Seasonal Color

The autumn leaves have been gloriously vibrant this year, giving my paints reason to sing. This painting captures a friend's vineyard who lives on Westside Road.

The White Horse

A pasture in Santa Rosa, containing several curious horses, caught our interest.

Michele-Schlumberger Vineyard

On a glorious autumn day, high above Dry Creek Valley, my artist friends and I painted the parade of leaves on exhibition in the vineyards. As I looked out at the hills, the bright colored leaves show how vineyards are being planted higher and higher in the Sonoma County hills.

Dunnsden Vineyard in the Autumn

The gracious hospitality of Sandy and Gavin Dunn was once again extended to Monday Morning Painters last week at their Dunnsden Vineyard in Healdsburg. The day was warm and sunny and we all were inspired to paint the beauty of their property.

A Breath of Autumn & Autumn Vineyard

The glorious Sonoma County vineyards are in full regalia this season. These images were painted at White Oak Vineyards and Winery during Judy Butler's workshop.

Slusser Road Barn

Last week's effort was this much painted and photographed Slusser Road barn, a structure that seems to withstand time despite slowling losing its outer shell.

Every tim

Monday Morning Painters in Tomales

A happy gathering of those of us who painted in Tomales on a very gray day.

La Playa de Ludwigia

At Riverfront Regional Park in Windsor, I found this scene. This very pretty green beach along the edge of the river is composed of an invasive weed, Ludwigia.

Spring Lake

While the Monday Morning painters gathered at Spring Lake on the boat launch, I chose instead to paint from the south side of the lake. While I find this ever changing water scene to be a challenge, I wanted to tackel the view once again. As I painted I was amazed at the number of people out walking, running and biking in comparison to years past. I didn't put any of them into my painting, though. That will be my next plein air challenge at Spring Lake.

Vineyard in Kenwood

The group gathered at Landmark Vineyard on the final day of Judy Butler's two day workshop, where we tried out using BIG brushes and LOOSE strokes. It was fun, and we're looking forward to the next workshop this fall.

The Artist at Work

Last Monday's venue for Monday Morning Painters was the Healdsburg Veterans Memoral Beach, but I chose to paint the old railroad station nearby. While I was hard at work, John Farnsworth (the junior) painted me and gave me the painting. Not only does this painting capture the essence of me, it is nicely rendered. Thank you John, and check out his blog at http://www.gringopaints.blogspot.com/

Matanzas Lavender

The glorious lavender fields at Matanzas Creek Winery beckon many plein air painters during the June blooming season. I love the contrast of the orange unbrellas.

Along the Carissa Highway

Last month I drove to Atascadero, CA where I visited family and searched for wildflowers that grace the western side of San Luis Obispo county. Along the Carissa Highway the hillsides and plains are blanketed with wildflowers in April. Driving this scenic road is a step into the past, an awesome experience in a disappearing American landscape.

Poppies in Paris, ID

Last July I was in Paris (Idaho) for a family reunion where cousins I hadn't seen for too many years to count gathered together to celebrate our lives. Paris is a very small farming community in southern Idaho whose population of 546 has declined since the last census. While strolling along the short main street I happened upon these images that knew I would paint someday. Well, it's not a plein air painting, but I didn't take my painting gear with me.

Wildflowers at Lake Sonoma

With the Monday Morning Painters at Lake Sonoma, this painting managed to pull together in little over an hour, despite the windy weather .

But it doesn't always happen so fast.

Lupine Hill

The Lupine is blooming here in Sonoma County. I went out with another painter to Geyserville where we found this incredible view. When we arrived, there were cows munching on the Lupine, but they meandered off to greener pastures.

Newly Planted Orchard

In search of apple blossoms in Sebastopol yesterday, I see that I am about two weeks too early, and that many of Sebastopol's apple orchards are now endangered species, replaced instead by the ubiquitous vineyard. But my friend, Laurette, took me to Luther Burbank Gardens in Sebastopol to show me this delicate, newly planted prune orchard.

Dunnsden Vineyard

Here are some views from my neighborhood.

Road to the Lower Forty

St Helena from Los Amigos Road

Winter Vines

Some paintings are really difficult to pull off, some paintings pull together in a couple of hours, like this plein air which I painted on a sun filled afternoon after a several days of rain.