Santa Barbara

Greetings again, friends and blog readers!

Here's a studio painting finished about a week ago.

I was in Santa Barbara, CA , just a few weeks ago, and was able to take several  good photo references; this painting based on a photo showing part of the large rose garden and grassy slope leading up to the Santa Barbara Mission, the so called 'queen' of the California Missions.  From the Mission's front steps there's a great view over the city and down to the harbor and channel islands beyond.  No city I can think of is as beautiful or impressive.  The combination of seashore and mountains, the abundance and variety of trees and flowers, the old Spanish architecture; it's just wonderful... particular for a landscape painter.

I did manage to get in a quick plein air painting attempt while there. Borrowing a rickety old easel and some other supplies, I drove out to a mountain view location and began to block in a scene of a late afternoon sun hitting the mountains over the city. However, very quickly, some heavy clouds rolled over the hills and completely obscurred the view, so I had to quit. While packing up, a man nearby asked me , "did you paint the rainbow in?" Sure enough, an unusually long rainbow had situated itself over the scene and I was able to snap a quick photo:

I hope to paint more scenes of Santa Barbara in the near future.

A reminder to any local painters interested in oil painting instruction; my class at Art School in Sandy Springs starts on 1/9/12. Also, I hope to bring you details shortly on a still life workshop in Dahlonega, GA, in the early spring, and a few other potential workshops still in the planning stage. 

As usual, I welcome any comments or questions you may have regarding my work, or my classes. 

Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas season!

"may your days be merry and bright......" !

John