Red Ridge Farms

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Wow, it's been a whole week since I posted last. What on oith? Well, I'll tell ya it's been Mr. Toad's Wild Ride coming back from the Oregon road trip and getting 27 paintings ready for my Mendocino show opening at the Highlight Gallery on August 10th. I did several on the trip that I've had to make adjustments to and my husband has been busy as a beaver making all those frames as well. This is actually a piece I did on location at Red Ridge Farms near the hamlet of Dundee in Oregon's lovely wine country. We were directed to an ideal painting spot where we had olive trees, vineyards and lavender to choose from, so since I couldn't be in France this summer it was a no-brainer. This is not a miniature painting but I thought it might be fun to post something different and with 'more presence'. Can't you almost smell the stuff?

Washington Park

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Truly enjoying Portland and the dreamy weather and fitting in some painting time amidst the many visits with family and friends. The vast and glorious rose garden is someplace I've never seen, so now at long last I can say that I have!

Oops, now the Umpqua River

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Umpqua River

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While on this current road trip, Leslie and I had the supreme fortune to stay for two nights at a cabin along the Umpqua River just inland from Reedsport. We felt like we had stepped back in time and had an idyllic 36 hours eating, swimming, painting and sleeping IN, like until 10 am on our first "morning". Guess we needed that and soon afterwards we set about to painting and redeeming the day. Ahhhh, a true summer experience and I'm oh, so grateful.

Slow and Simple

Leslie and I discovered Samoa today, just north and west of Eureka. This is the first day of our ten day road trip and we stopped twice to paint. First along the Avenue of the Giants and next to a place I have driven by about a thousand times, but upon a recommendation of one of Leslie's friends we stopped. We ate at the Samoa Cookhouse which was delightful and then we had to stay longer and take in the funkiness of the place. Wow, what a treat!

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Coastal Beauties

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For 11 years we lived in Englenook which is 6 miles north of Fort Bragg and I drove by these trees every single day. My favorite time of course was the end of the day when they were all lit up with that yummy golden light and if I was lucky enough to be the passenger, was able to snap a shot as we whizzed by. I love the grace and strength of these tall cypress trees, so tall and gorgeous but also sturdy enough to handle winter's fury. They deserve some recognition, right?!

Sublime Ceago

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July and lavender are synonymous in my mind, with France being the highest on the list of places to visit, smell, revel in and paint the purple stuff. When I can't muster up the bucks to get there, I tromp around locally and happily sooth that hankering. This painting sees us gazing across Clearlake on the property of Ceago Winery with their guest house and boathouse ensconced in the fragrant and colorful blossoms. I hope to post yet another lavender scene before the month is out, so keep checking in! I'm about to embark on a road trip with Leslie dearest, so my posting might get spotty................

Evening at Emerald Bay

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 We had the supreme fortune to take an evening boat ride a while back with Jack Meiring, the father of my late high school friend Sherri. Vikingsholm is tucked into the west shore of Emerald Bay was always just like a storybook destination to me. My darling grandpa took us kids out and about to all the great places around the lake and this is a place we hiked to a few times. It was fun to discover it on this special summer evening, all buttoned up and quiet with that glowing shimmer in the windows just before the close of day.

Peaceful and Content

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At home and sick today, but feeling peaceful myself if not actually content. However, these sunlit cows are certainly happy in the receding light of a long summer day. Painting a bit of history here as the cows and 'their' tree are no longer in this Caspar field and the Community Center has been remodeled, but thankfully it's still pastoral and a delight to drive by each day on my way home from the studio. 

Boy Have I Been Busy

So sorry you haven't heard from me in a while. I've been entertaining many summer house guests while also preparing for an art show here in Mendocino which opens on the 10th of August at the Highlight Gallery on Main Street. I recently finished this 40x60 painting of our quaint little town and wanted you to have  something to look at! I've also come down with a nasty summer cold which has slowed me down even more, but I'll be up and at'em again this week for sure. Love to all and thanks for keeping up with me. 

Sandy Toes

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My darling young friend Tami, introduced me to a new beach that has been under my nose for 27 years but I never knew about it! It's quite a little trek to get there and my shoulder was aching under the weight of my art bag AND purse, but it was well worth the effort. 'Another miserable day in Paradise' as the ridiculous saying goes and boy was I miserably happy about it.

Til the Cows Come Home

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I simply had the hankering to do something out of the ordinary, that is for me. Cows are ordinary I suppose, but I don't necessarily tune in to them. My husband gravitate towards animals of all types and was the one that discovered this group of cows all clumped together. I have to say that I adore the red one peeking out from behind the other large black one's behind and that is what pulled my trigger. Hope it makes you smile.

Daydream Garden

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Sometimes a girl gets lucky and is invited to visit secret places that delight and amaze. This Napa location was one such place, and in an earlier post I shared the view from the patio so it is 360 degrees of fabulous. Long evening shadows only add to the inherent drama and dreamy quality, sigh.