Malibu Creek Reflections - a Southern California Plein Air Landscape

Malibu Creek Reflections © Marian Fortunati 11"x14" Oil on RayMar Panel $350

The week before my husband's surgery I was trying to anticipate many weeks ahead of being home while he was working on regaining his strength and ability to get around with his new "bionic" hip.  I knew that the California Art Club's monthly paint out was scheduled for the following week and that I probably wouldn't be able to join the group, so I decided to visit Malibu Creek State Park alone.

This is one of many jewels in the system of California State Parks.  It saddens me when I hear that so many parks are being closed because of our tremendous money woes.  I only hope that if we manage to get our state budget under control and regain some services, that the State Parks are among the first to be restored.

It was a perfect day with cool, crisp air and a beautiful blue sky... Clouds floated by but were not threatening.  I hiked more than I usually do when I go to the park to paint with all of my gear.  I crossed the creek (getting my foot wet when I didn't quite make it from one rock to another) and hiked across the plain to the Visitor Center... which was closed.  Then I went over the bridge and back toward this beautiful gorge.  

I felt I hadn't been there before.... but yet I had.   I KNOW that the place I ended up and where I painted really looked familiar, but I also know that I had never hiked in the way that I did that day.   I totally enjoyed sitting by the stream and listening to the water running over the rocks as I painted.  I was entranced by the beautiful colors that played in the reflections of the water.   ... just heavenly!.....

Vic Riseau - CAC Artist Member

When I returned home, I looked back in my archives and realized that I MUST have been nearby before because a painting a did years ago from photos of the area looks eerily similar.    (The Gorge At Malibu Creek)   It's different, of course... not done or even started en plein air, but too similar not to be the same scene.   However, my memory of getting to this place differs so totally that I am now feeling the need to get a map of the park so I can solve my own mystery.

Here's another image of somewhere very nearby done by the wonderfully versatile California Art Club Artist member, Vic Riseau.  I saw it in the CAC newsletter that just came in my mail and thought you all would like to see it also.  I am in awe of this man's skills.   Isn't it wonderful?

Anyway... I totally enjoyed my day.   I got my mind away from worries and really did get some great exercise, hiking all over this beautiful park.   My wish for all of you is to share the joy of being outside in a beautiful place doing what you love to do!  - Be well.

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Walking Through Molasses

Dead Man's Curve
© Marian Fortunati
12"x9" Oil on RayMar Linen Panel
$200

Do you ever feel this way?   - Like you are trying to walk through molasses?

I haven't gone out painting in a few weeks.   Happily, my husband is making real progress, and we are both looking forward to him regaining the independence we are both accustomed to very soon.  But in the meantime, I'm home.  Oh, I've gone out to a few art receptions, which is a great way to see many friends and enjoy a diverse range of art.  Last night was the artists' reception for a wonderful show in Pasadena at the Women's City Club called "Spring Forward".   Four of my paintings were juried in to the show and I thought the reception was fabulous.  It was so crowded that I had to park way up the street and walk down to get there.  I met a lot of new people and had a wonderful time talking to them and to "old" friends and acquaintances.  The show will be hung until July so if you're in the area, go on by to see some great art AND a fabulous historical house - The Blinn House.

Why I get to feeling this way (like walking through molasses), I can't tell you.  I know I am extremely fortunate.  Maybe I just need a plein air fix to get me going again.  I'm aiming for a day next week.

In the meantime, I've worked on a few paintings I started in plein air before Gastone's surgery.  The one posted on this page was started on a day Sharon Weaver and I headed out to paint at the beach.   We got up over the hill and looked out toward the ocean and saw nothing but a big bank of fog!  So we turned around and explored a bit.  We got out at an overlook and decided to paint.  I was entranced by the ranges of mountains that seemed to vanish in the thick atmosphere of the day.  Although it was "clear" where we were painting, obviously the air was "thick"...  lots of atmosphere... like molasses.  I  titled the painting "Dead Man's Curve" because while we were there a city worker was repairing the signs that he says are constantly knocked down by people racing their cars and motor cycles up the Mulholland Highway.   I had a visual of someone racing down the hill and not quite making the curve before flying off into the abyss.  

