Summer Reflections

Summer Reflections

original oil painting, 11x14 $475

Viewpoints Gallery

Summer is almost over - the last day of summer is only two weeks away - September 22. Recently, I painted with the Woodside Plein Air group at Ann Hogle's house in Woodside.  Ann's home is on an acreage with native oaks and redwood trees.  Ann and her husband have a big vegetable garden, flower garden, lemon and lime trees. They are kind of self sufficient, which is good because they are up in the Santa Cruz mountains.  I chose a view of her swimming pool because I liked the organic shape, the orange retaining wall and the reflections in the water. 

Whiskey Hill Rd, Woodside

Whiskey Hill Rd, Woodside

original oil, 6x6

Studio Gallery

 SOLD

Another painting in "Tiny" at Studio Gallery in San Francisco through December 24th.

I ride my bike on Whiskey Hill Road in the mornings.  I was trying to capture the sense of distance and atmosphere in the Santa Cruz mountains with this painting. 

Eucalyptus 4, Woodside

Eucalyptus 4, Woodside

8x10 original oil painting

There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus, but only 15 species occur outside of Australia. In the 1850s, Eucalyptus trees were introduced to California by Australians during the California Gold Rush. It was hoped that they would provide a renewable source of timber for construction and railroad ties. The wood was found to be unsuitable, so instead Eucalyptus trees were used as wind breaks in many rural areas.

My painting shows a Eucalyptus grove off of Canada Road.  I was attracted to the white bark on the tree contrasting with the dark trees in the background.

Eucalyptus 3, Woodside

Eucalyptus 3, Woodside

8x10 original oil painting

The leaves on the trees are changing to fall colors.  Yesterday we were watching the first storm of the season strip away the bark from the Eucalyptus trees in our front yard to reveal intense yellows, browns and green colored trunks.

Summer Vines, Fogarty Vineyards & Winery

Summer Vines, Fogarty Vineyards and Winery

8x10, original oil painting

Fogarty Vineyards and Winery is located high in the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Silicon Valley.  As you enter the winery, off to the right you will see the Portola Springs Vineyard, which is the view captured in my painting.

The Portola Springs Vineyard is the steepest and most extreme site on the property.  The vineyard produces the grapes for the Fogarty Chardonnay wines.  When I created the painting, the vines were leafing out, but the grapes were immature.  The grass between the rows was beginning to turn a golden color.  The shale and sandstone soil conditions and extreme exposure, lead to some of the most unique and intriguing wines made at Fogarty Vineyards and Winery.

The winery was established as a commercial venture in 1981 by Dr. Thomas Fogarty, Professor of Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center.  While working as a surgeon Dr. Fogarty helped a colleague with winemaking. His interest blossomed and he later purchased acreage in the Santa Cruz Mountains and planted his first vines in 1978. The estate now consists of 325 acres, 25 of which are under vine.

Eucalyptus, Woodside

Eucalyptus, Woodside

8x10, original oil painting

SOLD

The variety of colors in Eucalpytus trees make them interesting to paint.  The Eucalpytus tree in my painting, has a light gray-brown colored trunk with red, yellow and blue tones in the peeling bark.  The immature leaves are rounded in shape and a cool blue color, while the mature leaves are elongated and a warm green tone.  As the leaves age they change to a translucent red-orange color.  Nature creates all the beautiful color, I just have to be observant.

Eucalyptus Trees

Eucalyptus 2, Woodside

8x10, original oil painting

SOLD

My husband and I moved to Woodside last November.  We're living in a semi-rural area between San Francisco and San Jose.  We love the neighborhood and I've been inspired to paint Eucalyptus trees, because they are everywhere.  I'm posting one of my recent paintings.