Sand & Surf

I filled a whole sketchbook while in California.... I love looking at my sketches and reflecting on all the wonderful encounters and experiences. I thought I would share a few over the next few blog entries.

One Friday evening I picked up Caroline and Lucia (a student from Germany who was also taking the training courses at Monty Robert's ranch) from class and we headed south on Highway 101 for a beach excursion. The ocean is just a thirty minute drive from Solvang. It was Lucia's first time to see the Pacific Ocean and a nice opportunity for new scenery!

It was surprisingly chilly with a strong wind but the girls were determined to get in the water. They ran right in and jumped into the waves. It was a short swim and after bundling up with every available towel and sweatshirt we had brought we sat and enjoyed a picnic dinner. The sea gulls stayed very close... determined to make their case for a morsel or two.

Afterwards, the girls went beach combing and I stayed to paint the panorama in front of me. Large wispy pink clouds rolled in off the ocean and hovered over downtown Santa Barbara in the distance. Huge flocks of pelicans zoomed overhead and swooped down into the ocean. The surf crept up the sand and began to form a channel in front of me that opened to a tidal pool to the left. Kids were having fun watching the water carve away the sand.

Caroline and Lucia returned from their walk and had fun taking picures jumping in the channel.

I finished the painting and then we packed up to go. But not before Lucia stopped to fill an empty soda bottle with sand to bring home to Germany for her little girl. A souvenir from a lovely evening at Refugio Beach.

Color & Texture

There are 20 different species of oaks native to California. The oak trees in the Santa Ynez Valley are referred to as Valley Oaks, or by their scientific name Quercus Lobata. They are incredible specimens and their shape and form varies, making each tree unique.
I fell in love with their texture and color, which changed throughout the day. In the early morning hours they took on silhouetted shapes against the morning fog and as the sun rose in the canyon hills the shadows cast from the trees became one with the mass of the foliage above it. By mid-day, the light penetrated and revealed the interior branches and they appeared light and feathery. And at day's end, the oaks took on a more solid shape and the low evening light illuminated the massive trunks.
I was particularly inspired by their connection to their surroundings. I loved how the sprawling limbs of this oak framed the view of the vineyards and canyon hills beyond.
The contrast of the cool hues in the shadows and the vibrant warm tones where the sun pierced through the foliage captured my interest. As I sketched and painted birds popped in and out, perched on branches low and high.

This view caught my eye as I was driving along Refugio Road just outside of Santa Ynez. I stopped and got out to look. The tree loomed out over a steep hillside that led to meadows below. Standing by the roadside I felt as if I were soaring with those branches. The closeness allowed me to survey the bark... it had massive chunky ribs that were as hard as iron. The crevices were deep and snaked their way along the curving branches.
I never tire of drawing them... looking at them. These Valley Oaks are an integral part of the character that shapes this special place... The Santa Ynez Valley.

Meadows & Meandering

"Refuge. A safe place."
That is the Spanish translation for Refugio and also the name of a fairly major road through the Santa Ynez Valley. As Refugio Road leaves the valley and begins it's ascent up the coastal mountains, the road changes from a two lane road to a narrow unmarked paved road to a dirt/gravel road where only four wheel drive vehicles travel.
A local resident encouraged me to go past the signs marked "roadway ends" and continue on to find wonderful painting venues. Wow. Spectacular vistas appear as the roadway winds through vineyards, ranches and open spaces.
Just before the road enters the woods and steep foothills there is a sweeping meadow. The wind is blowing and the tops of the grasses move as soft waves. Red tailed hawks soar above and swoop down into the grasses for their meal. Eagles soar high above, their shadows travel across the land with arching movement. Horses nicker in the distance. It is dusk and feeding time.

As the sun dips lower in the sky the meadow is infused with light and color. The foothills in the distance begin to soften and fall into shadow. It is quiet and serene with only the sounds of the wind and birds... A trailing fenceline moved along the meadow and disappears into the grasses.
"Day's End on Refugio Road"... a fitting name for a special road in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Sunsets & Shadows

It's that golden hour, when the sun is just about to sink behind the hills and the contrast of light and shadow is so dramatic. I love painting in that time slot but time is of the essence so I keep my paintings small and work quickly. I often use the open trunk of my car to block the intense low light from my eyes (a makeshift umbrella!).

This is a little stretch of road leaving Los Olivos and heading up Ballard Canyon Road. By day, it is ordinary. At dusk, extraordinary with the tops of grasses illuminated and the rolling hills and oaks in the distance take on a soft glow. I loved the lyrical movement of the barbed wire fence as it trails through the grasses in its disheveled state.

I painted this one last night. It is a scene I have seen several times heading out of Buellton on Hwy. 246 where the road crests at the top of a big hill. There is a vineyard to the right with a farm road. Every time I have seen this view at dusk there are birds perched on every fence rail and the tops of the vines as if they are watching the sunset. They sit quietly for at least twenty minutes rimmed in light. The light becomes so intense as it slips behind the hills and the shadows are just luscious with color.
Flocks of birds fly by and, after the sun has disappeared behind the horizon, the birds in the vineyard all rise up and join them. It's magical.
These are the aspects I love about plein air. The observation of nature and the wonderful harmonies found within.
I titled this one "Evening Takes Flight," packed up my gear and headed back into the valley, now blanketed in the cool shades of night.

