ANOTHER CALIFORNIA VIEW ALONG THE CAMBRIA COAST.

MOONSTONE BEACH near Cambria is a fun place to linger.  When the tide is on its way out, there is more beach to enjoy as you look for opalescent stones and other interesting rocks and miscellaneous debris left behind.  It is also a great place to paint and the colors are amazing.

The small picturesque town of Cambria is a good visit for an afternoon.  There are small galleries, book stores, and places to buy delicious food.  I always visit here when on the west coast.

CALIFORNIA ON A GOOD DAY!

I am just back from California where I have been for over a week enjoying the weather and the company of friends.   We had a house in Morro Bay high on the hill overlooking the ocean and the Morro rock, a local landmark that can be seen for miles guiding you back home.

In spite of forecasted rain, we had beautiful sunshine each day and we painted and explored.
One of my favorite things to do in January on the central California coast is  visit the elephant seals on their beach as they birth their young and linger on the beach for a few weeks before heading back out to the ocean.  We were not disappointed this year, for they were  there by the hundreds.....a very National Geographic scene.









                                                                                                                                                                 

THE NORTH HILL, ANOTHER VIEW

                                               

6x8, oil/canvas board

Another scene from my near by hill.  I pushed the ground color to get the sky contrast I wanted.  The trees are the leaf keeper oaks who won't lose all their old leaves until Spring.  I didn't think we would see sun today and it has been a mixed bag.  Last night we had loud thundering storms with rain and a friend of mine tells me she saw horizontal lightening.   Oh, well..............

HILL TO THE NORTH

We had sunshine yesterday which made it a great day to paint.  This hill is a very short walk from my house.  I have not found out who owns but I will for I fear I was trespassing.    It is a steep hike up and there are huge sandstone rocks along the way with wonderful colors etched into them, also some great lichen formations.  I took photos of the lichen and put them on this blog so I could seem them often, love the blues.     At  the top of the hill, I could see in all directions unless the occasional tree blocked a portion of the view.  I was glad I took my hiking stick along, nice to have that "third" leg when you need it.

A STREAM NEAR SLICK

8x10
oil/canvas board

$125

This morning, after a 6 degree night, it began to snow, new snow falling on old.  The flakes were large and the sun came through the clouds making the snow flakes sparkle.......a spectuacularly beautiful winter view!

This stream I found I few days ago.   South of Kiefer, there is a numbered country road that turns west towards Slick and on this road I found this almost frozen over stream.  It was another sunny day and there were several views to choose along this road but this one was so crisp and clean and lovely.  It was fun to paint.

We continue into January taking this difficult winter in stride as it comes to us each day, hoping everyone is able to stay warm and safe.

A ROAD LESS TRAVELED.....OKLAHOMA SCENIC BYWAY, ROUTE 66

                                              8X10
                              oil/canvas board
                                              $125

Out in the countryside, the snow is still with us.  Where the road is shaded, there are still areas of packed snow and ice.   The temperature is warming now and the remainder will be melting away.  It is the first day of the new year and tomorrow is my daughter's birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELANIE.

WINTER BLUES

9X12
oil/canvas board
$150

Crystal winter light casts its blue shadows across the landscape and we admire nature's work of art. 

Soon, the temperature is above freezing and the snow is melting to unlovely slush.  We will remember this particular snow fall, it came before we were mentally prepared to be snowed in, while we were making preparations to spend Christmas time with families.  Now we are thinking about the new year and looking forward with plans that will include friends, travel, art activities, and new landscapes to paint.

CEDARS IN SNOW

8X10
oil/canvas board
$125

And the wind and snow came.....bliizzard conditions in our state.  Many families, including mine, were unable to spend Christmas together.  There are hills in the area around my property and non 4 wheel drive vehicles were not able to navigate the drifted snow.  During the worst of our storm, we had what the weather forecasters called "thunder snow". ......thunder accompanied the howling winds.    It was beautiful, however, and to be enjoyed.

HAYWARD HILL, RAIN AND SNOW FORECAST

8x10
oil/canvas board
$125

It is two days before Christmas and the weather is iffy.  No sunshine today, we had some rain and snow is on the way.

This is one of my "Hayward Hill" scenes.I parked my car, stayed inside out of the rain.
I sketched my composition on the canvas and put down some color notes.  I finished it in my studio this afternoon.  This was one of those greenish-blue days.  The landscape was grayed down and, depending on cloud cover, was a bit dark.   We did get the freezing rain, followed by a LOT of snow.

