There is still snow on the summit of Half Dome at Yosemite Park but the valley floor was warm as I painted this iconic image. The shadow across the face added to the drama. As I painted, three deer wondered by nibbling on the green grass as dozens of visitor stopped to take in the scene.

      The spring runoff of snow has engorged the rivers with water.... To read the entire article click on Painting Half Dome in Yosemite.

Rafael Nadal Wins French Open

      A friend once compared watching tennis to the thrill of watching paint dry, without the exciting finish. At the time I agreed but when I met my husband, a tennis lover, I soon realized that I would have to find a way to tolerate the game. Enter Rafael Nadal. To read this entire article click on Rafael Nadal Wins French Open.

       You may have seen my post on Millard Sheets, Millard Sheets Mural Nearly Lost. I have noticed a flurry of articles following that blog and wanted to share the latest by the Los Angeles Times.

"Ribera; Vermeer; Georges de La Tour and Rembrandt could never have existed without him; And Delacroix; Courbet and Manet would have been utterly different"
Roberto Longhi.

The artist Caravaggio had a profound influence on.....to read the entire article click on Caravaggio Adds Dramatic Lighting to the Figure.

It may be my imagination but I have recently noticed an increase in figurative paintings in exhibitions and in the top awards of many competitions. Perhaps coincidence or just maybe it is a trend. My gut tells me it is....to read this entire article click on Michelangelo and the Figure.

Ansel Adams photo of Half Dome     
The desecration of nature by man has been escalating at an alarming rate. This last week disturbing pictures of an underwater main spewing raw oil into the pristine waters of the gulf have left me soul sore. I watch in horror as the unthinkable happens and am helpless to impact the situation in any way. I fear the gulf will never be the same and that we will suffer unknown consequences for years to come. The oceans are like the air around us. Currents, instead of winds, circulate throughout. Who knows where the oil will flow. Now, scientist believe it will encroach upon the already beleaguered Florida wetlands. Click here for the entire article on Oil Spill Has Me Thoughtful.

While painting at Malibu Creek State Park, I recognized the view in front of me as one I have seen in a museum. William Wendt, along with other California Impressionists, have explored the mountains surrounding Los Angeles and their paintings of the area are well known today.  The park was a frequent destination for Wendt, but this was the first time that I experienced a deja vu moment when.....click on Painting in the Shadow of William Wendt to see the entire article.

The San Clement Plein Air Competition is coming up in June, so I decided to took a look at my paintings from last year. A fresh eye can often help in the process of evaluating a painting and this was definitely true when I pulled out High Tide. I immediately saw areas that could be adjusted to enhance the drama and better capture the feeling of the scene.

Painting a sunset on location, as it happens is extremely challenging...To read the entire article click on Reworking a Painting.

      With so many wonderful places to paint in Carmel, deciding where to paint can be difficult. I had never visited Monastery Beach and immediately fell under the spell of its beauty. Big waves crash into the beach but on either side there are calm spots where it is safe to enter the water. Click here for the entire article Painting for the Carmel Art Festival 2010.

      The diffused light adds mystery to the distant hills and eucalyptus. The beauty of the scene is enhanced by the morning fog. As I paint among the pine trees, I feel inspiration take over and I am transformed. Hours later, I realize that the empty canvas on my easel is now a lovely painting. I have captured a moment in time that will never again happen. I am an artist.....
For the complete article click on Reflections of an Artist.