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................

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.

Leaning Into the Light

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I had yet another idyllic day on Saturday beside this lovely pond a few miles up from the village of Mendocino. A dear friend offered the use of her property for my little band of students and we enjoyed every waking moment in the sun. Next month, this very garden will be on the Mendocino Art Center Garden Tour, so we were blessed to get a lengthy sneak peek with our art materials in hand. Even a few miles from the coast one can experience some might fierce heat, but the occasional sea breeze wafted about and kissed each face with just the right amount of cool air. We had a simply marvelous time and will cherish the memory. Thank you Bart and Tracy!

Fanciful Fields

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I kind of seem to jump around from deep and dazzling color to subtle and serene don't I? To tell you the truth, I get bored doing too much of the same thing so it's fun to shake things up with subject matter and color. AND locations I might add. When you can't get your tushie to France or Greece, what's wrong with Colusa or Yuba City pray tell??!! This humble little lane can be found someplace out near Sutter and is surrounded by reflective rice fields, poplar and eucalyptus trees and the smallest mountain range in the world, the Sutter Buttes. I gave you a peek of those the other day along the river and you just might see them pop up again soon. Hope you feel like taking a little stroll on a lazy summer evening down this road to no place in particular, just for the fun of it.

Lazy Day in May

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I can't think of a better way to usher in the summer season than to have enjoyed the Sacramento River under  shady trees with a nice bunch of painters. Colusa is one of California's best kept secrets with its lush riverbanks, quaint cottages and  farms and ranches galore. I thoroughly enjoyed every hour with my friends and students and truly look forward to going back again one day. We waved to boaters and floaters and though I didn't include them in my painting, just imagine yourself in this idyllic spot sipping some lemonade and feeling like you're transported to a calmer and quieter time.

Halo Over Mendocino

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The mornings here in Mendocino are often quite delightful. Cool and crisp with almost a halo of light casting an other-worldly glow over everything. Great conditions for someone like me to run out and try my hand at apprehending that feeling with my art supplies. You got it, another hard day at the office but somebody has to do it.

Aimless Amble

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While the last chicken was bound and determined, this one seems to just enjoy the sunlit green grass and his trip across the yard. I've learned in the last week that chickens are smarter than I thought, or at least that is what one chicken owner told me so I must now give her the benefit of the doubt. Either way they are rather delightful creatures, just looking farmish, colorful and carefree whilst they are laying eggs that we relish at our breakfast table. Simple pleasures in the seeing and the sustenance. 

Liquid Luster

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Few things are more riveting than a sight such as this, our endless pool of lustrous liquid. Water ebbing and flowing, waves crashing and blinding light reflecting off of each magnificent cresting wave. The Pacific Ocean here in my neck of the redwoods has to be one of God's greatest creative feats. It has to do with the high cliffs that serve as a dramatic element combined with all of that wondrous water, to say nothing of the plethora of color.............

Seaside Neighborhood

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This scene finds us in Cardiff-by-the-Sea in one of the many hillside neighborhoods where the houses sit all jumbled up in glorious array. The styles vary, the gardens are magnificent and everyone shares the salt air and see breezes in relative harmony. It's hard to find a spot to plant an easel that isn't in the middle of the road or on someone's property, so we took some photos and went immediately to a friend's studio and uploaded them to a large screen. We listened to Pandora radio and had a peachy keen afternoon whiling away the hours together with paintbrushes and light hearts.

Lawn Ornament

My 12 day adventure began in Mary Lou's garden in Live Oak, California, when Leslie and I taught a lovely group of 14 students. This funky but colorful bike was what caught my eye on the first day, so 

the group got to watch me simplify the background to make the subject matter really stand out. I loved the bright yellow green of the lawn and the shadow that the front tire and flower basket cast on that amazing blanket of light. You'll also get to see some coastal inspirations once I get used to the way I have to post them from afar. Like I said yesterday, this whole tech thing away from home is a bit daunting and I am not able to create an auction for the Daily Paintworks site. Hope you enjoy the visuals in the meantime and I'll get things organized next week when I return. In the meantime, we're loving the beachy environment and feel so blessed to be cared for by dear, dear friends. Vacation mode to the max......................sigh.