Category Archives: Landscape

Arches and Shadows at Balboa Park

Posted on October 10, 2018 by

I painted this morning at Balboa Park with the San Diego Watercolor Society Plein Air group. I forgot my sun shirt so I stood in the shade and painted the sunlight coming through the archways. I like the composition and … Continue reading →

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Beach Day!

Posted on September 30, 2018 by

What could be more delightful than the beach on the last day of September? I wanted to capture all the swimmers, birds, surf, splashes, waves,  and fun of summer. This is a gouache and charcoal sketch on brown paper.

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On the Rocks at Yosemite

Posted on September 27, 2018 by

My cousin, who is an amazing artist, has been working with gouache on brown paper. She sent me a photo of a recent painting and it was so gorgeous that it caused me to paint the day away on brown … Continue reading →

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By the Pond’s Edge

Posted on September 25, 2018 by

We stopped by Loomis California to visit relatives and had the added bonus of a gorgeous pond. This is a 9 X 9-inch gouache sketch on black paper.

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Waiting for Morning at Yosemite

Posted on September 24, 2018 by

This morning I got up early from my campsite and caught the early morning light as the sun began to rise over the mountains at Yosemite National Park. This is a 9 X 9-inch gouache sketch.

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Flowers above the Sea

Posted on September 19, 2018 by

I sketched from the top of the cliffs at Torrey Pines Park this morning. Today I focused on a group of dried flowers and had the sea be the background. This is a gouache, pastel pencil, and acrylic marker sketch … Continue reading →

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Balboa Park Courtyard

Posted on September 12, 2018 by

I painted this morning at Balboa Park, and this is a place I have to go back to soon.  I stood under a shade structure, and the shadows it made were lovely. The cement pathways had patterns, and the greens … Continue reading →

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Along the Path at Torrey Pines

Posted on September 10, 2018 by

I was back at Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve this morning. It has been a long time since we have had rain in San Diego and the arid landscape is a lovely combination of yellows and browns. I had some … Continue reading →

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Two Doves on the Rocks

Posted on September 6, 2018 by

I stopped for a few minutes at a park near my house and sketched two doves on the rocks in my small sketchbook.

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From the North Side of Torrey Pines

Posted on September 5, 2018 by

This was a challenging painting. It started off as a quarter sheet of paper covered with golden watercolor grounds. I have been wondering about the gold background for seascapes and today seemed like a good day to explore this, since … Continue reading →

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Tree by the Bay

Posted on August 29, 2018 by

Today I sketched down by Mission Point near San Diego’s Mission Beach. There was an abundance of possible subjects and I opted for a cheerful tree by the bay. This is a gouache sketch on a 12 X 12-inch sheet … Continue reading →

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Early Morning on a Ranch

Posted on August 14, 2018 by

Last week we spent a night on a friend’s ranch in Utah. In the morning, I heard footsteps and looked out the window to see our host going out to start his day. It was really early. The sun was … Continue reading →

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Morning Shines on the Mesa

Posted on August 12, 2018 by

The sandstone rocks of Southwest Utah are stunning. I did not have time to paint there so I compensated by taking as many photos as I could. Today I began to look at them, especially the ones with strong lighting. … Continue reading →

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Line of Junipers

Posted on August 2, 2018 by

Today I walked out to a part of my brother’s land that is usually a small pond ringed by a meadow and juniper trees. This year it is so dry that there is only a suggestion of green in the … Continue reading →

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Sunset along the Canyon Edge

Posted on August 1, 2018 by

We are camping on my brother’s land in the Colorado San Juan Mountains. I look forward to our annual family reunion here for many reasons, including the chance to paint this dramatic landscape. This week the skies in western Colorado … Continue reading →

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Along the Galloping Goose Trail

Posted on July 27, 2018 by

Among the many gorgeous trails in the Telluride area is the Galloping Goose. It was built along the old railroad tracks and descends down through aspen, fur, and flowers, from Telluride to Illium. It was a perfect choice for my … Continue reading →

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San Juan Mountain Path

Posted on July 25, 2018 by

The sun was intense as I stood in the shade and sketched. Even through my dark glasses the shade from the pine trees that fell across the path contrasted strongly with sunny areas of the mountain path. When I got … Continue reading →

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Two Fishermen

Posted on July 23, 2018 by

I went down to Elk Pond today to practice painting reflections. It was a beautiful morning and the colors of the trees, sky, and mountains were sharp and clear. However, I soon found that painting water reflections is similar to … Continue reading →

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Two Aspen Trees

Posted on July 22, 2018 by

This is a second version of the last sketch I posted showing the view from the window here in Telluride. In fact, it was my first try of this view but I put it aside thinking that I could do … Continue reading →

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View from a Telluride Window

Posted on July 20, 2018 by

Looking out the window here in Telluride, there is an almost overwhelming amount of greenery. It is framed against a grey sky and purple and blue mountains. The greens flow together and the tree trunks give it some structure. This … Continue reading →

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Puddles after the Rain

Posted on July 19, 2018 by

We are back in Colorado. Yesterday, as we left the Four Corners area, we were treated to an intense monsoonal lighting storm. We stopped for the night at McPhee Reservoir and I was able to sketch the puddles on the … Continue reading →

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Running up the Path

Posted on July 13, 2018 by

I was sitting on a shady bench in the Japanese Friendship Garden at Balboa Park, thinking about how to show the sunlight on the path. I noticed three young women, probably in their early years of high school, running up … Continue reading →

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San Carlos Canyon View

Posted on July 9, 2018 by

One of my friends lives on a canyon in San Carlos, a neighborhood in San Digo. She has an incredible view from her patio that goes all the way across town, practically to the sea. She graciously opened her home, … Continue reading →

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Not Far From Alpine

Posted on July 6, 2018 by

We celebrated the Fourth of July with the ‘old timer’s group’ from my husband’s work. We met in El Cajon at our friends’ home, enjoyed the view, took photos, shared dinner, and capped off the day by watching fireworks. It … Continue reading →

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Trunks in a Meadow

Posted on July 1, 2018 by

  I love the look of tree trunks against the grasses and shrubs in a meadow. And I also like the layered look that the different grasses in a field make, stretching from edge to edge. I did not have … Continue reading →

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Cabin Near Estes Park

Posted on June 27, 2018 by

Yesterday I wrote about trying to find the cabin near Estes Park that once belonged to my college roommate’s family. Today, with directions from my friend, I was able to find it. Part of the problem, in addition to the … Continue reading →

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Rocky Mountain National Park Overlook

Posted on June 26, 2018 by

Forty some years ago, I spent some time in the Estes Park Colorado area with my college roommate. I remember how beautiful it was and I was eager to see it all again. This morning I drove up into the … Continue reading →

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View from the Flatirons

Posted on June 25, 2018 by

We are in the Boulder Colorado area for a few days. This morning I went up on the Flatirons above Boulder and admired the view. From the Flatirons, the Great Plains seem to begin at the edge of Boulder and … Continue reading →

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Dessert

Posted on June 22, 2018 by

How wonderful to finish a meal at a sidewalk cafe in Portugal and then sit and admire the landscape. This is a 12 X 12- inch gouache sketch on black paper.

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Tree Lined Street in Guimarães

Posted on June 20, 2018 by

The old part of Guimarães is full of picturesque streets, walls, gardens, churches, and buildings. This particular street is close to where we are staying. I like its tall and shady trees, and the contrast of the trees against the … Continue reading →

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