Every summer for years, I've been doing an Art New England residential program at the Helen Frankenthaler Studios of Bennington College. I think walking by a big painting of hers twice a day had an influence, and this just flowed one late evening in the studio. "Ode to Helen Frankenthaler Studio"

In Santa Barbara collections, both a small and a large version.

this acrylic painting just won the Jurors Purchase Award at the Abstract Art Collective’s Fourth Annual Open Show. Juror: Nancy Giffords

I went, warily, to see one of my favorite places, Toro Canyon, after the fire and floods. People had warned me it had burned and was inaccessible, but the road was cleared and open, and the park green and showing no signs of damage. Spring is a time for renewal.

Looking up the coast at twilight, the low sun and spring growth after rain created a harmony in greens and violet.

See this painting now at the Island Brewery, a family-friendly beer tasting room in Carpinteria. http://www.islandbrewingcompany.com

Oil on cradled board

Now in a New England collection.

Violet clouds moved in on the horizon as we painted a quiet afternoon at Hendrys Beach.

Now in a Santa Barbara collection.

This 6 foot by 3 foot painting was painted plein air over the course of a few sunsets, looking toward the mountains from the tip of Shoreline Park. Now in a Philadelphia collection.

Oil on linen-covered artist wood panel (SourceTek); Not for sale because its a new method and needed for reference.

Was in the exhibit "Nature in Motion" at the Wildling Museum, Solvang, California.

Nojoqui Trickle I won Juror's Choice and was sold at "Near and Far: Plein Air in County Parks" exhibit, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, California, 2015 (juror: David Gallup)
A painter friend encouraged me to enlarge this painting, and the big version sold at the SCAPE show to benefit the Gaviota Coast at the Bacara, yielding a nice donation to the Gaviota Coast Conservancy.

Santa Barbara harbor has lots of luscious views--the ice house, the boat hoists and docks, as well as the boats themselves. It's one of my favorite places to paint, and this is a rare shady spot to set up the easel.

sketch from life
I loved seeing these cows, their white smooth bodies against the dark backgrounds of barn and ground, the white showing the shadows in their skin stretching around bony hips and shoulders, their bodies massive. These were all cows; we were not allowed to paint the bulls because they were in a separate barn. Our host described them as "Not dangerous, but very ...Italian."

oil/Japanese wood block panel

For years, artists and critics have been telling me to paint a large version of "Nojoqui Falls Trickle," which won juror's choice at the County Parks show. Many hours and layers of paint later, it's done. Oil on cradled board. Sold at the SCAPE Ritz-Carlton Bacara to a couple who each independently picked it as their favorite.

After walking along Shoreline Park, watching extraordinary cloud action, I came back and sketched this piece.
Being kept as a reference.

This painting has been lost.

Pastel on pastel paper

This 8 x 11" image is framed to be hung in any orientation.

Olive, cypress, dark clouds and sun over the hill in the distance, and the owner of the olive groves in a big hat and blue work clothes, at work trimming the trees.

Colors and shapes inspired this abstracted view. It's now in the collection of California artist Whitney Brooks Abbott.

I loved the fragile beauty of this eucalyptus, over the hill, backed by the pearly dawn. Oil on birch panel. Painted plein air at dawn, way up high in Santa Barbara. Now in a Washington DC collection

Light and shadow played and so did I at the end of a long day of painting wild conditions on Carpinteria's beautiful bluffs.

oil

This is a sketch for a larger version. Not for sale until the big one is just right!

Oil sketch

oil sketch
Gone to the East Coast

Acrylic on artists panel
Painted at my nephew Ben's wedding, where the huge tree in front sheltered and then allowed the small tree on the little island to flourish.

Oil; painted from a boat at the back of the Channel Islands; framed to 9 x 11"

Plein air sketch on a very bright day, when the ocean met the slough

Plein air acrylic underpainting with oil, with a little studio finish to it.

oil/ linen-covered wood panel

Carpinteria Arts Center chose this painting for all the publicity for the Summer, 2015 show, "California Dreaming." The painting shows a sunset behind Meg's husband's office on the UCSB campus, through old cypress at Hope Ranch.

