Gazing North

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There is the most amazing and haphazard stand of coastal pines on the property next door to us. I am intrigued by them daily as they reflect the various colors of sunlight throughout each day. Even in the fog, they are magnificent and I'm so happy that I get to look at them without having to tend them! Standing out on my deck as I did once before, I attempted to tame a few of them into a rectangular format with the lovely and lyrical blue ocean beyond, all set off by the golden fields of late summer. Thanks for touching base with me and for looking at my new website too! I've heard back from you that it's easy to navigate and has so much fun stuff to look at. Pass the word. It's easy to find at erindertner.com

Key Ingredients

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You probably remember me telling you about the class I taught in Ukiah and the photo I posted of my lovely group. In the long photo of all our paintings, this one was on the far end but now you can see it better! The whole experience was a barrel of fun and now I present you with my finished product. I've done a few tweaks to it since then and though it's larger than many pieces I've posted, I still wanted to include it with my other 'dailies'. I'm all about warm colors (living in the cool climate that I do) and the colorful things that crop up in any kitchen. A bit of trivia now, garlic is at the top of the list of items I'd chop and savor.......

Here's another exciting bit of news. My new website is up and running! It is easy to navigate and there's 

A LOT to see, so check it out at www.erindertner.com .

I've also noticed that my incoming posts don't look as good as the blog itself. You might want to log onto the blog now and then to see what workshops are coming up and other fun information that doesn't seem to come through otherwise. www.erindertner.blogspot.com is that address. Bless you all!

Diggin' the Dahlias

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The weather on the north coast has been amazingly hot and humid for about 3 weeks. All the locals are complaining 'to beat the band' as my grandma used to say, even though we have nothing to really complain about. Phil and Joan, our forever friends came to town and enjoyed all sorts of fabulous outdoor endeavors, including a visit to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. They came upon me as I was trying to capture the spectacular dahlia garden and 'shot' me without my knowing it. Here I am trying to tame the wild coastal pines while expressing the color of the blooms in all their glory. 

Harbor Happiness

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My darlingest friend Jennifer took me to lunch yesterday down in the Noyo Harbor and while she went wandering I found a neat spot to paint. It was honestly roasting hot out there on the edge of the river, but I suffered slightly to take in this sweet little scene. I truly love our happening little harbor, even though I would never even put my big toe in the ocean or board one of the fishing boats! That's me alright, a careful observer rather than and extreme jumper-inner.

Simply Kelly Street

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Sometimes I like to wing it and paint like the 'California Watercolorists' of the 30's, 40's and 50's. Check out my link and you'll learn a bunch of neat stuff about an amazing group of painters. Bigger strokes, bolder colors and simplified compositions are what marked their individuality in a changing art scene. My experiment began when I hoisted my easel, already set up from an earlier painting and tromped down my street and onto the headlands until I found just the right mix of bluff, water and houses. We have the occasional visitor to our frame shop/gallery that ask how many artists we represent. I sheepishly reply, "Just one that seems to have multiple personality disorder", as I like doing all sorts of different things with paint. Gotta keep myself interested since it's a daily pastime...................

Lucy's Flowers

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Our forever friends Warren and Lucy came to town yesterday to celebrate their 63rd anniversary and Lucy's birthday and blessed us with their presence at dinner last night. They brought this glorious bouquet of flowers that I just had to paint today. Since it was actually too hot to paint outside, I set them on the table on the deck and sat inside to paint them! Sunflowers, alstroemeria, one hydrangea and one gerbera daisy made for a fabulous complementary color composition of joy. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did................

August Impressions

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I had the pleasure of painting with a past student and friend today, Gobind Boyes, at the Pine Beach Inn's private beach. She took on a 12x24 canvas while mine is only 5x10, so she is probably still there! She is a master with waves, so I hope you check out her website. It was a foggy day for the most part, thus the lavender sky and greenish tones to the water. I loved how the cliffs reflected in the water on the beach, so this was a neat discovery and would likely work in any kind of weather. It never ceases to amaze me that I can walk out the door and 'get to the office' in a matter of minutes. Don't you agree that my desk has the very best view?

Ocean Oracle

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In case you missed this image at the bottom of yesterday's post, here it is again! I thought it would come as 2 separate emails, but it that wasn't the case. Anyhow, here's the wild sunset again and the blurb I wrote:

Sometimes I just want to play with stripes of color and sometimes they actually add up to something recognizable. The inspiration for this piece came from an after dinner sprint out onto the Mendocino headlands 2 nights ago when the whole world was bathed in a coral glow. We felt enveloped in the wonder of creation as the vast expanse of ocean reflected the setting sun in a different palette every minute or so. I took enough photos to keep me busy for a month, so stay tuned for more.

