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.