vibrations

Davenport, 30 x 22, pastel on BFK

It's official. I have now lived in Washington longer than I lived in California. In many ways, I think of myself as a Washingtonian. I follow Washington state politics, watch local and state news, pay state (and federal) taxes. I carry a Washington driver's license. Raised my sons in Washington.

But, there are times when I still feel like a California girl. I hum tunes from the Beach Boys, check the surf reports, and paint California subjects. Like today. 

Just north of Santa Cruz, Davenport sits on beautiful cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. I stood in this spot, several years ago, with a group of friends and watched the waves crash. The wind was so strong that we didn't dare pull out our painting gear, but we saw evidence of painters there before us. One tree stump was covered in daubs of oil paint.

I may be a de facto Washingtonian, but today I feel more like a California girl.

Beach Boys "Good Vibrations." Obviously.

Calla Lily

Calla Lily at Faye's

24 x 18
pastel on Wallis

The morning sunshine peeked over the rock wall around the garden at Faye's house. Dew clung to every surface and the lily opened like a tissue vessel to swallow it all.

Carried away by color!

I had to turn on the heater in the studio to get things warmed up after a few days away for Thanksgiving. But, nothing was going to stop me from using my new pastels. Here you see my efforts.

Both of these were done from photos I took in Santa Cruz, where I went with three art friends for a week of painting and art adventure last year.

Neither painting is finished, but look at that color! Wow. In the top painting you can see how I got ahold of an orchid colored pastel and sort of let it take over the painting. If a little is good, a lot is better, right?

In the bottom painting, I put down some of those gorgeous nearly neon yellow greens. Felt like sunshine was pouring out of the paper!

More tomorrow.

Davenport Cypress Trees

A recent trip to Santa Cruz, CA with art friends gave me sights to ponder and paint. We took our trip before the fires burned the landscape. A very special spot just north of Davenport inspired this painting. I hope these trees weren't damaged!

In the painting on the left, you see my "under painting" which is done on Wallis sanded paper with pigment in dispersion (like water colors without the gum arabic).

The second painting shows the finished product, with pastel on top, but places where the under painting shows through. I enjoy the texture and feel of the wet under painting and the dry drawing of the pastel on top. The best of both worlds, I think. And 24" X 18" is a nice size for landscapes.