I stood with plein air painters on one side of the lake, while a group of birders meandered along the other side. It was good that I began the painting with the birder in white and the strong reflections in the lake because the reflections, like the birders, came and went.
This is a 13-by-13-inch gouache painting on dark paper.
Deliberate Sketching 
Hi Sarah, I love your work and really would like to take a class from you if you’re teaching. Although I grew up in La Jolla I now live in Los Angeles. Do you ever teach short workshops that I could come down and attend? Please keep me posted. Best wishes, Marian Westall
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Hi Marian, I will keep you in mind! I sometimes do demos for the San Diego Watercolor Society or the Urban Sketchers, and I will let you know if one comes along. There is a video from my workshop in 2024 on the SDWS website. You would need a free account to watch it if you are not already a member. Thank you for reaching out, Sarah
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Thanks, Sarah. Unfortunately, even though I signed up at SDWS, I couldn’t find your video. I tried!
Why I’m loving your work: I had a career as a custom artist doing paintings and murals for high end hotels, cruise ships, movies etc. – most often in oil. They were usually very realistic, tight and had to always be super finished looking. My website is: hotpepperstudio.com Hopefully it’s still working even though I’m not. I retired 5 years ago and put down my brush. I was burned out and sick of every painting having to be refined, “perfect” (since they had already paid for the painting) – no time for mistakes or failure. Painting had become a job and a stress. It was a stress I loved while working but no longer wanted in my life.
Five years later I’d like to have a creative outlet again. When I saw your paintings they just really clicked. They’re loose, fun, colorful, full of energy and expression. They say so much with such broad strokes. I love the colors. They each make me smile. They aren’t done in the isolation of a studio but out in the world surrounded by people and beauty. I’d love to pick up my brush again, maybe try gouache (which I’ve never tried before) and learn to love painting again, the way it seems you do, without fear of failure or a need to be “perfect. It’s possible that I can’t achieve this- After 45 years painting for a career it may always remain a job for me. But this is why I contacted you about taking a workshop. Keep on painting. You’re an inspiration!
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I mostly check my account on the days I actually post. I am sorry I missed your response. Your art is amazing and I am in awe that you understand such a variety of genres. Have you looked at the plein air groups in your area? I go out with two groups here in San Diego and enjoy it very much. This is a link to my video, I hope it gets to you. It is from September 2024, so it is far down on the list. Best, Sarah
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It’s beautiful. The way you portrayed the reflections is abstract and very true to the look at the same time, plus the colors, wow!
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Thank you, Claudia. I wondered if the reflections might be too abstract, but I loved the way you could look into them – or at them, kind of like what I actually do when looking at water.
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That is exactly how I saw it.
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