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.

This landscape painter does like the miniature format. None of my paintings are all that large. I know landscape painters who go 50 by 60 inches, but that just doesn't feel right for me.

Here's a new miniature painting just off the easel of a favorite fishing spot on Lake Skinner. I thought to paint it because as the holidays grow close I know that bedlam is just around the corner! It's always a lot of fun to be with family and friends but by New Years' Day I heave a heavy sigh of relief;) It would be oh-so-nice to plunk myself down by the lake with a good book or a fishing pole and just chill out for an afternoon before it all starts!

There are times in life, and especially in a landscape painter's life, when you just don't know which way to turn or what to do next. Guess I'm there. I've really enjoyed the last couple of dozen paintings and now, after the Which Creek Fire, I am having trouble getting going again. One thought nagging at the back of my mind - and maybe the main problem here - is that I haven't yet been out to Santa Ysabel. The longer I wait the worse it gets. I hear from others who have taken the drive of sadness that it will bring even strong men to tears.

Well, life happens, as they say. Meanwhile, miniatures always put a smile on my face so I'm busy painting small. Here's one just off the easel. It's of my favorite tree: an old oak sitting in a reserve high atop the hill overlooking Santa Ysabel. This was painted from memory. Maybe next week I'll paint it again on location:)

"Favorite Tree", 6 by 8 inches, oil on canvas.

Sometimes in life you just have to wait. This landscape painter is waiting today. Literally, at the moment I'm waiting to go to the airport for a short trip so I thought I'd post to the blog. But I'm also waiting to see what the beautiful San Diego back country looks like and what will be available for me to paint now that the wildfires are over... we all hope. As my friend likes to say, "all will be revealed in the fullness of time." So very true so very often.

I did paint a sunset from our back yard with a view of the Fall sky all lit up over the Pacific Ocean. Also finished up a painting of the San Jacinto Mountains from the Pines to Palms Highway. We took a short vacation a couple of weeks ago. Our route brought us through the back road out the Escondido Valley and to the high desert, then up to the little mountain village of Idyllwild, California. This view is just before you get to Lake Hemet.

Whoops... have to leave now!

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

"San Jacinto Mountains - Pines to Palms Highway", 11 by 14, oil on canvas.