Big Sur Birds II

Big Sur Birds II
Oil on  canvas, 4"x6"
2009

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(note on the painting:  I had painted a previous version of this on paper.  This one is a bit larger and is on stretched canvas, ready to hang.  These wonderful birds were spotted on a day trip to the Big Sur coastline with my family this past winter. )

Lower Orchard, Summit Wildfire

Lower Orchard,  Summit Wildfire
2009
Oil on canvas, 20"x 20"

(note on the painting:  Last May, after having been in our new home only 10 days, a wildfire broke out near our home.  The winds took the fire in the opposite direction, but it was a stressful & vigilant few days.  The smoke blocked the sun and created this beautiful yet eerie glow throughout the landscape.  This is a view of our backyard, which I photographed at the time.  I painted a small (3"x3") study of this view, and this is the larger & more developed version.)

Smokestacks at Moss Landing

Smokestacks at Moss Landing, 2009
6"x6", oil on wood panel
$125

(note on the painting:  these smokestacks are a landmark in the Monterey Bay area, as they are visible as you drive along the coastline.  This power plant, located in Moss Landing, is surrounded by salt marshes.  Deciding not to omit the power plant in favor of the natural beauty of the area, I decided to paint the smokestacks instead of ignoring them. I'm interested in how this incongruous element brings it's own industrial interest in contrast & in conjunction with the surrounding landscape.)

Bay Area Hills

Bay Area Hills, 2009
Oil on wood panel,  6"x6"
$125

(note on the painting:  my favorite highway to take into San Francisco is Highway 280.  It's fairly quiet, little traffic, and very scenic.  On either side, the landscape is noticeably different.  To the left are the tree-filled, green Santa Cruz mountains.  To the right are rolling hills with sparse trees & grass that is the color of lions' fur.  Turns out that this highway is directly on top of the San Andreas Fault, and the geographic plates on each side of this highway ARE different. I asked a geologist (at a party) about the wisdom & safety of building a highway on top of one of the world's largest faults.  His response was that "Your car has shocks, and you're not near buildings, so it's one of the safest places to be.")

Glow

Glow, 2009
oil on wood panel
6"x6"
$125
(note on the painting:  this view is seen from our back deck.  After 10 days of being in our new home, a wildfire broke out about 5 miles from our house.  The smoke cover cast a strange light over the area, filtering the sun's light.  I found the fire to be unsettling, but the resulting light qualities quite beautiful.)

Orange Tree in Winter

Orange Tree in Winter, 2009
Oil on canvas 3"x3"
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(note on the painting: with the winter rains comes a vibrant green in the landscape. The color reminds me of spring, being from the East Coast. This little orange tree is seen from my studio window)



January-Winter Green

 January- Winter Green
Oil on canvas
3"x3"

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(note on the painting: this is the view from my studio window.  I'm enjoying the vibrant green color that comes with the California winter rains)