New Years Day painting on the beach

This was painted while at Christensen Cove looking across the Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon Island.

Airstream

I took my sketchbook and watercolors with me on my walk today.

Leavenworth Golf Course

Blessed with good weather for most of the week this was looking south over the golf course. Done in a Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook with a watercolor wash or two......

Leavenworth, WA.

Bodega Bay, Ca.

Driving up to the Bodega Head was fun... but the parking lot is small.... and filled up rather quickly! It was a bit crowded due to the Summer time visitors. I'll have to revisit again in sometime in the Fall.

So I decided to drive back down the hill and over to the Marina. Didn't find anything that caught my attention at Spud Point Marina but found a nice spot at the Porto Bodega Marina. I had set up my gear .... and it suddenly started to RAIN! Typical weather along this part of the coast.... So I packed up, parked and painted some studies from my car. 

(top) View at the entrance of  Marina - a boat parked in front of large lush trees. 

(bottom) Squeezed in one more study of a hillside behind one of the vacation homes.

(Gouache studies 4"x6" each in sketchbook) 

Well that was my plein air adventure along the northern California coast! 

I may try for another farm or maybe winery next paintout :)

California Poppies

Went for a hike and came across these Golden Poppies growing between these cluster of rocks.

(7" x 10" Watercolors on Watercolor board)

For the past month I would see these bright orange flowers blooming along the North Bay freeway. If you haven't seen or heard of this flower it's call the "California Poppy" but also goes by "Golden Poppy" and "Cup of Gold". It's the California State Flower.

Gone Fishing - Petaluma, Ca.

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! Here's a snapshot from a recent paintout at a fishing pond in Sonoma County.

The hike was pleasant and the pond was quite easy to find. It was so fun to see all the fall leaves in the background and the 2 families fishing on both sides of the pond. Already looking forward to returning and hiking to the opposite side of the trail and maybe paint one of the vista views.

Psychic Barber in West Seattle

I went with my husband to the Psychic Barber in West Seattle.  He's a great barber, but he's not really psychic.  As he tells it, he once shared a building with a psychic and they both had their signs in the window.  People assumed, and took it from there.  He became known as the Psychic Barber.  The psychic moved out, leaving the sign behind.  He took the sign with him when he eventually moved to a new spot.  He is closed Sundays and Mondays, and prefers you make an appointment.

This is a quick pen and ink sketch with a little watercolor splashed on.