Cooking Up Some Travel Ideas

I had a really great class last Saturday in Ukiah, California doing still life set ups. A lovely group of 9 ladies came and we painted to our heart's content with a break midday for a potluck lunch outside under the trellis. It reminded me of many an alfresco dining experience on the other side of the world, so it got me to thinking that I should put another trip together. Leslie and I have a hankering to visit France once again next summer while the lavender and sunflowers are a'bloom, so let me know if you might like to join. No details have yet been formulated but we might do a segment with our nieces and other young adults and then add a chunk of painting time for a larger group as well. Anxious to hear feedback from any and all of you!

Ocean Oracle

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Sometimes I just want to play with stripes of color and sometimes they actually add up to something recognizable. The inspiration for this piece came from an after dinner sprint out onto the Mendocino headlands 2 nights ago when the whole world was bathed in a coral glow. We felt enveloped in the wonder of creation as the vast expanse of ocean reflected the setting sun in a different palette every minute or so. I took enough photos to keep me busy for a month, so stay tuned for more.

Heeser Drive Vantage

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After Portrait Group today I was zipping home to gather lunch stuff and just had to pull over to do this little painting. I drive by this point every single day and though I've looked north from this spot, have never looked west like I did today. I have condensed the stand of cypress trees, but if you come visit you simply must wander into this natural cathedral. Many a wedding has been conducted there and many a happy tear has been shed at the wonder and majesty of God's creation right here in my own backyard.

Deck With a View

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Some days, I just don't want to leave home to 'go to work'. This was one such day, so I just wandered around my house and property until I landed on something I thought could turn into a painting. There is a magnificent stand of coastal pines just to the north of us and in between the trees we can see the Pt. Cabrillo lighthouse. I decided to highlight just one of the trees and it somehow ended up with a Japanese woodblock look to it with a formal composition. I just never know just what will happen when the paint hits the page, so I'm almost as surprised as you are when viewing the end result.

Nature's Glamour

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Back in the saddle so to speak, at least for today! I seem to have a bit of a frenetic life, actually more than a  bit but at least I don't get bored. The opening of my show at Highlight was very well attended by many friends, so it was a rip roaring good time for sure. We were bowled over that Jerry and Marla from far away surprised us by just walking in the door without having told us ahead of time, and were just so honored. It was a superb Mendocino evening and everyone reveled in the sublime experience. Sigh.................

Long Time, No See, No Hear

I am so sorry to have neglected you dear and faithful blog watchers. My road trip was one thing, but after returning it has been crazy trying to finish and frame 27 pieces for my show at the Highlight Gallery in Mendocino which opens this Saturday evening. The painting above, titled "Brilliant Buckhorn" is in the show and will also one day be offered on an instructional video that my son and I have been working on. I hope to get back into regular gear next week and look forward to establishing my routine once again. In the meantime, I wish you a happy weekend and a fabulous remainder of the Summer.

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.

Somewhere Over the Vineyard

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While I was gallivanting in Napa last week, I came upon a property with a gazillion dollar view. Flowers, olive & cypress trees, vineyards, ponds and mountains all screaming for attention. I held my hand over the sun with my camera up to my nose and shot away the evening hour, all in hopes of capturing the essence. One day I hope to do some larger pieces from what I gathered, but for now here is a snippet of paradise for some happy daydreaming.

Patio Perfection

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I seem to have a sniffer lately for 'all things French' and this scene is no exception. I discovered this lovely spot while making a quick trip to Napa the other day. After a lovely lunch made by our host was able to commit this to canvas. You can't see it, but just on the other side of that dark interior is a majestic view of rolling hills, vineyards and a luscious blue lake. If I can't be in France, I might as well find it right in my own backyard right?

Alegria Inn

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For our 35th anniversary, we were blessed to stay in this lovely local B&B right here in Mendocino. I drive by it everyday but had never really investigated it until June 3rd and was bowled over. It is quintessentially Mendocino, meaning not overly fluffy and stuffy but truly relatable, relaxing and perfect. The owners are down to earth, gracious and professional altogether and we had the best getaway ever. So cool that we didn't have to drive very far but experienced a whole new world. I can't recommend it highly enough, so check it out!!!