Welcome to the California plein air and California landscape paintings of Diane Weintraub

Here you'll find my blog (web log) tracking the latest work from my easel as I paint the beautiful and constantly changing vistas of southern California, from the Pacific Ocean all the way to San Diego's back country.

Contact me by email at justpleinair@hotmail.com.

To see a gallery of my paintings click here.
To read my Biography click here.

Represented by:

JD Pierce Gallery
2723 Routh Street
Dallas TX 75201
214-720-1333
http://www.jdpiercegallery.com/

Also on this site and of interest to the plein air artists are two articles:

Five Tips for the Plein Air Artist
Painting From Photographs

Read the Story of Tom's Commission and See Progress Photos

Some of my favorite links

It's amazing how resourceful a person can be. While this landscape painter is awaiting surgery on my smooched left knee this coming Thursday, I'm getting in as much painting time as possible. There's not too much else to do as my mobility is limited. But, as I've said before, a girl's gotta paint!

Luckily, between half finished canvases stacked up in the corner of my studio and a little bit of driving and sketching out compositions on canvas while I sit in the car trying hard not to make a big mess, some work is getting done.

Here's a new one just off my easel. And if I forget later, please remind me that when we move it should be to a house all on one level!! Grrrr! Stairs!!!

"Rambling Sycamores", 9 by 12 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

Next Thursday, May 15th, my knee will get some surgical attention and I'm really looking forward to that. This left knee is cramping my style!! I can't stand to paint outside, I can't hike into scenic locations, it's difficult getting in and out of the car, etc. Can't wait to get back to work, as I once knew it.

Meanwhile I continue to paint in the studio, and that's OK but I miss the freedom of the great outdoors, being with my painting buddies, breathing in the fresh air, and especially above all, watching the light change the mood of a scene.

Here's the latest painting from my easel (the indoors one). One morning a couple of weeks ago I was driving down El Monte Road that runs next to El Cajon mountain hoping to get a better view of the mountain. It was overcast and I didn't really think the trip would yield much of anything usable. Then the clouds broke for a little while and the wind really picked up moving the grasses all around. It was a very dramatic moment and lasted for only a short while. Luckily I was able to grab up a painting panel and sketch the structure of the composition and then take a couple of photos for reference in case I needed them. Here's the result for your amusement.

"Spring Grasses, El Monte Road," 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas mounted to panel.

"Where there's a will, there's a way," as the old saying goes, and that's especially true of a devoted landscape painter like myself. This knee that got banged up in the car crash of 3/13 (see below for details) needs some surgery but in the meantime, a girl's gotta paint! The surgery is scheduled for 2 weeks from now and you know me... I can't sit around the house because I'll get cabin fever;) So I try to go out and find scenes that look "paintable". Then I capture as much as possible in my sketchbook and with my camera. I rough out the composition on a canvas and make color notes right there.

When I get back to the studio I have a wealth of information to be cobbled into a painting. As I've written a while back, it feels like I'm testing my visual memory... a sort of visual "pop quiz." That's my kind of fun!!

Here's a new painting fresh off the easel for your entertainment. We were on a drive down by Hamul just before the turn off to Otay Lake when I looked at a pasture on the left. The morning had been overcast but the clouds were moving fast. Just as we approached the clouds broke and beautiful morning sunlight flooded the scene. I had to capture it as fast as possible. I knew it wouldn't last!

"Spring in the Meadow", 9 by 12 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

Inevitably every artist who gets their work seen is asked this one question: how long did it take you to do that? And we hate it because we really haven't a clue!

Most painters don't punch in and out on a time clock so we don't keep track of time in that way. Maybe we should. By contrast, we tend to get lost in time when we're in a creative mood.At the completion of a painting very few of us stop to consider how long it took. Still others work on one painting and then switch to another making it all but impossible to keep track of hours spent on any individual work.

After completing a larger work I often wonder how long it did take. Artists take as long as it needs to before a work is deemed complete. Some paintings take longer and some practically paint themselves.

