Limerick Lane

The weather turned warm and sunny, so I grabbed my painting gear and drove up Los Amigos Road and turned onto Limerick Lane to find a likely spot to paint. The morning fog just burned off, but I was able to capture the residue. With this particular painting, I had covered the painting panel with gray, leaving an impression that the day was cold.

Vines Unbridled

This often painted barn on Slusser Road is one of the several I have painted of this view. Here the image is in late winter, after rains have sprouted the grass and the vines have yet to be pruned. I am alway amazed at how the barn withstands time and remains so stately.

Taming of the Forests Series

 View from BR Cohn Winery

 View from Kunde Vineyards looking through an Olive Grove

View from Kunde Vineyards looking toward San Pablo Bay

These paintings reflect how vineyards are steadily replacing the riparian forests of Sonoma County. But, as a plein air painter, I am fortunate to have the ability to paint from these locations and let others see what I see through my eyes. The Kunde Vineyard paintings were part of a Brent Jensen workshop, where he stressed simple strokes using a brush loaded with paint. The day after attending Brent's workshop, I viewed the Edgar Payne exhibit at the Crocker Museum in Sacramento. After viewing the exhibition, much of what Brent tried to teach his students was reinforced.  

Shimmering Serenity of Sonoma's Vineyards

While wainting for the rain to subside, I painted this from a photo. The colors are tweaked, but laying down the paint was fun.

Sheep in Motion

These darned sheep wouldn't stand still while I was painting them. 

Hopkins Ranch in Springtime

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

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.