted briefly with some of the other artists then headed home at 1:30 to try and beat the Friday afternoon gridlock. A great place to paint is worth the drive, especially if I come home with a good one, and this one made me happy.

Up Canyon -a plein air painting of Moro Canyon, Laguna Beach.

oil 8x10 inches magnify/not for sale My favorite of the two painted at Moro Beach. And below, my favorite little dog, just waiting and keeping me safe. What a pleasant time I had, the nice stone bench and all. Ahhhh...can't wait to go back. This piece will be framed and available at the Balboa Art Walk, May 17th. IN OTHER NEWS: If you're near to Redlands, visit Stonewheel Olive Oil Company. Ten of my paintings are on display thanks to the owner, Alisa Chatman. Artist reception Thursday, May 7 6:30-8:30. 7 N. 5th St, Redlands. Come on out, enjoy the art and let Alisa fix you up with some specialty oils and vinegars. It's Redlands Market Night too!

Pacific Coast Highway at Moro Beach -a plein air oil painting of Crystal Cove SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Last week we camped a bit at the beach. As far as painting goes, I was disappointed in the cloudy weather. I decided I could sit around disgruntled and not paint, or just paint the existing conditions. So here you have a cloudy day overlooking PCH. This piece will be framed and for sale at the Balboa Art Walk on May 17.

Up Moro Canyon

oil 8x10 inches magnify Second day at Moro Campground I painted this right within the campground. It was early morning and the clouds were clearing from rain the night before. Atmosphere is what I was after here. Not for sale at this time, but you can click on "magnify" to see brushwork.

Warm Cliffs -sold

oil 9x12 magnify From my "paintcation" to Moro Campground, Crystal Cove last week. Standing on the edge of the bluff within the campground was this stunning view of next bluff to the south. Can't beat the views in Laguna Beach. And even on the last day in March I got a bit too warm! I could feel summer coming! I had a great time trying out manganese blue in sky and sea, a recent addition to my palette. It seemed to work well for that Laguna water.

In an effort to lighten my backpack, I ordered the James Coulter mini palette and did not put glass in it. Reduced my 23 lb. backpack down to 16 lb. I thought mixing the color right on the wood might bother me, but it was really no problem. I figured painters have been working on wooden palettes for hundreds of years. The smaller mixing space compared to my compact palette still worked fine. The fresh blobs of paint kinda soaked into the wood even after several coats of linseed oil, but after some layers of paint, I think it will be well seasoned. The palette fits right inside my Kelty Redwing 3100. Dare I say, I was a happy camper!

Yellow Cottage -sold

oil 10x8 inches -sold- Yesterday I met up with about twenty members of SOCALPAPA at Crystal Cove State Beach. It was 80 degrees and chock full of stuff to paint: cottages, hillside cliffs, ocean and tide pools. I wiped out my first two attempts. I felt like I had forgotten how to paint. I was too warm, I needed my shorts and flip flops, coffee and breakfast. Some plein air days are like this. Okay, so I took all my excuses with me to the cafe and had a fabulous lunch. After that I found a perfect spot of deep shade, a new subject and had a great time. Can't wait to go back!