I know of one painter when asked that question at an art fair who replied, "Twenty-seven years of hard work," because that's how long he'd been painting. Probably as good an answer as any!

Here's a new miniature painting just completed... and please don't ask how long it took;) We went to the beach to see the sunset and drove north hoping to see the coast south to La Jolla in the warm light of the setting sun. As we drove by the lagoon I glanced at it and saw how wonderful the light was. We couldn't stop because we were in a race with the sun to get to our spot before it set, and we did. On the way back we did stop at the lagoon and I made a quick sketch and took some photos that were the inspiration for this painting.

"Evening Quiet", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel.

It's in the 80s here at the coast and just about 100 degrees inland. It's a Santa Ana where the hot winds blow west off the desert, and that means danger of wildfires ... again. It's too hot to go out an paint so this landscape painter is hiding out in the cool of the studio and finishing up some work previously started.

And would you look at the price of gas at the pump! It's about $4 a gallon here in So Cal. I've even seen $4.50 at one station! Guess I'm saving gas by staying in the studio. And later this week when it cools off and I do go out I'll really have to plan my trip so that I'm not wasting the petrol.

Meanwhile here's a new painting just off the easel. A simple scene of rolling hills and oaks in springtime bloom. If you go to higher elevations where it's cooler you can still see some wildflowers, or rather I should say that could have seen them recently. Now that the Santa Ana is blowing through they are probably all gone. Bummer.

"Southern California Spring", 9 by 12 inches, oil on canvas.

Spring is giving way and summer is arriving. This landscape painter is really sad to see spring depart... but summer is pleasant too. As I drive around the county, being frugal with my tank of gas what with a really high toll at the pump of close to $4 a gallon here, the signs of lovely springtime taking her leave are everywhere. Have to admit it's hard to watch the bloom of wildflowers turning to seed, but hey, it's nature's way. And Mother Nature is all-wise, or so they say!

Am now able to go out and then paint for a while although getting my plein air equipment set up is a real challenge. (See below about car accident of 3/13). Everything takes twice as long so I'm a slow painter... not nearly as much fun as "slow food"!

Here's a new painting just finished for your amusement. Don't know why but there was something really engaging about this simple scene capturing the spirit of spring turning to summer that fired up my imagination. Hope you like it too:) Don't forget to "buckle up"!

"Spring into Summer", 9 by 12, oil on canvas mounted to panel.

It's been five weeks since the car ran into us (see below for details on that) but I am now able to paint for a while almost every day and that makes this landscape painter smile! Any time spent painting is for me a real good time. I can't yet go stand out in a scene and paint it but it's amazing how resourceful a person can be when driven to do something. I can sit in the car or wander over to a pleasantly placed bench, sketch the scene on canvas, and make some color notations in colored pencil. It works my visual memory to complete the painting in the studio and I do enjoy that. Then whenever I'm stuck I drive back to the spot with the painting to check my work. It feels like a "plein air pop quiz"!

Here are two new painting done mostly that way. The miniature is a view of the beautiful southern California coast and blue Pacific on a picture perfect day this week. The spring break visitors are all gone now and the beaches are less populated. I like that!

The second is my impression of a recent evening when I had a chance to visit a eucalyptus tree grouping surrounding a pool of water. It glistened brilliantly in the sunset light!

 

"Spring Wave Break", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel.

"Eucalyptus Sunset", 9 by 12 inches, oil on canvas.

Ellen emailed me to see about a commission painting of the Flower Fields up in Carlsbad near here. The Flower Fields are a nursery where ranunculas are grown primarily for bulb sales but seasonally as cut flowers. In the spring when the fields, similar to tulips, are in full color bloom they open the gates to visitors, complete with art fair and strawberry farm stand sales! It's a fun family outing:)

I liked the thought of her commission right from the start and even more so after I found out that the painting would be for her Mom who loved to visit the Fields when she lived down here. Her Mom said that the Flower Fields looked like a big serape... and I had to laugh out loud when reading that as it sure is an accurate description!

