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Whenever possible, ideally once a week, I go out with a group of “art buddies” to paint locally.  I’m much more likely to leave the studio if encouraged by friends. I usually leave the location choices to them, as they know all sorts of nooks and crannies in Sonoma and Marin Counties (northern California) that I do not. I also find I’m less picky than many of my art companions, as I can always find something interesting and challenging. I just make sure not to set up too close to anyone else. I’m not very tolerant of chatting or ringing cell phones when I’m painting!

I only use soft pastels when I paint en plein air.  I love the portability and immediacy of the medium. Along with odds and ends of sanded papers on board, I always have with me three formats of paper, already taped to lightweight gator board and covered with a taped-down sheet of glassine (slick, non-static paper). I have a square, 12 x 12 often; a comfortable rectangle, say 12 x 16; and a long thin format, often 8 x 18. I’m ready for whatever catches my eye. I remove the glassine, do my painting and then cover it with the slick paper for slipping into my backpack.

Recently we’ve gone out three times as a group, and I set off on my own once.

In search of wildflowers, we headed to Crane Canyon Regional Park, above Cotati. I was delighted, as it’s ten minutes from home. This late in the day, the California Poppies had closed up, though there were still hints of rich orange tucked in the grasses. There were also hints of Lupine and other more delicate wildflowers. This is a Frisbee disc park as well as a place for joggers and folks with leashed dogs to wander. We had to keep our heads up as the “golfers” came through. Everyone was very good-natured about sharing such a beautiful location. This early in the season, the temperature dropped very quickly as the sun got lower, pushing me to capture the essence with accuracy and simplicity (and speed!).   

Crane Canyon Regional Park, pastel, 6 x 12"

A week later, only one other artist and I were able to head out. As she lives in Sebastopol to the west, I drove up and we visited a favorite spot of hers, Ragle Ranch. Few people were wandering through, possibly because of the ranks of rain clouds passing overhead. I was delighted by a venerable Eucalyptus towering over the valley below, late sunlight silhouetting the western sides of the new spring-growth trees. Fields off to the north (vineyards, hay?) were bright underscores to the forests beyond. The wildflowers seemed to be a week behind the earlier excursion, a nice surprise.   

Ragle Ranch, pastel, 10 x 14 1/2"

Four of us were able to head out a week later. Though a rain-threatening day, and quite blustery, we set up our easels on the causeway between wetlands and pond and got to work. The clouds were spectacular and, of course, kept changing their patterns. I had to choose one formation and be happy.  Beautiful reflections in the water also shifted dramatically as the tidal-fed pools slowly emptied. The minute the wind died down, we were overcome with clouds of insects. No wonder there were thousands of birds of all sizes and shapes! Even swans.   

Petaluma Wetlands, pastel, 6 x 13"

In search of glorious bush Lupine I’d seen at this locale years earlier, I set off to paint at Tennessee Valley Regional Park in southern Marin County. I’d forgotten how long the walk was back to the hopefully Lupine-covered hills on the way to a fairly  rugged beach and the Pacific Ocean. I’m not one to pack lightly when I paint out. Thus any complaints about sore feet and shoulders were directed only at myself. Sadly, there were few blooming Lupine this year. I’m not sure if I was early or late. However, having trekked so far with all my materials, I made the best of it by selecting a dramatic view of a tall Eucalyptus below still-green hills. Ribbons of more trees came down to meet my big friend, and a path led the eye back into the valley.  I received big thumbs-up from a class of high school kids on a day excursion passing on the path above me! Showed me I was on the right track with my pastel.   

Tennessee Valley, pastel, 9 1/2 x 15 1/2"