Back for More

I just had to go back to Los Olivos and paint at Clairmont Farms again. This time, I went out deep into the fields... the owners told me how to find a path that would lead me to a chair set under a big oak. Perfect! I wound my way through the rows, buzzing honey bees zooming in and out. I was of no interest to them as there was lavender all about!

The shady spot under the oak tree was perfect with dappled light filtering through it's sprawling limbs. It was windier today and each gust carried the intoxicating perfume of the lavender. Beyond the fields, I could hear horses nickering and calling to each other. I love that sound!
This is a larger piece.... almost 17" wide by 7" deep. I love the contrast of the grasses at the base of the trees with the expanse of lavender. The trees in the distance just seem to rise up out of the color. I look at this painting and I swear I can smell the lavender!

Fields & Family

Yesterday I ventured back to my new found painting spot deep in a vineyard along Ballard Canyon Road between Solvang and Los Olivos. I had permission from the family to paint anywhere and the roads that wind through the vineyard make it perfect for transporting all my painting gear!
As I came around the bend in the road I saw figures in the fields that I had just painted the day before (the painting of the red barn posted earlier). They were awash in the intense afternoon light pulling weeds and working in the fields. I parked under the oak tree along side their vehicles and set up my easel.
A young boy's head popped up from the back of the truck .... he was curious about why I was there and what was I doing? He had come back from the field to take a break from the sun. I hurried to start painting as they were working their way further back into the rows of garlic.
The first thing you notice about the workers in the fields and vineyards is how covered up they are. It was 90 degrees this day and they were wearing jackets, long sleeve sweatshirts, hats and even their faces were covered up to their eyes with bandannas. I painted their forms and loved how the one figure was bathed in light when he stood up to talk to the others. They were chatting and pulling, laughing and working... there was music being played. They called out to the boy and he hopped off the truck and carried a huge water cooler out to them... it was heavy but he managed, with no complaint, I might add. I quickly added him into the painting. Then he too, set about working alongside them.

Within an hour they stopped and came out of the fields to their truck and began to disrobe from all their layers. I was glad I had the figures and field in... I could finish the rest of the painting even if they left. Suddenly these forms became young teenagers, mom, dad, uncles and cousins. It was a family.
They were shy but I encouraged them in my most pathetic Spanish to come and take a look. One by one they walked up to the easel and smiled. Some would laugh and point with delight that they had found themselves in the painting. But the sweetest reaction was from the boy who was so proud that he was in the painting. He would point it out to each person as they approached the easel... and beam with pride. I told him to tell his family that they looked beautiful working in the sunlight and I wanted to paint that. He smiled and translated... and then told me "I was a very good drawer."
The family starting packing up but David, the boy, hung around and kept looking at himself in the painting. I asked if I could take his picture with the painting and he was so pleased.

This is what I love most about the plein air experience. These people touched me as I watched them toil in the fields... cheerful, happy and content. And David, so willing to help his family and so proud of his part of the work. When he saw the painting he said to me, "Look, I am carrying the water.... see."
An ordinary day of work in the Santa Ynez Valley, And extraordinary day of painting.

A Second Look

It was another warm day in the Santa Ynez Valley. I set off down Ballard Canyon Road to find a spot to paint. Driving home the other day, I had seen these structures from the road and they caught my eye.  So I set off to take a second look. The setting was perfect and the contrast of the metal structure with the organic shapes of the landscape were exciting.

I love how they are standing side by side almost as if they are watching over the newly planted vineyard behind them. They have quirky, fun proportions and interesting shapes.
The sun was hot but I was able to find a small patch of shade to paint int. Bicyclists and runners occasionally came by. One passerby remarked how they had often traveled this road and never noticed them being anything special. But on second look, they studied them and my painting and remarked that indeed it was a great scene and they were quite charming set amongst the golden hillsides.
One of my favorite things about painting is capturing a scene that is often overlooked... and allowing people to look at their familiar landscapes in a new and fresh way.
A second look.

Saddles & Sketchbooks

Today, our friend (and wonderful host!) Angela invited us to visit a farm where she was going to take her first Western Dressage lesson. Caroline and I were happy to go along and see something new (western dressage!) and spend some time with horses (we miss our two!).
We took off and headed towards the town of Santa Ynez. We turned down the driveway and entered a wonderful old riding farm surrounded with amazing vistas of vineyards and mountains. It was a hot day, but there was a nice breeze coming across the pastures.
We met Agapito De La Cruz the owner of Etcetera Farm and watched as Angela had her first lesson. Then he hopped on his horse and demonstrated the dressage techniques. What an amazing horse. Agapito is a really skilled rider. It was incredible to watch!

While the lesson was going on I turned to see the barn bathed in sunlight.... it was a perfect sketching opportunity. To my delight a cowboy even walked through the barn with a great silhouette! I hussled to add that into the sketch. It was a quick sketch... 20 minutes! I love capturing the sketch in ink and then washing in splashes of color notes to finish it off.

I showed the sketch to Agapito and Adrianna and they were amazed to see what I had done. They loved the color and even recognized the horse and owner in the foreground. They invited Caroline to come back and ride and then offered lessons in trade for a larger painting of their barn. "Perfect!," I said. Caroline is so excited to be able to ride while we are here and to expand her horse experiences... and I get to paint in a wonderful settings. It's a win-win.
My plein air sketches have created new opportunities and introduced us to new friends. It's another page in the chapter of our Santa Ynez adventure!