AUTUMN ON THE ARKANSAS

8x10
oil/canvas board
$125. S&H included in continental U.S.

The Arkansas River winds through northeast Oklahoma and through the Keystone Dam west of Tulsa.  Just before it reaches the lake behind the dam, it picks up a tributary, the Cimarron.    The Cimarron flows from western Oklahoma where it picks up red dirt making the river much the same color.  So, because of the Cimarron and other factors, the Arkansas around here is not clear but it does clear up along its way out of the state.

HAYWARD HILL NEIGHBOR

9X12
OIL/CANVAS
$90




I see this fellow out walking on occasion. I wonder if his doctor told him he must or is he moving on his own initiative trying to keep himself mobile and independent. Whatever the reason, I wish him well and wave when I see him.

ON GOLDEN POND, SUNSET, OKLAHOMA VERSION

8x10
oil/canvas board
$90, S&H in continental U.S.




We are in our winter cycle of cold days followed by lovely golden days. The brown leaves are blown about by the wind making crisp rustling sounds as they shift and settle around the porch. Everyone is busy with holiday gatherings and the gallery has a festive feeling with trees and lights and added holiday items for our customers. We meet our friends for a Christmas happy hour and feel so fortunate to have these relationships as a part of our lives.

NEW CAMERA, BETTER PHOTO

Finally received my new camera so my photos should be better. I am re-posting my last one.

HAYWARD HILL ROAD, EARLY DECEMBER

8x10
Oil/canvas board
$90

I have not been posting for the last few days but I have been painting. I am still having camera problems so am using a borrowed one today and this not a terribly good photograph. The good news for me is that I have ordered a camera and it should be here in a couple of days.
I painted almost this same view in October. In this view, I am inside the fence and the gray line just below the horizon is Hayward Hill Road. I painted it last Saturday when the weather was much more favorable. The temperature at my house this morning was 14 degrees at 7 a.m. But this will pass and we will have much warmer days to come.

RED CEDARS, OKLAHOMA PASTURE

8x10
oil/canvas board
$90, S&H included in continental U.S.

In one post on my blog, I wrote of the red cedars that overtake farms and pastures in this part of, the country and are considered a nusiance. This is an example not far from my home. I think they are quite beautiful, especially in winter. They are green,not red. At certain times of the year, they have a reddish brown tinge on the outer branches. They provide a pleasing contrast to the browns and golds of winter and are seen in abundance along secondary roads.

STOCK POND, EARLY WINTER

8x10
oil/canvas
$90

We are past Thanksgiving, thinking about Christmas, and in to the warm/cold cycle. We have had some wonderfully warm days followed by a bit a rain and cold wind. As you drive through the country side, this is a familiar scene. You may see cows or not, the pasture has been grazed down, and the stock ponds are full since we have had a generous amount of rain this year.

OSAGE HILLS #2, SCRUB OAKS AND CEDARS

8x10
oil/canvas
$90, S&H
included

Some leaves on the scrub oaks are almost a salmon color when the sun finds them and they create a beautiful contrast to the brown leaves

The cedars are plentiful. You find them along the road, in the pastures, and anyplace else they are allowed to grow. I like being able to see them in the fall and winter landscape but farmers and cattlemen call them the "pesky red cedars" because they take over open spaces such as pastures. It requires a great deal of effort to get rid of them. I understand there are plans to burn them out. Spraying has been tried but not to great success. I will miss them if they are gone.

OSAGE HILLS STATE PARK, POOLED WATER

8x10
oil/canvas
$90

I went north to Osage Hills State Park yesterday (Sunday). It was a warm fall day with sunshine intermittently, very pleasant. Off the road and down a hill, I found this small pool, stranded when the water level dropped. There were tiny living things darting around along the bottom and the reflections of the trees lay on top casting shadows below. The ground was covered with leaves, brown and gold and red, crunching under my boots as I made my way down to the water.

I found another great scene as I hiked up a hill. Ahead I could see an opening at the crest with a light sky behind leafless trees. On either side were cedars and scrub oak which keep their brown leaves for most of the winter .....dramatic November! To be posted later since I am having camera problems.

