Plein air lanscape paintings from Santa Barbara and beyond…
18×24″ oil on linen– What I love about the Big Sur coast is how much edge there is. The fractal canyons and bays and multitude of islands make for an enchanted scene. There are so many folds for the ocean to peak into, for light to cling to and to hide secret shady coves. We got here just in time to catch those transparent cliff shadows still extending into the sea.
This is painting paradise for me. It is actually so beautiful it is dangerous… big cliffs and unbelievable views combined. My knee is all skinned up from walking around on wet rocks with my eyes up on the view. The design possibilities are endless here… every few feet I want to start a new canvas.
8×10″ oil on panel– This sweet confluence is up Limekiln creek. I had just enough time to get it blocked in before the rain was falling– an hour later it was sunny again. You can’t beat a redwood grove for mystery and beauty in any weather…
Garrapata Dawn– 8×16″ oil on panel– This was painted on a lovely Big Sur morning. This is by far one of the prettiest parts of the planet I’ve ever experienced. 
Late Afternoon Glimmer– 6×8″ oil on panel– This small study of light on the water was painted at Limekiln State Park where I slept in the overflow site, under the bridge at the edge of the sand listening to waves roll in all night and the rain falling at one point.
15×30″ Oil on Canvas Panel– Nothing has more beauty and mystery than a deep, fern-filled redwood grove with a playful stream meandering through. Places like this are medicine for the spirit– my breathing slows, my shoulders drop a few notches lower and I feel completely grounded and at peace here. My hope for the trees in these woods is that they all grow to be giants and that after they fall they are slowly and gently returned to rich soil by banana slugs and other beautiful decomposers. 
Oil on Canvas 12×24– I had to pull over on my drive south on the Big Sur coastline to paint the early sun warming these cows. One of the cows pointed out to me, “Moo.” Translation: “They’ve got the best grass here… its delicately seasoned with sea salt from the misty ocean breezes.” I meant to try a bite, but was too busy painting. Next time…
10×20″ Acrylic and Casein– This is a painter’s paradise… I’ll have to go back with a few miles of canvas some day. 
10×20″ Acrylic and Casein– The seagulls here enjoy bobbing and surfing the spot where the freshwater creek pours into the salty ocean. 
10×20″ Acrylic and Casein– Everybody who would come out at the top of the trail to greet this view would gasp in awe… You can pretty much see the entire Pacific Ocean from this lupine-filled perch. 
10×20″ Acrylic and Casein– My family sketched and played in the redwoods as I painted this enchanted cascade on McWay Creek in Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park last week. Such a beautiful place… every turn on the trail was a painting waiting to be made. 