If you are not familiar with the Flower Fields, here's a link: http://www.theflowerfields.com/

I especially wanted to do the commission for Ellen's Mom because she now has macular degeneration, which obstructs your vision. My Dad had it too so I know how frustrating it can be. Ellen thought that a painting of the Flower Fields with their big wide bands of color might be something her Mom would enjoy. I hope so too and here it is, below.

I'm finally trying to paint again, and I'm so happy about that! So thrilled to be pushing paint around even if it's just for a while during the day. I'm working from my own sketches, notes, and photos because there is no way I am mobile enough to get out on location right now. Hopefully it will be soon when I can do that again. Meanwhile it just feels great to paint. This week it will be a whole month without painting, so... I'm back;)

Here's a painting of the Desert in Bloom that I've just completed. We went to the desert the Saturday before the car crash and I have been yearning to paint what I saw. Hope I did it justice... but the fragrance of the desert wildflowers... no way I can paint that!

"Desert in Bloom", 6 inches by 8 inches, oil on canvas mounted to panel.

Don't want to turn this web site into a journal of my car accident and health, but don't want to disappear either. This landscape painter is yearning for the good old days of driving around trying to find a location that moves me! Still can't sit at the easel and walking is difficult. I know that things will get better and with each day I'm one day closer to being back to work. Meanwhile I'll spend my days painting landscapes in my mind:)

Still recovering from the car accidents. Have not been able to paint and am missing it. Head injury still makes for fuzzy thinking and you need clear thinking to paint. The most bothersome and continuing aspect of it all is a leg injury that has prevented me sitting at the easel for any length of time. And painting on location is completely out of the question for the immediate future as this gigantic leg brace and uncomfortable ankle brace make walking very difficult. Standing painting in the field is out!

Thanks so much for the emails sending good cheer and well-wishes. Much appreciated.

Last Thursday - that's right, Thursday the 13th - was an unbelievable day... and not in a good way. I was in two auto accidents, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, totally unrelated. In both cases I was sitting as the passenger in a stopped car when hit by an out of control, wildly accelerating vehicle. What are the chances!! Our insurance guy told us when we phoned him the second time that day that we should go buy a lottery ticket as we're owed one.

Bottom line is that I'll probably be OK given enough time, so that's to the good. Right now I'm in sad sorry shape. That said, it could have been way worse... even when we're not so lucky, we consider ourselves so very lucky.

This Monday morning I'm trying to get back to painting cause I want my world back to normal but my right arm, shoulder and neck are so sore and bruised. It's going to take a while. As I try to paint - it will be my physical therapy - I'll be finishing up some near finished work. Nothing too mentally or physically challenging for a while.

If I am working on a commission for you, or owe you an email reply I'll be in touch this week.

Please... fasten your seat belts!

Been to the desert... wow!! What color. This wildflower season is the best yet. Can't stop to chat... gotta run... gotta paint!!! Check out the link below to the Union-Tribune article on the wildflowers here in San Diego this year, and especially the part about some flowers being "fire followers". I'm really noticing that!

To those collectors who are waiting on commissions, please pardon me a bit while I document those wildflowers:) Thanks for your support.

Here's a link to a recent San Diego Union Tribune article about the wildflower bloom and why it's so good. Seems that it's not just the rains but the wildfires last fall. Check it out at:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080301-9999-1n1flowers.html

Meanwhile... I paint on!!

"Near the Border", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canval on panel. Not for sale.

"Green and Golden California," 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel. 

It's been absolutely beautiful here in southern California and this landscape painter has been really busy painting as much as possible. You have to look to find the really wonderful spots, but that's always true. I have my favorites that can be counted on to give inspire at least one more painting. Here's one just off my easel of an old favorite places.

"Eucalyptus and Poppies", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel.

