And Then There's This One

...down by the beach. It even offers a bench on that lowest branch. "Have a sit," it says. "Stick around awhile."

So Many Favorites

There are so many lovely trees in the East Bay. This magnolia, for instance, all green and leafy. 

Merry Merry

"Merry Merry"
8x8" watercolor on Grumbacher cold press paper

Shouldn’t I be working?

I really should be working.

But it's persimmon season! 

Okay, three versions. Now, time to get back to work. 

Who Says Cali Doesn't Have Seasons?

Fall in the Courtyard
7 x 10.25" watercolor

We may not have snow up here in the East Bay, but fall has been glorious. The scarlet in the courtyard has been touching my heart for weeks. 

Caught

Favorite Tree
Watercolor on Arches 100% cotton w/c paper

Caught.

Between a realistic approach vs. a simpler, more expressive approach.

Between an idea of how I wanted this to look and, to paraphrase Frank Conroy, that "pure idea" destroyed by "impure reality" -- in this case, my lack of skills.

Between wanting to stay on this learning curve and wanting to abandon it because, now that I'm trying harder, it seems like the art gets worse instead of better.

And so it goes.

I've encountered this phenom in my writing life. Why should the painting life be any different? 

Hiking at Lake Chabot

Friday's hike--such beauty at Lake Chabot.