Ellen Boulanger Plein Air Painter

Hopkins Ranch in Springtime

2012-01-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

Another painting of the Hopkins Ranch off Eastside Road. I have painted these vineyards several times during the past few years. I like the water tower at the end of the road and the barn. Painting vineyard mustard has always been one of my favorite subjects because of its bright cadmium yellow.

Foggy River Farm and Humboldt County Ranch

2011-12-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

The paintings above were done from photographs.

The top painting, Foggy River Farm, was a commission, a wedding present from a relative of the bride. The couple worked at the farm last summer and fell in love.

The lower painting is from a photo I took while in Humboldt County a couple of weeks ago. I love the Thalo Blue hills which complement the Terra Rosa barn roof. The cows are another favorite element in this painting.

Aztec Dahlia Farm Along Adobe Road

2011-11-06T13:29:00.000-08:00

Two plein air paintings done a week apart with Sandra Speidel's painting group. Although both days were sunny, the difference in color is notable. In the muted landscape, my paints were mixed with various piles of paint to harmonize the entire painting.

Pedroncelli

2011-09-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

Another day with Monday Morning Painters, where we painted at Pedroncelli Winery and Vineyards in Geyserville, with most of us capturing the oft painted white house and its sunporch, along with the vineyards and Sonoma hills. The morning started out cool, but the Indian Summer kicked in by 11:00am, with the hot sun forcing out of the field those painters who didn't track where the sun was going to bear down. I was one of those painters. So in finishing the painting at home, I didn't really finish it at all.

Freestone's Fading Icons

2011-09-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I attended a workshop with my favorite artist and instructor, Judy Butler. After watching her demonstration, I painted these barns and silo in Freestone. My painting is very loose, as I was hoping it would become; sometimes the hand and eye do work together during the creative process. One surprising outcome of my day's efforts was the high-key result, which I like.

Sausal Vineyards

2011-08-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

Arrival at Sausal Winery

The view I picked.

After a couple of hours.

The finished painting, in my opinion, too overworked.

Blue Oaks at the Lake

2011-08-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

Just back from a trip to Atascadero where my sister and her husband live. I always take along my painting gear and make excursions around San Luis Obisbo county. This time I chose Santa Margarita Lake, at the very spot where I painted a couple of years ago.

Fused Glass Cat Mask

2011-08-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

A surprise email with this photo attached arrived in my In Box last week. The sender purchased this fused glass piece a number of years ago and asked if I was the artist. It is not uncommon for artists to switch media and I claim to be the artist for this piece. I worked with fused glass for a decade, but when I moved from Cazadero to Windsor, I switched to plein air painting.

Kunde Vineyards

2011-08-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Monday Morning Painters location was Kunde Vineyard, located on Highway 12 . The place was packed with painters wanting to capture the beautiful vineyards and gardens, and picturesque buildings. My attempt in this painting was to create atmospheric prospective. The building is a bit larger than reality, but this is artistic license.

View from Rio Lindo Academy

2011-07-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

This July 4th, Monday Morning Painters were scheduled to meet at Healdsburg Verterans Memorial Beach, but even at 9:00 am, people had staked out their picnic tables and it was sizzeling in the sun. I looked aroung for other MMPs but couldn't locate any, so I drove up to Rio Lindo Academy at the end of Bailache (which becomes Rio Lindo). It was much more peaceful at that location, since I hadn't been there for several years, I was quite taken aback at the changed view. As with a lot of Sonoma county, vineyards are being etched into mountain sides, and along river valleys. The hand of man changed the landscape.

A Maui Visit

2011-06-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

Last week I traveled to Hawaii, staying in Maui. While there, the highlight of my trip was visiting Carla Thistle and her husband who moved from Cazadero, CA to Haiku, Maui a decade ago. Carla was one of my art buddies in Cazadero, where we both lived for a number of years. One of her claims to fame is making willow furniture by cutting, stripping and weaving willow from the Russian River area. Several of her willow chairs were featured in Phenomenon, a movie starring John Travolta. Carla and Steve have a sweet home and green house that show off Steve's talents as a builder. Their property is filled with tropical abundance: orchids, fruit trees and just about anything that lands in the rich soil and is watered by the warm tropical rains.

In Sara Lee's Vineyard

2011-06-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

This past Monday Morning Painters' venue was located in the lucious vineyards of Sara Lee Vineyards. The vineyards are vast and contain incredible places to plein air paint. We often say to one another how lucky we are to live is such a beautiful place on earth.

