Category Archives: Plein Air

Walking the Dog

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Sarah Sullivan

Walking the Dog: I painted this at an urban park in San Diego, but wanting to focus on the figure and dog, did not include the soccer goals or the trolley that runs through it. Now, it looks more like … Continue reading →

Posted in Plein Air, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Beach Night!

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Sarah Sullivan

Friday evening, we met at Bonita Cove in San Diego for a cookout and bonfire. My husband and I were the first to arrive; as retirees, it was our job to occupy one of the fire rings while the workers … Continue reading →

Posted in Deliberate Practice, Plein Air, Telling a Story, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Along the Nature Trail at Bataquitos Lagoon

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Sarah Sullivan

The Thursday Plein Air painters met at Bataquitos Lagoon north of San Diego. I stood on a hillside above the nature trail and painted the view. A small group paused below me while the two children compared flowers that they … Continue reading →

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Sagebrush

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Sarah Sullivan

It is easy for me to overlook sagebrush, a ubiquitous plant found across the southwest, but on a spring day with distant mountains in the background, the muted colors of sagebrush got a second look.

Posted in Plein Air | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Last Cow Painting from Spider Ranch

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Sarah Sullivan

It was so much fun painting cows at Spider Ranch. Here is one more. I like the bend of the bold red cow’s neck.

Posted in Plein Air | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Calf with Two Sitting Cows at the End of the Day

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Sarah Sullivan

This gouache piece was painted at nearly the same time and spot as yesterday’s. Many cows were there, and I selected two sitting ones in hopes that they might stay still long enough to sketch. There was a peaceful evening … Continue reading →

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Cows at Spider Ranch

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Sarah Sullivan

The late afternoon April light of Arizona makes the cows of Spider Ranch stand out against the fields and fence. The intense light nearly turns the upright parts of the scene- the cows, fence, and mountains, into silhouettes. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Plein Air | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments