"Poppy Mound" plein air watercolor painted on Mount Diablo

"Poppy Mound" 16 x 20 Plein Air Watercolor .
 Painted on Mount Diablo.
 The best poppies I've seen on Mount Diablo in years, the drought allowed to poppies to grow faster than the grasses. This was so much fun to paint! Perfect conditions, sunny in the 60's , no wind and lots of friendly visitors stopping to take pictures. Probably the most people I've ever seen while painting on Diablo .

I made cards of this painting. They are available here:
http://www.zazzle.com/poppy_mound_greeting_cards-137248925079928988

 Here are two in process shots:

Sunday Morning, Avila Beach

Sunday Morning, Avila Beach 12 1/2 x 16 1/2

Trying for Light and Color......one of my favorite places in the world

Ripples 14 x 12

Rippled 14 x12

This is more realistic than usual for me.
I worked on it yesterday and am letting it sit while evaluating that big white area.
I am trying to put more light in my paintings and am wondering if that also means more realism.

testing you tube for videos

"Mount Diablo, Earliest Spring" California Watercolor Association Guest Artist Demonstration

 Mount Diablo , Earliest Spring 14 x 14

Getting started

A black and white version of a painting that had summer colors and a small postcard of a different painting from the same place,I wanted to use it to paint a spring version.
My talking points, on my board right next to the painting.
My palette on the easel( I use a horizontal Richeson Steele easel)

Thanks to the California Watercolor for taking the pictures and for inviting me!

Thanks so much to the California Art Club and the Autry!

Honored to even be in the same email with these wonderful artists.
Charles Muench
Bryan Mark Taylor
Me
Eric Merrell
John Burton

and to have my painting featured here
http://theautry.org/special-installations/california-art-clubs-103rd-annual-gold-medal-juried-exhibition

Looking at Landscapes For more than a century, California Art Club artists  have been inspired to capture on canvas the scenic  natural beauty that surrounds them. Here is a selection of some of the exquisite landscape  paintings that will be on view and available for  acquisition at this year's Gold Medal Exhibition.     Charles Muench, The Heart of Tejon Oil on linen     36" x 40"     $13,500      Bryan Mark Taylor, Farms Across the Valley Oil on canvas     40'' x 60''    $10,000 Robin Purcell, Summer Hill, Upper Valley Watercolor     18'' x 24''     $2,600 Eric Merrell, Moonwashed Desert Oil on canvas on panel    21'' x 24''    $3,500 John Burton, Glory Oil     26'' x 36''   $9,000 Click here to purchase tickets for the Artists' Gala Reception on Saturday, March 29.  To view the Gold Medal calendar of events and educational programs, click here. Note: The full exhibition will be available  to view on the CAC website after March 17.   And To be featured here http://theautry.org/special-installations/california-art-clubs-103rd-annual-gold-medal-juried-exhibition