Ridgecrest View on a Sunny Afternoon

oil on cradled panel, 9" x 12"

This plein air piece was painted the other day along Ridgecrest Road in Marin County.  It is a spectacular road that wends its way along a ridge of undulating hills, with incredible views in all directions.  This is quintessential California to me.  It was a warm, sunny, windless day, perfect for painting at this spot, made even more perfect by the companionship of my dear friend and fellow artist Joyce Creswell, who painted alongside me.  There is truly something special about the practice of outdoor painting with friends.  The act of being fully present in the moment while painting with friends infuses the moment with deep meaning.  A memorable day.

On Top of the World

acrylic on canvas, 12" x 36"

This was done from a photo I had taken up on Pan Toll Road the other day on Mt. Tamalpais.  I just had to bash out a painting of it.  The fog was just beginning to claim the trees in the distance, and I loved the shadow patterns created by those trees, set against the blond hills in the foreground.