East County watercolors

These are small watercolors I did east of San Diego, from a few months back.  Top one is 6 X 9, lower one is 4 X 7. I'll post a few more soon, and talk about where I am and what I'm doing now.  

East County sketches

All about 5 x 7", plein air sketches

San Diego River wetland. 5 x 7".

Dowitcher

Little Blue Heron

Long Billed Curlew

Birds of Paradise, 5x7". A day trip to the Irvine Museum with a dear friend.

Limited palette experiment--raw sienna, English red, Payne's gray. 5x7", Hahnemuhle bamboo paper.

Sunset, Waikiki. Farewell to Hawaii for now, but not for long.

Pyramid Rock, beach at MCBH, Kaneohe Bay. It was almost too hot to paint that day and no shade around, so this was done very quickly indeed.

Studies of the lava mountains above Waikiki that form the Honolulu watershed.

Different time of day and rare cloud-free sun.

 Hibiscus blossom. Flowers everywhere here.

Mokule'ia Beach Park, Oahu's north shore. 

Sea turtle studies. There were several of these beautiful endangered beings at the shore, but they don't stay long and it's forbidden to get close to them.

Clear, warm water and coral reefs, hardly anyone else around. A wonderful swim in the company of many fishes. 

Pu'u O Hulu (distant) and Ma'ili'ili seen from Kane'ilio Point, Waianae.  Looking southward on Oahu's western shore.

Papaya. The fruit here is unsurpassable.

Kaneilio Point, Poka'i Bay, Waianae.

Java Sparrows, aka Java Finches. Classed as vulnerable on the endangered species list, because Asian countries are trying to eradicate them as rice-eating pests. Here in Hawaii, they are loved. Although still scarce, they're doing better.

 Diamond Head at mid-day seen from Ala Wai canal, buildings and cars edited out.

I think this is an immature coconut. About three inches in length, much smaller than a regulation coconut; fell from a palm tree that was full of them.

 La'ie Point, a lava projection, state beach park.

Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park, seen from Ka'a'awa. These volcanic mountains (called pali) are everywhere on Oahu, a reminder that the entire island is made of lava.

Mākaha State Beach Park.

Sweetest pineapple ever.

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"