Oil over canvas
Gone to a beautiful old house in New England, fitting because this is Motif #2
(Motif #1 Being in Rockport, Massachusetts)

Oil on linen-covered birch panel.

Oil on linen covered birch panel
12 x 16

Now in a Santa Barbara collection

Tiny little abstract study, oil and marker on wood panel.

oil on linen-covered wood panel
Going to a collection in Marin County

oil/Japanese wood block panel; now in a Santa Barbara collection

On its way to a Boston collection.

Now in a New Hampshire collection

Oil on Canvas
Now in a New Hampshire collection

Pastel Sketch on Sanded Paper; Stolen or misplaced at GVAA/SBAA Hutton show, Santa Barbara

Oil; Juried into Visons of Gaviota: SCAPE show at the Bacara Resort, April, 2013, Juror: John Iwerks

Now in the collection of a wonderful Santa Barbara painter

Oil sketch, unframed

Oil on stretched canvas; Juried into Visons of Gaviota: SCAPE show at the Bacara Resort, April, 2013, Juror: John Iwerks; added to a Santa Barbara collection after being shown at the University Club of Santa Barbara.

This postcard-sized oil sketch, 4.5 x 6.25 inches, framed to 6 x 8 inches, was sold at the SCAPE County Parks Show, 2014.

This one is nestled in the library of a lovely house above the Hudson River in New York.

going to a collection in Australia

Now in a Santa Barbara collection

Oil on linen panel over birch wood, Juried into and sold at the SCAPE Bacara Resort Show, 'Visions of Gaviota,' April, 2014,
Juror: John Iwerks

Jurored into and sold at the SCAPE Bacara Resort 'Visions of Gaviota' show, April 2014

Oil on Smooth Artist Panel, Jurored into and sold at the SCAPE Bacara 'Visions of Gaviota' show, April, 2014

Juried into and sold at the 2013 SCAPE Art Along the Creek Show, Juror: Larry Iwerks

Now in a Philadelphia collection

Pastel on Sanded Paper - Now in a Santa Barbara collection

Pastel on Sanded Paper - SOLD - Juried into and sold at SCAPE Bacara Show 2013.

Oil on canvas
Massachusetts collection

Hung with "Violet Evening"in a Massachusetts collection.

Pastel over Water Color Underpainting - Private collection, Virginia

Pastel Over Watercolor on Wallis Paper, now in a Philadelphia collection

Pastel Sketch on Sanded Paper - on its way to a Boston collector

Pastel on Sanded Paper, Now in a beautiful house overlooking the Hudson River

Oil on Canvas
Painted plein air in Cassis, France, as the evening sun went down on a very clear day just after a mistral, lighting up the golden limestone cliffs in front and Cap Canaille behind.

Oil

Pastel on Sanded Paper, NFS

Pastel on Sanded Paper - NFS - First version juried into and sold at Bacara SCAPE Show 2013

Pastel on Sanded Paper

Pastel on Sanded Paper, prints available
Framed archival giclee now on display at The Good Life, Solvang, California

Now in a collection in England

Pastel over ground pastel over oil print. Won 2nd prize at Carpinteria Arts Center Abstract show, June, 2014, Juror: Rick Stich, and sold at the show artist's reception to Santa Barbara collectors.

Oil
Private collection, Santa Barbara

9.75x9.75

oil/wood panel

Sold at the Bacara Gaviota Coast benefit 2015

watercolor, pen and ink and pastel pencil sketch

Pastel Sketch on Sanded Paper
This is framed in black mat and black frame, and looks great with 'Fire in the Canyon' matted and framed in white.

Pastel sketch over ground pastel over oil palette print.This can be hung in any orientation.

Oil Sketch

Pastel sketch on Sanded Paper

Oil
Bought by a Santa Barbara collector from the University Club exhibit, 2015

Oil on Canvas;
On its way to a beautiful old house on an island in Maine

Currently on display in the dining room at the University Club, Santa Barbara.

Oil on 1" Cradled Board

oil

Oil Sketch --See "Yellow" pairs for tryptich details.

Oil on cradled board

Won Honorable Mention at the SCAPE Wilderness Show, the Art Foundry, Santa Barbara, September 19, 2014
Judge: Patty Jaquemain

Now on display at the Los Olivos Gallery, Los Olivos, California