It's overcast today (Saturday) so this landscape painter is finishing up paintings in the studio rather than out painting in plein air. This past week was a good one and I started plenty of paintings to put in line for finishing a bit later. When the conditions are perfect and fleeting I like to start as many paintings as possible so that I can capture the spirit of a composition and make enough color notes so that I can finish them up later in the studio.

The wildflowers are out in greater numbers than I remember for many years. The bloom right now is especially good in the south part of San Diego county. As the season goes on the wildflowers are sure to bloom in weeks to come in ever higher altitudes as well!! Gosh am I excited.

Here's a small painting -- am still very much fixated on miniatures -- of a beautiful poppy-filled field for your amusement.

"Poppy Morning", 6 by 8 inch, oil on canvas on panel.

OK, so I'm not complaining now, just curious. It's going to be 80 degrees out there today and this landscape painter is confused about how to dress:) First it's rainy here in Southern California, then it's cold at night, and now hot-hot-hot! WOW! Watch out for those wildflowers, especially in the desert... where I'm headed in two weeks time. After that I'm off to Joshua Tree. Meanwhile this week I'm tracking down the daffodils in and around the mountain town of Julian and the wild lilacs in the mountains in San Diego's beautiful back country.

I found this lovely spot in a canyon along an arroyo and painted it. What's an arroyo you ask? A good old fashioned creek!

 

"Canyon in Spring", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas mounted to baord. Not for sale.

Happy Birthday to my wondeful husband!!!!

Time simply gets away from me! I have had my head in the paints a lot lately and so not posted here to my blog. But I have lots of new landscape paintings for you to see! I'm very excited about this new crop of miniatures.

I am pushing myself to jump into more subjects I might not otherwise be drawn too, and that includes a lot of shadowed areas. I love the beautiful California sunshine and naturally go for the totally sunny view in my landscape paintings. But recently I have been looking at a lot of the old California Impressionists who painted in the late 1800s and early 1900s noticing that they emphasized the sun by giving the viewer plenty of shadow too. So that's what's coming off my easel! Here's a sample of my latest paintings.

"Arroyo in Spring" 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel.

"A Spring Walk", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel.

"Big Oak and Poppies", 5 inches by 7 inches, oil on panel.

"Pacific Tide Pools", 6 inches by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel.

"Poppies at Sunset", 6 inches by 8 inches, oil on canvas on panel.

Yikes! It snowed in San Diego last night and this landscape painter is trying to figure out how to get out to the snow fields before they melt. The sun is out strong and even though the kids in east county and the back country are enjoying a snow day, I'm willing to bet that by the time I drive out there the snow will have melted... bummer.

Have been painting a lot recently even though my Friday advanced drawing class has started. Usually there is so much paper work for faculty at the beginning of the semester, much of my time gets eaten up with a "things to do" list that does not include a lot of painting. This semester we have moved into the fantastic new and totally state-of-the-art building. My classroom has a "Smart Cart" with all of the cool electronics any professor could wish for. So instead of handouts I roll the Power Point slide show. The students love it. And we can play music all day long over the excellent sound system, and that keeps energy levels up and everyone is happy.

Here are three new paintings fresh off the easel: two miniatures and a larger painting. The 14 by 18 inch is a view from Howard's ranch looking over the rolling hills and oaks that are emblematic of southern California. The minis catch late day and an afternoon just before a rain, two atmospheric conditions that are a bit different for me as I'm fond of sunny mornings... but change is good.

"A Place to Rest", 14 by 18 inches, oil on canvas.

"Evening Glow", 6 by 6 inches, oil on prepared panel.

"Before the Rain", 5 by 7 inches, oil on prepared panel.

I really intended to go to the coast and paint the winter waves, honest I did! I was even emailing a friend about how excited I was to go paint the ocean again... was so in the mood for it... but it seems the car must have had a mind of its own because there I was down Adobe Road again. Well, this landscape painter can't complain, it was a beautiful day to be out anywhere: 65 degrees and clear!

