Eucalptus Trees in the Presidio

This past weekend I participated in an event called a  "Paint-Out" in the Presidio, sponsored by the California Watercolor Association in conjunction with the 41st National Exhibition being held there this summer. It was fun!  The day was sparkling and everyone was energized and feeling ready for the adventure. You are given a specific time and theme and then you're on your own...
I painted this scene of the light coming thru a dense wall of eucalyptus trees creating a backlight on the young cypress trees planted in front of a typical Presidio Victorian.

Big Trees in the Park

It is high summer now and the meadows are baking hot, so the deep shade these large trees offer is very welcoming.

Hydrangea / study II

My hydrangea wouldn't win in any garden contest, but I love it dearly. For one thing, I never know what color (s) the blossoms will be in any year, so that"s the first surprise. Also it has an independent blooming schedule, preferring to listen to an inner prompt, rather than just following the usual bandwagon. Perhaps this is all because it is in an unlikely location, so it has to work harder than it's conventional brethren.
But best of all, it is scraggly, and and so becomes an ideal subject to paint!
This study is 9" x 12" on cold press paper.  $200.

Meadow View

This was painted at the very edge of a very large tall grass meadow on a very hot morning.  The sky was a blaze of metal and the far slope had a heat shimmer.  Even with these conditions there were walkers and joggers ! This is late summer in inland Northern California

Lisa's Chickens

This painting was a complete surprise for me- I sketched the chickens as they pecked around their pen,  and of course they never stopped to pose for me. So I scrambled and sketched as fast as I could as they entered and left from my narrow point of view.  It was like a sprint!  This little watercolor is the lively product of that effort.
7" x 10" on hot press paper

View of the Eel River at the Women's Federation Grove

I painted this from the shady side of the river,  looking towards the sunny bank with the row of redwoods as sentinels to the rear. The river was full of shadows, reflections and brilliant light all together in this short stretch. I had to get it all down fast.
9" x13"

Fresh Figs

Fresh picked from the big tree that shades my yard. They are sweet and plump.