Along the Creek by Julie Trail

Ruth and I almost froze our patooties this morning when we met in Amador City to paint. But the sun came up, the warm rays thawed us out and made for a beautiful painting morning! The shadows are long and dark these winter solstice days, but the warm colors of fading autumn make beautiful brights! I love the contrast between darks and lights!

Changing Season by Julie Trail

The change of season in Northern California Foothills is an artist's dream. I love nothing more than the bright hues of November. The air is crisp. The birds are migrating. This stand of brush in the Shenandoah Valley inspired me!

Path to the Barn

Ruth Andre and I met for a painting day just as the fog was clearing. We had a view of the foothills that went on forever, and this barn captured my interest. I'm thinking I need cows in the painting, as these cows entertained us with their bells ringing a tune during the hours we were there! Should I take a chance and plop a couple or three brownish blobs to approximate the cows? Or be safe and leave the grassy hillside alone?

Cottonwoods

These cottonwoods grow along Sutter Creek and always attract my attention for their tangled branches and wonderful colors. Ruth Andre and I painted this morning under mixed sun and fog. It was a beautiful morning! Spent the afternoon recreating the scene with a watercolor....a photo coming soon!

Out in the Country

After painting a small oil study of this little country road, I couldn't resist doing a watercolor in the studio. I'm not sure I like using masking fluid to keep the lights on the tree and windblown leaves. I may do it again without masking fluid! I'm exploring textures these days, lots of spattering and flicking of color!

Gnarly Oak was painted last week with my painting buddy, Ruth Andre.

Today, Ruth and I painted on Stringbean Alley in front of the Sutter Creek Gold Mine. You can turn any which way on these old country roads and find a painting! Thus: "String Bean Alley" was a self-evident name for this painting.

I turned around, and this little meadow with wispy brush just being touched by the sun called out to me. The coopers hawks were shrieking overhead, the 43 degree air was freezing my fingers, but this meadow looked so warm and inviting! "Sunny Meadow" seems a fitting title.