"Adobe Trail", 9 inches by 12 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

It's been raining her lately but between rounds of rain we've had some very sunny afternoons. How perfect: it rains overnight and then it's sunny and warm the next day! Suddenly everything is turning green. Even in the mountains where the daytime temperatures don't rise to the heights we have at the coast, fields are turning green. If you look for them you'll find little yellow and gold wild flowers already popping up here and there. What a spring it's going to be!!

This landscape painter has been busy at the easel now that "prime time" is here. I have a new painting ready for you to look at and here it is below. Have a great weekend!

"Spring Begins", 9 by 12, oil on stretched canvas.

 

I start to paint and then I have to go do something. It's raining off and on and I'd like nothing better than to work on some paintings that need my attention. But stuff gets in the way! GRRR!

This last week was Staff Development Week at the college where I teach so it was off to the department meeting where we got the official tour of the new art studios in the new building. All I can say is: WOW! Can't wait for my first class this coming Friday:) I even have my very own storage cabinet... all brand new and ready to go.

The start of classes means plenty of paperwork as I ready the syllabus, schedule and handouts for the first class. I teach Advanced Drawing with three levels of students all in one classroom at the same time, so there is plenty to think about. Plus what with the new facility... I will have a lot of logistics to work out too.

Did finish up this miniature this week. I like it a lot so felt as though I was accomplishing something:) Here it is for your entertainment.

"Hidden Ranch Road", 6 by 8 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

This landscape painter has been painting up a storm! It's paint everywhere and all over me, which is highly irregular because I am probably the tidiest plein air painter in town. I can sit down to paint in my best outfit and come away without a spot of paint on me. I'm not one of those painters who wears special old paint stained overalls... that is so not me. But here I sit with paint all over!

The reason for paint all over is that I'm painting interior walls... no, not murals or faux finishing... Nothing that exciting. Just a new fresh color on the walls. And that kind of painting, well, it's probably better left to the experts but the price is right;) I paint for free here!

However, I can only take so much of this fat brush and roller stuff so it's back to the easel for a stretch, where I'm happiest. Here are two new miniature landscape paintings for your entertainment.

"A Walk in the Woods", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas.

"Spring Oaks and Fields", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas.

This landscape painter is really enjoying the days right now! The weather is fantastic. The recent rains followed by warm sunshine turned everything springtime green. I wake up and can't wait to see what the day looks like. Don't know how long it will last but it's great right now.

Here's a recently finished painting and the subject is a lake in the southern part of San Diego county. The Eastlake area has grown so much recently that I hardly recognize the place when I go there. Have to wonder how many more years the other shore will remain pristine wilderness.

"Lazy Lake Morning", 9 by 12 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

There's a Monster Storm at the windows beating down! It's Saturday morning and the weather guy has promised that the rain will continue dropping about 4 to 6 inches on us until mid-day Monday. The fridge is full and the dog might have to walk himself if it gets too bad:)

Nothing makes this landscape painter happier this time of year than a long heavy rain because it means a very green spring full of wildflowers! The rains actually started a bit early in the season and the fields and hillsides are already turning bright green.

The news guys are already talking about the possibilities of a big desert wildflower bloom. That is so cool and I am very excited! Three years ago when we had the 100-year desert bloom because of the heavy winter rains the area around Borrego never looked better. I remember one Sunday afternoon it was hard to find a parking spot along a certain desolate stretch of road where the verbena grow! Seriously!

So today I'm sitting here in my studio posting to my blog, listening to the rain, and Sirius Disorder channel 70, working on an experimental studio painting thinking about all the green fields laden with flowers that await.

