Clouds Over Kentfield
Lunchtime painting over by the Tamalpais Creek bridge, Looking west towards Kentfield. Really wet on the trails after the storm, I couldn’t go very far without mud boots.
Tam from McInnis Park
The post rain clouds were fantastic this afternoon. I caught them at the tail end of the day over at McInnis Park, in San Rafael. I setup on the dock, just behind Gravity Vault Climbing Gym and enjoyed a stunning view of Mt. Tamalpais as the sun set.
Post Rain Reeds
Walked across the street to see what the heavy rains and flooding the day before had done to the salt marsh. The damage wasn’t too bad but the storm had left the grass and reeds in a tangled twist which was rather pleasing to look at. That was enough for me so out came my easel.
Morning Clouds Above AV
I drove up to the ranch yesterday morning and just as I got to Alexander Valley the rain began to thin. The Light was marbled and beautiful so I pulled over below lake Elizabeth to paint. Worried about another downpour, I set up under the back door of my little hatch back car but it was all for not because the weather only improved. It was another gorgeous morning in Alexander Valley and I was happy to be back home once again. I didn’t even mind when the neighbor’s security guard stopped to interrogate me about trespassing.
Winery Driveway
The light yesterday afternoon were pretty fantastic. I had some time before driving back down to Marin so I swung by the winery to paint the view looking south. It started raining on me about an hour in and I had to wrap up earlier than I would have liked.
Outgoing Tide
Painting next to the footbridge behind Kent middle school. The tide went out faster than I expected and I saw the water drop about two feet. I had to retool the composition a few times just to keep up. Probably should start checking the tide charts before heading over to the salt marsh.
Downside of having a really light painting kit: The wind got me again. It blew over the painting and chipped it this time. I had to scrap my first pass to get all the rocks out. ugh
First Rain
Big deal here in drought stricken Marin CA, it actually rained! Excitedly I took my gear across the street and started to paint a soccer/football game over at Kent Middle school. It was just a drizzle at first then the wind picked up and it turned into a proper storm. I had to fight to hold onto the canvas. The match across the marsh got called around the same time my umbrella crumpled in the wind and took my painting for a ride. Drenched I pulled my pallet from the mud and ran back home.
The Canadian in me mocked my retreat back to the warm apartment but the American in me enjoyed finishing the painting while drinking wine and watching movies with the kids.
Corte Madera Sunrise
I couldn’t sleep so I drove over to the bay to paint. I set up on the north side of the estuary looking south across Corte Madera Marsh State Marine Park, aka the running trail behind Trader Joe’s. While I was roughing in the underpainting, the high school running team passed by on their morning loop and then the sky exploded into a brilliant wash of pink and lavender. It was a lovely sunrise.
Creekside Dawn
The wind woke me up around four this morning and after a fruitless effort to go back to sleep, I grabbed my painting gear and rode over to the marsh inlet. I painted until the sun crested the trees and couldn’t see anymore. After a short stop at the bakery I headed back home and finished this up over coffee.
Larkspur Morning
After my morning coffee I stepped across the street to paint the salt mash. I like how shadows from the trees off to the right cut across the landscape early in the morning.