I've come to the conclusion that people seem to be attracted to "pretty" colors in my work but on this painting I stuck with pretty much what colors were there.   I think it still works.    Do you?

Can you hear Jan and Dean singing the song???   The actual place made famous by their song and Jan's near fatal accident wasn't on Mulholland Highway - I believe it was on one of the curves on Sunset Blvd, but the effect is the same.

Values

A Cool Mountain Pool
© Marian Fortunati
8"x10" Oil on Canvas
$160   

I've been pretty much attached at the hip (pun intended) with my husband since his surgery.  Happily, all has gone well and I think the worst is over for him.   It has been a week and a half since the surgeons inserted a new hip and he's walking around with a crutch now.  Of course, he still has some pain and needs to continue to be careful.  He can't drive for several more weeks, so he's not as independent as he'd like, but all is looking good.  The absolutely ugly black bruise which extended from his butt down his leg to his ankle is beginning to turn interesting shades of purple, green and even yellow.  Isn't it amazing?   We are really blessed!

While he's resting, I've tried to paint some.  It's been tough between fetching things and running downstairs to check when I hear him groaning on the baby monitor, but painting relaxes me. I decided to try to paint rocks under water.  I also wanted to catch the way the sun made patterns of light and shade on the rocks above the water.  If you have read much of my blog, you know about me and my rock phobia.  But I've always wanted to try the underwater rocks and while browsing around in magazines and on the Internet, I've seen some absolutely fabulous artists' work that inspired me.  I however, seemed to find the job quite difficult when I started.  It's amazing how subtle variations in value can convey the look of stones covered with water.  I started with the thought of layering the paint using transparent paint.  I finally achieved close to the look I wanted but because I used a regular stretched canvas, I was a bit unhappy with the way the weave of the canvas showed.  I have gotten used to using thicker paint which covers much of the woven quality of canvas.  I finally added even more layers and ended up with a pool that looked quite a bit like the beautiful pool in the creek where I had painted several weeks back up in Montecito. 

I hope none of you have experienced the horrendous hardships caused by the recent flooding and tornadoes that have plagued our country.  It seems that no matter what our circumstances, nature is the great leveler.  Be well and stay safe. 

Colorful China Cove - California Coastal Painting

Colorful China Cove © Marian Fortunati 30" x 24" Oil on Canvas

China Cove is just south of Carmel, California, on the gorgeous Monterey Peninsula.  It is a beautiful spot to hike and the prevailing winds can change the scene overnight.  When the sun, winds and tides are favorable, the cove is a brilliant and sparkling emerald color.   In this scene, the winds have pushed the bright copper-colored kelp up into the cove, filling it with color which virtually matches the ice plants that cascade off the cliffs and which top them off with a vibrant, almost spiritual splendor.

I've been working on this off and on now for several weeks.  I have painted quite a few paintings of this area as a result of a painting trip I took  a few years back -- I think another trip is due once my husband is feeling better.   (Point Lobos Poetry,    Monterey Magic,    China Cove Cliffs)

The fact that I haven't actually finished many paintings is probably due to a combination of things.  I've been plein air painting several times, but haven't posted anything because it just isn't happening for me right now.  Not only have I got several studio pieces "in process" that I've decided to take some time with, but I've also been worried about my husband who went in for hip replacement surgery last Friday.  Although he's pretty miserable now, I think it should all get better from here, so although I'm playing nurse a lot more, at least the anticipation part is over.   Such is life.   This last year has certainly taught me that today's medicine can make great improvements in our lives and even bring us back from disaster!

Be well, be creative and enjoy life!

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"Not Painting"

A Safe Spot © Marian Fortunati 12" x 16" Oil On RayMar Linen

Not Painting
You may remember the painting on this post from several posts back.   (At least an earlier version was posted.)  Perhaps you’ve even noted that I haven’t posted anything in over a week… a bit unusual for me as I enjoy blogging AND painting.   Actually I’ve been pondering.

