Cattle in the Rolling Hills

Cattle in the Rolling Hills

8x10 original oil painting, $100

In the spring, the Stanford Hills are carpeted with wildflowers and dotted with grazing cattle. Right now the grass is starting to change from green to brown, a sign that summer is coming. The painting above shows the morning light on the Stanford Hills with cattle grazing in the foreground.

Cattle grazing in the area known as Jasper Ridge began soon after the Spanish established Mission Dolores in 1776 and Mission Santa Clara in 1777. Jasper Ridge is a low ridge in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the base of the San Francisco Peninsula. Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve covers 1,189 acres just 4 miles west of the main Stanford University campus and is owned by Stanford University.

Next week, it's back to the City to paint.

Cattle Grazing in the Stanford Hills

Cattle Grazing in the Stanford Hills

8x10 original oil painting, SOLD

For many years I've admired the paintings of the "Society of Six." They were a group of plein air painters who worked in the Oakland area when it was still rural.  In 1917 the artists formed an association called the Society of Six.  I especially like the paintings by Selden Gile of cows in pastures.  Take a look at the paintings by the Society of Six, I've added a link under "websites and blogs."

For the painting above, I took photos of the cattle grazing as I was walking along the Alpine trail. The cattle seem to roam pretty freely in the Stanford Hills.  They are out in the winter when the grass is green, but then in the summer when the grass is golden, they seem to disappear, off to other pastures.

Morning Light on the Alpine Trail

Morning Light on the Alpine Trail

8x10 original oil painting

SOLD

Hiking the Dish (an old radio telescope) in the Stanford Hills is a popular way to exercise. There are amazing views of the Stanford Hills and the Bay.  From the highest points you can see all the way across the San Mateo bridge or into the City.

My painting shows a view along the Alpine trail, as you walk up through a grove of trees, with the Santa Cruz mountains in the background.  You can see part of an old fence that might have been used for the cattle grazing on the land. As you turn the corner and come out of the trees you start the steep climb to the Dish.

Stanford Hills 2

Stanford Hills 2

8x10 original oil painting

The landscape surrounding Stanford is rolling hills and open space with ever changing colors.  As we're approaching winter, the golden hills are beginning to turn green. 

On my palette, I have seven basic colors of paint, plus white.  As I was creating this painting I was amazed at the subtle variations created from these eight colors of paint.