Wave sound

I painted in Big Sur a few days ago, in one of my favorite locations. It was overcast and calm so I could sit for four hours on the cliffs and paint without too much sun. While my layers were drying, I listened to the wave sound, and my being was immersed in water, rock and sky. I was lost in a good way. I finished the painting in my studio. I like the subtlety and the grey, peaceful aspects of the painting.

Hidden Beach- Big Sur

This is a place, hidden away, and not easy to get down to with my paints and gear. A rocky beach, unspoiled and spectacular. The rock in the right foreground was giving me grief so I added lots of water and brushed the image until it blended, then dabbed in some darks, It came out beautifully. Here, in this place, there is no time, and no thought.

Carmel Beach "Glory"

Walking on Scenic, above the beach, the waves. In my studio, trying to get the feeling of the moment. Painting quickly, several layers, and later finishing the work. It has a simplicity to it.

Leaves

December leaves, carrying bright color, their last great act.
The sun’s descendants.
Scattered yet connected, families.
A Carmel Valley trail littered with shapes to paint.

IMG_3172.jpg

Ward Lake with the HACK

Ward Lake, once again. This last August, when Dick and I hiked to Ward, it was beautifully still silence. The second day, clouds descended over the mountain. We were prepared with tents but not for hours of hail and rain. The Red Mountain, a familiar backdrop to the lake, stayed lit with sun while grey slowly took over the rest of Ward. This painting was the calm before the storm.

fullsizeoutput_ac3.jpeg

The Beyond

The Beyond is a watercolor inspired by the hike I took on Friday to Timber Top. Straight up from Hwy 1, there are commanding views down the Big Sur Coast. On the ridge I sketched the scene. Lying on my pack, I listened to the wind in the pines. To the sound of the Earth breathing.

fullsizeoutput_a99.jpeg