POLECAT CREEK, NEAR KIEFER

8x10
oil/canvas
SOLD

Polecat Creek wanders around this area, crosses a road here and there and, I suppose, ends up in the Arkansas River. I took artistic liberty and moved the creek a bit because I wanted it to be in this meadow backed by trees with brown leaves. We have trees, I think some may be oak, that do not lose their leaves suddenly but slowly over the winter and perhaps not entirely until new growth in the spring pushes them away.

It was a lovely day. The temperature was in the 60's but the sun made it seem warmer.

10x8
oil/canvas
$90

Some rain, some sunshine, some wind.....typical weather. The temperatures are pleasant, great time of the year.
We have been busy at the gallery getting ready for the holidays. Our Christmas party and show will be on December 3. We have added many new art works, small and reasonably priced for gift giving and our decorations are smart and eye catching.
Last night was our monthly gallery meeting for all the artists and there was a lights on ceremony just down the street from the gallery. The season is upon us and next week we celebrate Thanksgiving.

WICHITA WILDLIFE REFUGE, ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE

$90
8x10
oil/canvas
board





We are having unseasonably cold weather, 45 degrees today, drizzle, no sun. So, I painted from a photograph I took at the Wichita Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Oklahoma, earlier in the fall season. Fun to do and a distinct contrast to what I was seeing outside my window. We are promised warmer weather in a couple of days, can't wait.

NOVEMBER CEDARS

8x10

oil on

canvas board

$90

The grasses are gold and brown with still a touch of green. The cedars are a dark contrast to the sky and ground. The landscape is ready for this Thanksgiving season.

STORM COMIN' IN

8x10

oil on

canvas board

$90

At times, we have weird weather, the sun will still be shining but the storm is moving in with blue/purple clouds behind the trees. If this were springtime, which is also tornado time, I would be tuning in for a weather report

PRETTY WATER, REVISITED

8x10

Oil on

canvas

$90

Pretty Water Lake is about five miles from Sapulpa, north on 97. It is a small lake and a favorite for fishermen. The lake gets stocked on some sort of schedule and about now trout is on the menu. The water always seems dark and green because of the surrounding trees. Nice place to be.

CANEY RIVER FEEDER, ANOTHER VIEW

8x10

Oil/canvas board

$90

A couple of posts back is Caney River Feeder. This is a "turn around and look the other way" view.

Guess I should give up on the autumn colors, they are still here but fading to dark golds and browns. Thanksgiving is nearing and then our thoughts turn to the Christmas season. My Water Street gallery is planning a big Christmas open house on December 3. It is to be an invitational miniature show and sale with selected artists invited to bring their work to show along with the gallery artists.

Our gallery operates as a co-op and we recently added two more marvelous artists. They are Gail Rogers and Anne Spoon. They have websites and blogs if you would like to see their work just "google" them. Their work will soon be seen on the gallery website: www.waterstreetartgallery.com.

LATE SUMAC

8x10, oil on canvas board

$90

In early November, there are still patches of greyed green and there are still leaves on some of the Sumac. Our colors are fading quickly and many of the deciduous trees have lost all leaves. But there are still some in beautiful color and we continue to enjoy this marvelous fall weather in Oklahoma.

CANEY RIVER FEEDER

12x12x1 1/2

oil on gallery wrap canvas

$150

North of the Tallgrass Prairie but still in Oklahoma, the Caney River flows south out of Kansas and small feeder streams find it along its way. This is one of those. This area still has some green and autumn color perhaps because of its proximity to the stream. This is one of those perfect Indian summer days with a slight breeze and the temperature in the high 60's, made all the more enjoyable because the trees will soon be bare and the wind cold.

I am particularly fond of this square format and since this canvas is wrapped and the edges are 1 1/2 inches deep and painted, it will not require a frame.

BIXHOMA SUNSET

8 X 1O, oil on canvas board,

$90, S&H included in cont. U.S.

We have colorful sunsets and, if the sun is setting behind a lake, you definitely get more bang for your buck. I have trees in front of my house that prevent me from seeing sunsets so sometimes I will drive a few miles to enjoy one.

OKLAHOMA TALLGRASS PRAIRIE PRESERVE

Tallgrass Prairie photos taken today. There are great hiking trails here.

This bison photo is from a previous visit a month or so ago.

LONG HORN CATTLE

Today was a beautiful day to visit the Tallgrass Prairie again. We had sunshine and temps in the high sixties. The bison have been rounded up and are corralled for their annual check up but I saw some mighty fine long horns today. You can see they were checking me out as I stopped to take their photo.

