Stunningly beautiful skies over Marin today. The light was just perfect. Rolling rain clouds dragged their shadows across the hills and set up a lot of really dramatic compositions. Anywhere in Marin would have been nice to paint but I had the good fortune of having a meeting up at Skywalker Ranch today. I showed up a little early so I could scramble up above the winery to catch the last of the days light. I’m so glad I did that because the southern view there was just fantastic.
The weather was very dynamic today in Corte Madera. Dark rain clouds and blue sky. I didn’t want to get caught under a downpour so I just set up on the trailhead across from the mall and painted the view north towards Greenbrae.
I did this painting a while back, it was a really beautiful afternoon but blazing hot. I didn’t last more than an hour and a half in the direct sun. On the way down the hill I ran into an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. I need to remember to come back here with a larger canvas. There were some great panoramic compositions but they didn’t work on my little panel.
It was an interesting morning on the ranch. A wild bushtit landed on my paint brush while I was working on this oil sketch. Then my mom brought over a bucket with a large false tarantula in it and last but not least a small flock of mangy looking runaway goats showed up on our property and I had to try and round them up on the four-wheeler.
I haven’t painted in while. I feel pretty rusty. Forgot to bring turp for the clean up.
I walk across this little bridge all the time to paint. It looked nice as the sun was going down so i decided to stop and just paint it this time.
I set up just as the sun disappeared behind Kentfield and painted through golden hour until I lost all my light and couldn’t see the colors anymore. On the walk back I was graced by an owl hunting on the salt marsh. Not a bad way to end the day.
Between the deadlines at work, all the end of the school year events and friends getting hurt or sick. I’ve found it difficult to find time or motivation to paint. I force myself to paint today just to break the trend. I feel really rusty, like I haven’t painted in years. Got to get that momentum back.
There are a lot of drawings, paintings and films I’ve made over the years which I find hard to enjoy because they remind me of whatever was going on at the time I made them. I guess I’ll file this one in that category.
I was just leaning into this painting when I got a call from my girlfriend who was en route to the emergency room. She broke a finger in a cycling accident. That was the end of the painting . Cleaned up as fast as I could, took a quick picture and then was on the road north. I cleaned the painting up a little after we got her all bandaged up and on the road to recovery.
When I set up my gear the overcast sky led me to believe that it was going to be a pleasant rose colored sunset, then the wind picked up and by the time I had the under painting down the veil parted. It was so bright. This view is probably etch onto the back of my eyeballs. I’d squint for a quick peak and then turn away to paint and that was too much. I was just guessing at the colors until the sun dropped behind Kentfield. note to self: always pack your sun glasses.
As I was cleaning up I met a friendly neighbor and we had a lovely conversation about art, philosophy and the joy of learning. It was a nice way to wrap up the day.
I had a great time with the kids on their fourth grade field trip to Sutter’s Mill this week. After a hard day of panning for gold, I was able to break away at dinner for a quick river painting.
