The Farnsworth Studio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.