Next Door to the Jimtown Store

2011-06-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last week I was invited to paint on the last remaining 250 acres of the 9,000 acres once homsteaded by Cyrus Alexander in the mid 1800s. Alexander Valley is famous for its wine production, and the valley now contains the vineyards of many Healdsburg wineries. This painting is located next door to the Jimtown Store, and views the back of the house there.

Healdsburg Iris Gardens

2011-05-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Another Monday Morning Painters venue, located downtown, through an alley and opening into a secret garden. The morning's passing clouds turned dark and rained on us before we could complete our paintings, so we had to finish the plein air beginnings at home. The beautiful gardens were filled with fragarent irises and roses.

View from Bishops Ranch

2011-05-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

After months of rainy and cold Mondays, the weather finally cooperated for Monday Morning Painters. Here is a view from the a deck overlooking a vineyard and towards Fitch Mountain at Bishops Ranch. Bishops Ranch, in Healdsburg, is favorite place for our group of painters, not only because of the many beautiful views it provides, but also for its peaceful surroundings.

Farm on Adobe Road

2011-02-26T16:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I drove to Jaccuzzi Winery for their Olive Festival. The trip showed the beauty of Sonoma County in the late winter - thunder clouds, viridian green grass, diciduous trees slowly gaining back their follage. I pulled away from the ubiquitous traffic on Adobe Road and took a photo of this old farm house with it's Happy California cows and the traffic zooming by, then I painted from the photo.

Soaking Up Sunshine

2011-01-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

I must admit that I haven't painted much lately, and since this is the time to make new year's resulutions, I promise myself to paint more often, but I'm not saying how much more, and also to attend at least one art workshop a year.

So, in preparation for Tim Horn's indoor, winter workshop at the end of this month, I've been sorting through my photos to find something to paint. I chanced upon a photo I took of my cat about ten years ago. The picture was taken the day I rescued her from Healdsburg Animal Shelter where she was housed for six months in a small room with lots of other abandoned cats. The photo captures my cat at peace with herself, while soaking up the warmth of the sun.

This painting may or may not be finished. However, because some of the colors were getting muddy, I had to pull the painting out of my studio and hang it on my critiquing wall until I can decide what to do next.

All the Hues of the Rainbow

2010-11-20T12:32:00.000-08:00

Here, at Yoakim Bridge Road and West Dry Creek in Healdsburg, sits a pretty little house, barn, and vineyard which I painted last summer, but the scene is even more inspiring now with the colorful autumn leaves.

Hurried Shadows at Eventide

2010-11-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

Once again the autumn vineyards shimmer with all the golden colors of the season. Here a Napa Valley vineyard caught my attention in the late afternoon. The shadows moved fast, so I could only capture the image with a few strokes of my brush before taking the canvas home to finish from a digital photo.

Me and the Boys

2010-11-04T05:41:00.000-07:00

Diverging from the usual photos of my artwork, here is a photo from my recent trip to Nepal and Tibet. The trip was not your usual vacation, nor was it for the meek. Our accomodations were rustic and many on the tour suffered from altitude sickness after ascending to 12,000 - 14,000 feet along the Tibetan high plateau. I am pleased that I made the journey to see such a mysterious country.

An Autumn Afternoon

2010-09-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Another painting from a photo. I like the Starbucks cup the woman is carrying.

Black Ranch Vineyard

2010-09-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

On a drive out West Dry Creek, I spotted these bracero houses. The narrow, twisty road has lots of traffic, visitors driving who are out wine tasting in the area, all in all a leathal combination for setting up a plein air painting. So I took a photo and worked from it instead.

Tom Soltesz Workshop

2010-08-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

Last week's plein air workshop with Tom Soltesz yielded a couple saveable plein air paintings. Tom's style of color application is much more muted compaired to mine. But I did come away with some valueable painting knowledge. Mixing big piles of paint before tackling the scene was helpful to learn. Without continually mixing as you go, the plein air painting is finished in lightening speed (provided you know where to put the paint). I liked the way Tom applied the highlight areas on the tops of trees. "Sort of William Wendty", he says.

Eucalyptus at Oak Hill Farm

2010-07-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

It was just another day in paradise for plein air painters. We were invited to Oak Hill Farm along Highway 12 in Kenwood on a Sunday so that we would not be in the way of the farm workers . Oak Hill Farm has wonderful, organic produce, as well as wreaths and other fun stuff. I painted this above the Red Barn, looking across a field of Eucalyptus that is grown for flower arrangements and wreaths. While painting there, I had to look out for rattle snakes and bees. Oak Hill Farm sells some really tasty honey from the bees who live in the hives located near my plein air painting setup.