I’ve been out plein air painting both with my friend, Sharon, and by myself three times since my last post.   I’ve also painted at home on a “large-for-me” piece, a “big-for-me” piece and a little study related to my last post.

Nothing Finished
All of this has resulted in NOTHING FINISHED.   So actually I have been painting… I’m just not finishing anything – at least to my satisfaction.   This has gotten me to thinking about how much of the painting process is often the time one spends painting “in one’s head”.   

Are We Alike?
How many of you spend lots time thinking about WHAT you’re going to paint – or even dreaming about a scene the play of light or the plane on a face?   Then, once you’ve started a painting… how much time do you spend just staring at it – not lifting the brush… just staring?   I think that as I’ve progressed along on this art journey of mine, I’m learning to spend more and more time thinking about a painting than I once did.

Are the values right?   Have I planned the composition so that the viewer is attracted to the painting?  Once attracted, are there color or textural elements to entertain and delight?  Have I conveyed the intended mood or feeling?   Is there a delightful hidden element somewhere to make the viewer smile?   These are just some of the considerations to ponder. 

Revisiting The Painting Posted On This Blog
I actually had thought I was finished with “A Safe Spot”.   But since I had it set up where I could view it frequently, an element with one of the branches began to bother me and I realized it was distracting and unnecessary.   So I decided to "revisit it" and I painted the elements I didn't like out.   Now I like the painting better.   I’m submitting it to be juried for a show tomorrow.   Let’s hope the juror likes it too -- one never knows.

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Painting What You SEE

Cascade © Marian Fortunati 10" x 8" Oil On RayMar Panel

David Gallup's Monday Class took advantage of a special invitation .   We were invited to paint near one of our classmate's home up near a creek in Montecito, CA.  Most of David's other students drive down from Santa Barbara or from even further north, so they had a short drive.   In THIS class, I'm the only one who drives north, although I know that there are some students in his other classes who drive from farther away.   Anyway, it's always a beautiful drive and I thought I might combine it with a visit with my daughter who lives in Santa Barbara.

Dorene had organized a weekend workshop for one of her clubs with Ray Roberts and he and his wife, Peggy Kroll Roberts, were up painting near the creek again when we arrived.   Because of the wild fires a few years back, the hillsides were covered with wildflowers now.  It was a glorious day... quite warm, but happily we were near water and shade so didn't suffer the heat.  I decided to paint the creek bed and a little cascade of water shooting out between outcroppings of rocks.    I really liked the way the rocks looked under the surface of the water.  However, I knew I really shouldn't be painting ROCKS per se....  just the inspiration or impression I get when seeing them beneath the surface.   And of course there were all of the rocks ABOVE the water....   If you've followed this blog for a while, you know I think rocks in general are challenging.   But... I wanted to try... Why not set the bar high and paint what inspired me?

The trick, David, explained was to get the value of the shapes in and not really worry about what I knew they were.   Paint what I see... not what I know. --- How many times have we all heard that?   We all worked happily alongside the roar of the creek.  Ray and Peggy left to paint near the harbor, saying that the bugs were getting them, but none of us really were bothered by the insects.  I enjoyed painting and trying not to get "lost" in my shapes.   (I often find that I start painting something that is in one place only to find that I've changed its relationship to another shape.)   Although I think I was mostly successful, David has explained in the past that it really doesn't matter as long as you plan your composition well in the first place.   No one is going to take your painting back to the original spot you painted to critique if you've gotten a rock or two out of order.   When I was almost finished, David came by again and made some suggestions about the foam... (He did a little demo on my palette... -I love it when he does that!) ... to explain what he meant.   He suggested that I make the foam corrections at home when I had a cleaner palette and the basic painting was a bit more "dry", so that my whites were more pure.  He also reminded me that the vertical cascade should not be the same value as the horizontal "foam"... they were different light planes and vertical would be a lower value than the horizontal generally.   Overall, however, he liked my color, shape and value choices and that made me happy.  

