Point Lobos

I've wanted to paint at Point Lobos in California for quite some time now.  I recently returned from a recent trip to California.  It was a great place to paint.  I found the California landscape was an easier landscape then most to paint because of all the moisture in the air helped cool things as they recede in the distance.  Compare that with bone dry Idaho (humidity was literal less the 1% the other day) and it's hard to tell if a distant mountain is 5 miles or 15 miles.

Anyhow, with waves crashing, a cool sea breeze, and the smell of salt water in the air you can't ask for much better.

Dang You California....

Did this study in a hurry 6 x 8 in. from the North Shore Trail Point Lobos

It's true I am a native Californian and much of my family and my extended family still live there so I do love the place. However, there is a reason why I don't live there.  Take for instance today.  I drove hundreds of miles through the horrid Nevada desert (if you've done the Idaho to California drive you know what I mean and if you haven't don't bother).

I arrive in the "Golden State" only to be socked in by coastal fog all day long!  Yet, 300 yards off the beach it was crystal clear blue sky.  I walked along Point Lobos State Reserve taking photos and did a few small color studies (see above).  But the great California color was socked in by coastal haze....booo!

Then we decided to drive home only to be stuck in a typical California traffic jam.... 1 hour 25 minutes to drive 25 miles.  Forecast for tomorrow...coastal fog.......and traffic.

Fish Out of Water!

 "That Green Bug is Cool!" 8 x 10 in.

This is my "keeper" from the first two days.  Painted this on 12th and O'Ferrel St in Boise.  Only one person came up to me and he was very nice.

For the last few years, I have focused solely on landscape painting.  Mostly because I love it and mostly because it gets me outside in nature.  However, this week I have been a fish out of water. I signed up for "Plein Air Boise" which is my very first plein air painting competition (above is my "keeper"....the others stunk)

I'm not big into competitions. I think I spent all my competitive spirit when I played sports but since it was local and since I had never done one before I thought, "ah, what the heck?"  What I realized is how different cityscapes are.  In general terms they're not that much different form landscapes, you still have to do all the art stuff like values, color, design, edges, brushwork, etc.  What is different is all the city "junk" like people asking for directions, honking horns, crazy people talking to themselves, bike riders bolting past you, foul smells form trash cans, little kids asking "what are you doing?", dogs sniffing you, delivery trucks driving right in front of your subject, and people listening to their I-pods way too loud. 

I guess some people love humanity and others don't....put me down in the don't category....till next time!