Now I need to go to my studio and paint.

SKYLIGHT

8x10, oil on canvas board
$90, S&H included in
cont. U.S.

This scene is of a foot path on Hayward Hill Road. We have had rainy and cool weather and some autumn colors have faded. The leaves are swirling and falling in the wind and they rustle and crunch under foot......a nice time of the year. I think I will make a pot of chili. Chili and Fritos for dinner.

SUNSET HOUR

8x10, oil on canvas board

$90, S&H included

HAYWARD HILL, IV

8x10, oil on canvas board,
$90. S&H free in cont. U.S.




I had to paint at least one more view off Hayward Hill Road. The autumn colors are fading in the country side but still quite vivid in neighborhoods where maples and Bradford Pears have been planted. I liked this scene for its simplicity. There are some orangey grasses and a purple flower I did not recognize.

We have enjoyed some sunshine the last two days and that is changing. Rain tonight and tomorrow along with cooler weather is our forecast. I am working at my co-op gallery tomorrow so won't mind the rain so much. We have preparations to make for some upcoming events. Our Gail Booth is doing a painting demo tomorrow evening at the gallery. On November 14, our jewelry artists, Silk Degrees, will have a Trunk Show and through November and December we will have our Christmas Invitational Miniature Show with a reception on December 3. I am looking forward to this interesting and fun season.

POST ROW, OKLAHOMA TALLGRASS PRARIE

5x7, oil on canvas,
$70, S&H included for cont. U.S.




I drove north, close to the Kansas border, last month to the Tallgrass Prarie Preserve. There were hundreds of bison visible from the road and sometimes in the road. I managed to get some pretty good photos of some and having never tried to paint a bison, I thought I might. Should I succeed it will be posted. I painted this little scene from one of my photos.

PAINTING AT LAKE BIXHOMA

8x10, OIL ON CANVAS BOARD,

$90, S&H included in cont. U.S.




I was drawn to this area of the lake when I saw the reflections in the water and it was a protected area from the wind. There is a foot bridge to the right which is a painting for another day. I lost the sun and reflections before I finished but I did get a photo. I enjoyed my time there alongside the critters.....feeding fish, a variety of birds, and a frog. Thankfully, not a snake in sight.

VIEWS AT LAKE BIXHOMA

Today was crisply cool with occasional sunshine and I was able to get some good photos since we still have some color in our trees. I was able to almost complete a painting and I had my photo to finish it in my studio.

Lake Bixhoma is south of Tulsa and not too far from my house, 20 miles or so. It is a small lake and you can find something to paint there any time of the year.

LAVENDER BLUE
8x10,oil on canvas,

SOLD

Another Wichita Wildlife Preserve painting. Different lighting, different mood, different me.

"LET'S TAKE THIS ROAD......"

8x10, oil on canvas
$90, free S&H in cont. U.S.




I painted this from a photo I took at the Wichita Wildlife Refuge in the southwestern part of Oklahoma. This is another Oklahoma treasure favored by artists and animals.

8x10, oil on canvas board,

$90, includes S&H in cont. U.S.

Another Hayward Hill painting.

Northeast Oklahoma in October

The views on Hayward Hill Road are exceptional this year. I took these photos a couple of days ago along with others and will use some for a painting unless the weather allows me to do one en plein aire. It is still rainy and dreary with grayed down color but the sun will shine again.

MORRO BAY DUNES

8x10, oil on canvas board

$90 (Shipping and handling included for continental United States)

It was raining this morning. I had my Morro Bay photos up on my screen and chose this one to paint. Nice photo and memory for a rainy day.

Morro Bay has been one of my favorite places in this world since I first visited about 20 years ago. I go there as often as I can, usually once or every other year. Five of us are going this January, all artists. We have a house rented for a week an I am so looking forward to it.

ANOTHER VISIT TO HAYWARD HILL ROAD

8x10, oil on canvas board. $90 , includes S&H in continental U.S.

I was not able to finish this on site this morning. The weather was going south and rain was beginning to fall. I got a good photograph before I started painting so I was able to finish in my studio.

Autumn in Oklahoma is very colorful, especially if we have had an adequate amount of rain and we have. The sumac is the first to show color, a red or burgandy, and the various trees follow on their own schedule. This is my favorite time of year and it never lasts long enough for me. I want to put it in a bottle and take it out in February.