Yesterday put the final touches on this painting below of a secluded ranch smack dab in the middle of housing developments. It's location is a closely guarded secret amongst landscape painters in these parts. You need a phone number and have to call a guy and leave a message. If you're lucky and he's in the mood he'll call you back and let you onto the ranch. If you just go paint there he'll show up on his horse looking menacing and shoo you off the property! It's a working horse ranch and I'm assuming that the horses might be pretty valuable. If you get talking to him he'll tell some pretty wild tales about rustlers and such. No comment from me about the truth of the stories;)

"Last Ranch in the Valley", 9 by 12 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

After the fun and festivities of the holidays - taking time out with family and friends, good food, and busy schedules - this landscape painter must admit that it's great to get back to work! The studio had its winter cleaning, canvases sit in their closet ready to go, brushes sorted by size stand at attention in the big ceramic pots, drawing supplies are sorted and organized in the big case ... all at the ready.

Here are two new offerings for your entertainment. The first is a miniature based on a quick sketch done last fall when we took a trip to the village of Idyllwild up in the mountains just south of Palm Springs. Our drive up took place on a cold weekday after the fall tourist rush and before the start of winter visitors from Los Angeles to see the snow, so we practically had the town to ourselves. If you've not been to Idyllwild check it out:)

 
"On The Way To Idyllwild", 6 inches by 8 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

This second painting is a larger landscape of a working cattle ranch in San Diego's beautiful back country. We've had some pretty good rains lately (and are due for about 4 more inches of it this coming weekend). We really needed it! It's amazing how quickly the fields and hills turn green when given just a bit of moisture. Sure was peaceful standing out there with the fresh air all around!

North Pasture", 11 by 14 inches, oil on stretched canvas.

Best wishes from this landscape painter to you and yours this holiday season! We're enjoying wonderful weather here in beautiful San Diego with warm days and chilly nights... sweaters and a roaring fireplace welcome. We even got some much-needed rain! Imagine that!

Many thanks and Happy New Year to all of the collectors who purchased or just admired and commented on my paintings this last year. Hearing your reactions means a lot and keeps me going:)

I'll probably do my annual "clean out the studio" thing right after New Year and then it's back to work for me. Already looking forward to it and a fresh start with my brushes. Speaking of brushes, got some new ones recently and am excited about putting them to work!

Have a HAPPY!!

The weather is now that perfect combination of rains followed by crystal clear days that happens only in winter here in beautiful Southern California. The light has a glow such that you feel as though you could reach out an touch those snow-capped mountain in the far distance or San Clemente Island way offshore. For a landscape painter, it's an electric time full of possibilities. And as luck would have it... I have a nasty cold. Bummer.

I set my brushes aside over the Thanksgiving holiday. Busy getting ready and then busy with leftovers. Have decided that holidays have all kinds of purposes and one is to slow us down and get our minds off the day-to-day stuff that occupies a us... and for me it's paint that clogs my brain;)

It's a comfortable feeling getting back to work, even if I've been slow to take up my brushes again. The first painting off my easel is this view below of the hills just north of Santa Ysabel on the right side of Route 79. I love the way the old oaks tumble down toward the road and how the morning light casts shadows down across the fields of wild grasses turned all golden in the morning light.

"Old Oaks", 9  by 12 inches, oil on canvas.

Last week this landscape painter finally had the opportunity to drive out to Santa Ysabel and see the wildfire damage for myself. Many homes were amazingly spared but others were gone and owners still sifting through remains to discover any keepsakes... touching. It felt improper to look too long at what they were doing.

So many locations where I had painted were spared. I was surprised and very grateful because I thought that much more was gone. There were losses, of course. I will travel back again soon to photograph and document them as they are now for my own records, keeping in a file together an image of each painting of the land as it was and a picture of the way it is now after the fire loss. Perhaps I'll eventually post them here so that collectors can know as well.

The happiest leg of the journey came right after the saddest: seeing the fire damage to the old oak forest that I love so much and then viewing so much that was spared, high above the little mountain town of Santa Ysabel. My favorite old oak tree was spared but it's neighbors only 20 yards west burned completely.

By the time I got down to Santa Ysabel I really needed that apple pie and coffee.