Diamond Head, Waikiki.

Hawaii

 Ala Wai Canal and Diamond Head Crater.

 Koolau Mtn range. Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve is up in those mountains, almost always engulfed in rain clouds and fog.

Ocean, Waikiki.

Vegas

 The road to Vegas. That billboard advertises a pawn shop.

Monsoons and great desert color.

Off Cabrillo Memorial Dr. About 4x5"

Plein air sketches by bike! About 4x6", San Diego River and Mission Bay. Very grey day.

Chewy, 9 x 9"

Just spent a week housesitting and caring for this very sweet, aging Pomeranian that we've known for eleven years. I am not a dog person, but she's pretty special.

Near Escondido. 4-5" x6"

The Point from Shelter Island, 4 x 5"

Found Rose, 9" x 5" watercolor

Near Campo. 4" x 6"

Santa Ysabel open space. 5" x 7" Five-minute sketch.

All of these are small, quickly-done plein air sketches as I get acquainted with the medium. Single biggest factor in the outcome is the paper, which makes a profound difference.

3.5" x 9"

The view from A-1 Storage, bay and waterfront. 5" x 9"

Near Barrett Junction. 3.5" x 9.5"

Along 94 near Barrett Junction. 4" x 9"

Along 94, 7" x 5". Three-minute sketch.

Watercolor really is a completely different language. With lots of dialects.

And now for something completely different

Honey Springs Rd at 94. 3.5" x 9"

Along 94, 3" x 5"

Exploration in watercolor.

Re-bedding the Lower Shroud Deck Plates

A year ago, I wouldn't have even known what that means. Now I actually know how it's done. Much more enjoyable to draw my husband while he's working on it, though. :)

Walnut ink, about 6x6" each. He was working, not posing, so these were done in 1 - 3 minutes each. Out of eighteen, these are some I like.

Recent

 Wildfires.

All small, from 8X10 to 4X5, oil on gessoed paper.  This last one is on dacron sail cloth, re-purposing a headsail that was destroyed in a windstorm.

Small ones

Quarry, 6 x 8", oil on paper






Camino del Dinero, 6 x 8", oil on paper

Change

11 X 14, oil on paper. North San Diego, beside the 56 bike path.  I think "subject to change" is a good name for a painting.

56 Bike Path

11 X 14 oil.  Subject to change, work in progress.

Boulders

 approx. 5 X 7" oil on paper

Vallecito Valley

Vallecito Stage Station Park along county S2, towards Ocotillo.  I passed this scene on my bike during the Stagecoach Century in 2010.  11 X 14 oil on gessoed BFK paper.

San Dieguito

11 X 14, oil on gessoed paper

14 x 11, oil on gessoed paper

Back to Work

Now that I live in a marine environment, what did I most want to paint once I got the oils back out of storage?  The desert, of course! Warmth and sunshine, and dry air.  These two studies were each done in 30 minutes, because my tendency after a layoff is to overthink.  A time limit results in a response to the scene, rather than an attempt to remember "rules" about how to paint.

Yaqui Pass, Anza Borrego.  11 X 14"  oil

Yaqui Pass 2, 14 X 11" oil