Blue Door Inn

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More fun came during last weekend's class at the art center with Michael Reardon. I worked on this tiny watercolor of Mendocino's Blue Door Inn from a photo I'd taken and tried to treat the mass of trees as one large shape against the shaded white house. Even though Mendocino is so familiar to me, there is always a surprise waiting for me at different times of day and different times of the year. The late sun has to be my favorite lighting condition and I hope you like this example of that as well.

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Our dear friend of 40 years, Mort

Today's portrait of Mort 7.5x8 pencil and colored pencil

After a great weekend away with both our moms, we had overnight guests that have been friends forever, Mort and Mary. I asked Mort to sit for our portrait group since he'd celebrated his 80th birthday last month and I thought it would be a neat time to create a small personal work of art. He suffered through the 2 hours and managed to finish smiling, something I tried to capture a bit better than in person.

Magic Hour at Little River

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I feel supremely blessed to drive along California's majestic highway 1 and often at the "Magic Hour". Cresting the hill just south of the Little River Inn affords a spectacular view of this graceful Victorian reflecting the evening's golden light. It takes my breath away every single time, so I grab the camera and balance it on the steering wheel as fast as I can manage before I'm too far down the hill!

Joshua Grindle House

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This house is a much loved and gracious landmark here in Mendocino. Many have enjoyed staying there when it was a thriving bed and breakfast establishment. Years ago, I did another version of  this composition in watercolor and the owners at the time bought it and used it as a cover for their cookbook of morning delicacies. If you're wondering what that strange tall flower is all by itself, it's called a Red Hot Poker around these parts and they actually grow in delightful little clumps. Beneath it are a couple of 'fried egg' flowers or the more common name, Matilija poppies. The fabulous white Victorian houses make the perfect foil for the lavish gardens that adorn them and aren't we all inspired by such glorious images?

Luminous Landmark

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I pass this historic house often as I make my way north and south on highway 1 here on the Mendocino coast.

I haven't been inside, but imagine how life might have been lived in the 1800's, before the highway separated the house from the barn on the west side. I can "see" children frolicking on the sloping hillside, running in and out for lemonade, picking blackberries or everyone just plain enjoying themselves on the sunny porch. The eucalyptus trees certainly add to its grandeur and change color throughout the day depending on the way the sun hits them, one of my favorite aspects of this property known as The Spring Ranch. The end of the day is markedly my favorite though, when everything is bathed in this luscious, golden light.