I am really enjoying this class.   And I had a bonus because I was able to visit with my daughter over a bit of tea and a late lunch before I drove on home.   I'll have to take a bit of a break when my husband has his surgery, but I know I want to return to class after life calms down again.

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A Bit Of History and a Crossroads Painting

My good friend, Sharon Weaver, and I headed east last Friday to find a painting spot.

	Crossroads © Marian Fortunati 12" x 9" Oil on RayMar Panel

I had to drop off several paintings for a show in Pasadena called "Spring Forward" which will be showing through July at the Historic Blinn House in Pasadena.  (More about that on a later post.) 

Sharon knows many good spots in the general area because she paints with the Thursday En Plein Air group often, so I asked her to go with me and then to go out painting outdoors.  We headed north on Lake to the end and then got out and hiked through what was once a grand estate called the Cobb Estate.  It was a beautiful day and we both enjoyed the scenery and the brief hike.

After hiking around for a while, I finally settled in a shady spot right behind where Sharon had set up.   We were painting virtually the same scene, but of course, our paintings came out quite differently because ... well, we're different people and our styles are different.   Hers was wonderful, of course, as she is becoming quite the expert at painting outdoors.  She's off to another great Plein Air event in another week and has yet another lined up after that.

Despite how humbling it always is to paint with her,  (especially on those rare times when I am painting the same scene!) I inevitably have a great time.   The spot we chose was at the crossroads for the Sam Merrill Trail.  Check out Sharon's blog.. I imagine she will post her painting as well. 

The following information about this area is taken from Wikipedia:

Sam Merrill working on his trail Length 2.55 mi; 4.1 km Location Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, near Altadena, California, USA Trailheads Top of Lake Avenue in Altadena Echo Mountain Use Hiking, Biking Highest point Echo Mountain Promontory (3,050 ft; 929.64 m) Trail difficulty Easy to moderately strenuous

The Sam Merrill Trail is a major hiking trail in the Las Flores Canyon of the San Gabriel Mountain Range north of Altadena, California which leads to the top of Echo Mountain. It was built by Charles Warner and the Forest Conservation Club of Pasadena during the 1930s. After the deluge of 1938 most the trails which accessed the mountain sides around Echo Mountain and the Mount Lowe Railway had been all but washed away. Sam Merrill found it important to maintain public hiking access to the railway ruins and other portions of the treacherous foothill. During the 1940s he overhauled and maintained the trail. As a young man Merrill had lived with John Muir for a summer, which inspired a lifetime commitment to the outdoors and the Sierra Club. Merrill, who served as Clerk of the Superior Court of Los Angeles, was an active volunteer in the Sierra Club, leading outings for almost 20 years, serving on the Executive Committee of the Angeles Chapter from 1926-1935 and on the National Board of Directors of the Sierra Club from 1936-1937. When Sam Merrill died in 1948 the Sierra Club named the Echo Mountain Trail after him. The trail originated at the old railway's right of way just above a point called Hygeia Station and climbed by switchback up the steep face of the Echo promontory. In the late 1960s a housing development was established over the trail and the trailhead was moved to an access alongside of the Cobb Estate gateway at the top of Lake Avenue. The portion of the trail which was maintained by Merrill leads an approximate 2 1/2 mile trip directly to Echo Mountain and the ruins of the White City of the Mount Lowe Railway. It is also referred to as Lower Sam Merrill Trail as a section of the Mount Lowe 8, an old mule trail from the days of the Mount Lowe Tavern, was reopened giving a continued hike into Grand Canyon and the site of the Tavern, and is referred to as Upper Sam Merrill Trail.

Doesn't it seem like the days are just zooming by?   I've been working on another "large-for-me" painting and spend an inordinate time just staring at it... trying to figure out what I can do to make it something not just big, but something extra special.   We'll see how THAT goes.

The weather has warmed up considerably and I love getting out to paint... but then I can't see my non-painting friends... or do laundry or pick up the house....    hmmmm...

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