"ON HAYWARD HILL"

$90, includes S&H in continental U.S.

I worked at my co-op gallery (Water Street Art Gallery) today. I brought my painting gear with me in case I had time to get in a little painting.

I took a photo not too long ago of a view that pleased me on Hayward Hill Road. I drive this road to get to Tulsa from my home. The route is over hills, past horses and cows in the pasture, and distant hazy views of Sapulpa.

I got my painting done in the morning and in the afternoon one of the visitors to the gallery was Herb Robb (H. Robb Design Studio) and his friend, Rick Daughtry. I learned a bit about tessellations and could not begin to explain it. You should check out his website where you will see his work. It is amazing.

All in all, I had a very good day.

"Hayward Hill Road" is oil on canvas board, 8x10, S&H included.

Qiang Huang's Duncan workshop

I feel so fortunate that I was able to take Qiang's workshop last week end. I found him to be an organized, straight shooting, and generous instructor....plus, he can really paint! I am including a photo of him and of his first set up for a demo. You can see his finished painting on his blog. It is a knock out and already sold.

In addition to the painting instruction, he gave a blog marketing talk on Sunday afternoon. Since I am just getting started with my blog and learning how to use it, his information was very valuable to me. I picked up some pointers that I intend to put into practice.

I enjoyed the time spent in class and the visiting time after class. On Saturday evening, after dinner, we had a circle discussion and we talked about everything.......the workshop, artists we admire, Qiang and Song's recent visit to China, and many other topics.

Thanks to Jolene, workshop organizer, for 3 very good days. All of it was of considerable benefit to me.

Would I take another workshop with Qiang? Absolutely!

ART IN THE SQUARE

SOLD

Last Saturday, October 3, was Tulsa's annual Art in the Square show in Utica Square. We had a great day for it, mild temperatures and lovely people to enjoy all the artwork. There were 86 exhibitors, all talented artists. I met new people and got to visit with those artists I don't get to see very often.

One of the people I met was Pattie Duninick from Rapid City, South Dakota. Pattie is a minister, a minister with a mission and a ship. The ship, named Uttermost Witness, was donated to support her mission to reach people in the remote islands of the South Pacific and bring them the gospel and humanitarian aid. Pattie purchased one of my palette knife paintings to hang in the salon of the ship and then was kind enough to send me a photo of the ship so I could see where my painting would be. I am posting the ship photos and a photo of my painting, her painting now. (See above) So........I may not get to sail to the South Pacific but my painting will. Best wishes to you, Pattie.

Oil Painters of America

Yesterday, Saturday, September 26, OPA painters met at Pretty Water Lake for a paint out. We had a great time painting, wonderful weather, old and new friends, and great scenery to paint.

Above is a photo of a friend taking time from his painting to talk with an admirer of his work.

The artists were invited back to the gallery for refreshments and art talk after a day of painting.

Another plein air event is scheduled for October 17. Check the gallery website, http://www.waterstreetartgallery.com/ for information. This event will be sponsored by the gallery.

My painting from Pretty Water

Since I last posted ( February), my art life took a pleasant turn as I became involved in a co-op art gallery in Sapulpa. We opened Water Street Art Gallery on March 31 and we have been very busy learning how to do this. There are many challenges and many satisfactions. There are ten of us and, thankfully, all have talents other than their art which allows us to have expertise in many areas.

We have had some fun and interesting events and more are planned. We are also fotunate in that we have a classroom at the back of the gallery and several classes are in progress.

I also must mention that the gallery is a half block off Route 66. How neat is that!

Red Roof near Woodward Park

SOLD
RED ROOF, 6x6, oil on canvas board
I found this scene near Tulsa and liked the secluded feeling. In addition to painting it, I photographed it from different angles to perhaps use for a future painting.

Arkansas Backwash Below Keystone Dam

SOLD
6x6, oil on gallery wrap canvas

Keystone Lake and Dam is located west of Tulsa. The Arkansas River runs through the dam. When the water is high enough this little backwash appears. In all seasons, wet or dry, it can offer a paintable scene. It is an east-west direction and just a bit farther west of the wash is the eagle sanctuary. There is a raised platform on the north side of the river and you can watch the eagles across the river as they hunt fish, lay eggs, and raise their offspring.