Moon Dancer 12 x 14 California Landscape Painting in Watercolor

Moon Dancer 12 x 14 watercolor

Somehow the subtle taupe-y purples of the dry hills this winter look better at twilight. This enormous eucalyptus is on a ranch just east of Danville California where I live. Started Plein Air and finished in the studio.

"Breathing Room" new plein air landscape of the Northen California Hills, demonstration and set up

Breathing Room 12 x 22


In honor of Earth Day, I 'm posting this painting of the open space close to my home. When I drive here to paint I heave a sigh of relief as the  open fields and hills come into view. This is a rural area and my painting sessions are only interrupted by curious cows.

My process was pretty much my usual, horizon as the starting point and working my way down the paper.

Here's my SUV Studio  set up ,with my stool pulled out of the way.

A passerby kindly took this "'Action Photo " I sit on the stool or in the car depending on the placement of the sun ( I keep it off the paper always!) The SUV  liftback helps shade me and my paper.

"Fresh Greens" Plein Air Watercolor

Fresh Greens 18 x 24

 Here's the final version, after two weeks of staring and making minor adjustments , mostly to the foreground values. My goal was to keep the freshness but ad enough vibrancy to make the painting exciting. The title comes from the lovely greens in the grasses and the grazing cows nearby munching on the fresh greens.
Here's the link to the earlier version:
http://robinpurcellpaints.blogspot.com/2013/03/in-process-on-my-easel-today-fresh.html