Lost Fence in Tule Creek

An old fence is nearly hidden in the tule grass near Tule Creek.  This is from the same hike in April and was also painted in May shortly before the painting in the previous post.

Lost Fence in Tule Creek
acrylic on stretched canvas
8" x 8" x 1/2"

In Flight Over Tule Creek

A bird takes flight over the pooling waters of Tule Creek, a place I hiked in April before doing this painting in May.

In Flight Over Tule Creek
acrylic on stretched canvas
8" x 8" x 1/2"

Windswept Trees by Telescope Peak

The trees along the ridge to Telescope Peak show well what the prevailing wind is and it was blowing in a rather prevailing way as we crossed along it to the peak.  Death Valley makes a stark background.

Windswept by Telescope Peak
acrylic on stretched canvas
8" x 8" x 1.5"

Gaviota cold spring

Down the south side of the Santa Ynez Mountains near Gaviota, there's a burst of trees by some grass and a spring below.  I found it while exploring the area.  Today, I painted it, with some liberties.

Gaviota Cold Spring
acrylic on stretched canvas
8" x 8" x 1.5"

Dry Lakes Ridge

I stopped and sketched this view at the time, so it is no wonder that I might go back and paint it too.  This is the lower of the false lakes along Dry Lakes Ridge and the one that is full of grass rather than sage.  It is painted on an 8" square of stretched canvas with 1.5" edges, so nearly half the painting is hidden around the outside.  Finished it today.

Lake of grass, lowest of the false dry lakes
acrylic on stretched canvas
8" x 8" x 1.5"

Rocks Along the Ridge to Cathedral Peak (no. 2)

Another of those rocks along the ridge.  This spot was a bit less green and the inclusions all hollowed out.  Completed today.

Rocks Along the Ridge to Cathedral Peak (no. 2)
acrylic on canvas board
7" x 5", $46

Rocks Along the Ridge to Cathedral Peak (no. 1)

I liked the inclusions in the sandstone along the ridge as I hiked up toward Cathedral Peak, so decided to make some small studies of a couple spots.  Only one flower was blooming, but in late summer around here, that's not too bad.  I decided to start with one including the flower.  Completed yesterday.

Rocks Along the Ridge to Cathedral Peak (no. 1)
acrylic on canvas panel
7" x 5", $46

Oak on a Gaviota Ridge, again

I returned to the same tree (as seen in the previous post) the next day, but give it a completely different treatment still combining the schematic nature of my sketches with the more interesting coloring that a proper painting allows.  For this one, I started with the outline, then brought in water and other colors to blur the line and bring in many more colors.  This particular paper (Fabriano Artistico) grabs the colors a bit more than I wanted.  I really have to do a few more like this, but I'll use another paper brand that I was basing my expectations on (Daler-Rowney Langton Prestige).

Outline of an Oak on a Gaviota Ridge
watercolor on 100% cotton, rough watercolor paper
12" x 9", $68