Kendall Jackson Chateau

2010-07-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

Monday Morning Painters venue yesterday was at Kendall Jackson Wine Center. Here are the vineyards that surround the Kendall Jackson Chateau and tasting room.

Summer Vines

2010-07-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

This old farmhouse sits at West Dry Creek and Yoakim Bridge in Healdsburg. While painting, we were able to eat some fresh produce we bought from the nearby roadside stand.

The Farnsworth Studio

2010-07-03T18:01:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week, I painted this image in the Healdsburg garden of a fellow artist. It was a delight to be invited into this serene scene. The air was filled with the songs of many different kinds of birds, a gentle breeze, and the sweet scent of flowers.

Thru the Lavender

2010-07-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

Matanzas Creek Winery is a favorite spot for Monday Morning Painters during the lavender blooming period. In fact many of us have painted there over and over again, so that we almost don't have to look at the scene because we can paint it from memory. But both the gardens and the umbrellas are subtly changing, with the addition and disappearance of these features from one year to another.

Near the Lavender Barn

2010-07-03T15:36:00.001-07:00

The Lavender Barn is off to the left. This was a venue for our Monday Morning Painter's group. Most of us were located under a huge oak tree painting in the same direction. Someone said it looked like we were having a convention, but we were just trying to stay cool on that blistering day.

Edna Valley

2010-05-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

View of Edna Valley near San Luis Obispo. This area, like much of Northern California, sprouts new vineyards with seemingly each passing day. The ocean's influence can be seen with the lifting fog over the hills.

Arroya Vineyards & Vineyard at Murrietta's Well

2010-05-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

I took my painting gear with me to Livermore, where I visited with my brother who lives there. Wineries are becoming more and more prevelant in the Livermore Valley. These paintings feature Mt. Diablo as the backdrop to the vineyards.

Pastori Winery

2010-04-19T21:00:00.001-07:00

This is one of the first wineries I visited when I came to California back in 1962 and it still has a fascination for me. I love it's terra cotta colored roof with the cobolt blue hills in the background, as well as the gnarly old winter vines. When I first visited the tasting room, the Redwood Highway was a two lane throughfare alongside Pastori Winery. Now those two lanes have become a frontage road, where I stood to paint this, alongside a four lane freeway.

A Big Patch of Sunshine

2010-02-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

Last Monday Morning Painters' venue gave us this fabulous view, with acres of mustard blooms and winter oaks at City of Santa Rosa Brown Farm off Llano Road.

Napa Valley Mustard

2010-02-24T09:16:00.000-08:00

The February mustard blossomed profusely this year because of the recent rains. This painting was done in Napa Valley.

Greg Larock Plein Air Workshop

2010-02-06T17:37:00.001-08:00

Here we are: me, Char and Marcy, in Laguna Beach awaiting Greg Larock's demonstration. As well as being an accomplished plein air painter, Greg is a remarkable instructor who has the ability to pass his knowledge along to his students with great ease.

Following are my interpretations of Laguna Beach and Balboa Island during the workshop.

Seasonal Color

2009-12-31T13:19:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

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

Michele-Schlumberger Vineyard

2009-12-30T11:53:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-06T11:14:00.001-08:00

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

2009-10-05T14:30:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-02T07:18:00.001-07:00

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

La Playa de Ludwigia

2009-08-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T11:21:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-04-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

Wildflowers at Lake Sonoma

2009-04-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-01-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

Dunnsden Vineyard

Here are some views from my neighborhood.

Road to the Lower Forty

St Helena from Los Amigos Road

Winter Vines

2009-01-21T13:04:00.001-08:00

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.

El Cielo

2008-12-19T14:56:00.001-08:00

In search of the desert bloom during a visit to Palm Springs in April 2008, my fellow plein air painters discovered we were a month too late. As a result we had to paint scenes like this, relying instead on manicured lawns and flowers and the ethereal desert light.

Plein air views of Sonoma and Marin County

2008-12-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

Alexander Valley
Black Mountain

Two Barns in Geyserville

Rosso & Bianco Vineyard

2008-12-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

My most recent painting done at the winery, Rosso and Bianco, owned by Frances Ford Coppola. The winery has undergone massive remodeling for the past two years, and when all the work is finished, the place will be spectacular. This painting was done with the group called Monday Morning Painters. The day started out with heavy fog, which barely lifted at 12:30 pm when our group met for a critique of one another's paintings.

Road to Dunnsden

2008-11-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

2008-11-30T10:15:00.000-08:00