"THE MIGHTY OAK-TEJON RANCH", oil paintng by Kathy O'Leary

While painting with the California Art Club in So. California last year I ran across this amazing giant. I pay attention to oak trees where ever I go but I had never seen anything like the "heritage" oak. I was told it is a Blue Oak. It looked like a giant, perfectly manicured bonsai. It was definitely an oak grandfather-huge old branches, supported by the ground, putting out vibrant green leaves like the rest of the tree. I took several photographs of it. This is more a portrait than a landscape. It measures 8 x 10, on linen panel. SOLD

This is my last regular contribution to Lost Coast Daily Painter's Blog. I've been with it nearly 3 years and now I find my plate is very full and I need to create some space where I have time to play, and explore some new ideas with my medium.

I have really enjoyed working with this group of serious and wonderfully creative artists. Like our art community in general here on the north coast, everyone as been supportive and encouraging. Thank you and I wish you all success. I will continue to keep up with your daily posts.

THANK YOU to all of those who have followed my work and purchased my paintings through this blog over the years. It has helped sustain me on several levels. Anyone interested in keeping up with what I'm up to with my work, exhibitions, galleries, etc, you can subscribe to my e-mail updates by clicking this link to my personal blog: kathyolearyart.blogspot.com

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"RETREAT AT THE MORRIS GRAVES", oil painting by Kathy O'Lery

I painted this small piece during a day long gathering of a group of Humboldt County artists at the lakeside home and studio of the late artist, Morris Graves (1910-2001). Graves, a leading member of the mystic painters of the northwest school of artists built his home and studio on this small secluded lake. It was said that through his art he provided his audiences glimpses into the world of natural harmony and ethereal beauty. 'The Lake' (as he called it) and surrounding environs reflects this sentiment and more. Our gathering took place on a bright but overcast day, adding a soft glow to everything. Thanks to the Morris Graves Foundation, it was a thrill to be creating art at this place. This piece is 8 x 10 on linen panel. SOLD

"Dune Trail At Dawn", oil paintng by Kathy O'Leary

There are sand dunes at many of California's coastal access points. This scene is from a walk I took at dawn among the sand dunes at Pacific Grove's Asilomar conference grounds just south of Monterey. Sunrises and sunsets are always a challenge. Keeping the dunescape darker and subtle, with the sky and sand the major sources of light, was my main challenge in this piece. This painting is 8 x 10 on panel.

"VIEW FROM WOODLEY ISLAND-HUMBOLDT BAY" oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

From my hometown on Humboldt Bay, one can always find an interesting view and something to paint. This scene is from one of the few sunny days last winter on the bay. I was looking toward Indian Island from Woodley Island at high tide. There was just a glimpse of the last of the homes on the island. The red color of the winter pickleweed added additional interest to what could be a gray and colorless scene. This painting is 8 x 10 on panel. SOLD

"OAK KNOLL AND WILD DAISIES" oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

I'm fascinated by 'oak knolls'. When I find them I'm always driven to paint them. This beautiful little hill is at a friend's ranch up in our coastal mountains. I love the spot because of the path that leads up into the middle of the stand of white oaks. And right now, because it's a late Spring here, the knoll is encircled by wild daisies. This painting is 8 x 10 on panel. SOLD

"VIEW FROM THE OVERLOOK", oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

Northern California has some of the coast's most beautiful shoreline. This painting is a scene from an overlook north of my home town, Eureka. The light from the overcast skies created a paleness to the colors of the sea, which offered a nice foil for the dark coastal rocks. This painting is 8" x 10" on panel. SOLD

"VALLEY OAKS IN SPRING", oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

Spring in California can be so varied and beautiful, particularly in the rural areas. During recent travels I came across this ranch track leading into a valley near Willits. Valley Oaks , just starting to leaf out and wildflowers and grasses in violets and pinks were in full bloom. When the sky is overcast, as it can often be in early Spring, the Colors appear even brighter and richer.
This painting is 8 x 10 on canvas panel.

"Spring Light-Napa Valley" oil paintng by Kathy O'Leary

Traveling back from Sacramento through the Napa Valley recently with an artist friend, we came across this scene. It had all the elements in a landscape that I am particularly drawn to. A great composition, complementary colors and beautiful light that together draws the eye further and further into the scene. I couldn't pass up trying to paint it. It will eventually be a larger painting too. This measures 8 x 10 and is done on panel.

"RANCH ROAD" oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

I painted this scene using a photo from a trip I took through Eastern and Southern California a couple of years ago. It was such a classic "California" view - late afternoon on a much traveled ranch's dirt track leading back through rolling hills of wild grasses, tarweed, and oaks with the Sierra Foothills in the background. This painting is 8 x 10 on panel. SOLD

"REDWOOD TRAIL", oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

Living behind the "Redwood Curtain" in Northern California offers many opportunities to paint the redwoods. Yet it is almost impossible to paint one of these trees from bottom to top. The only way I've found to capture the feeling of the redwood forest is to paint what is in the shadow and light surrounding these ancient giants. This scene is a trail in Prairie Creek State Park, about 60 miles north of my home. This painting is 8 x 10 on panel. To learn more or bid, CLICK HERE. SOLD

"WINTER WILLOWS-EDGE OF THE KLAMATH" oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

This painting was done from photographs taken during a visit to the Klamath river and river mouth (Requa) about 60 miles north of my home, Eureka. It measures 8 x 10 and was done on panel. I loved the pinks, of the leafless alders and willows, and the blues and greens of the river and redwoods and their reflections. The Klamath river and its surrounding watersheds is a beautiful and special place on our north coast. Soon, thanks to years of work by the regions inhabitants several dams are slated to come down, hopefully restoring some of its original health and vitality as a major river system and all that implies. SOLD

"EARTH AND SKY-CALIFORNIA HILLS" oil paintng by Kathy O'Leary

This painting comes from photographs I took on a trip through the Central California ranch lands. I'm always looking for interesting and unusual light in the landscape. I found the sky the most interesting aspect of this scene. Because of the lack of direct sun on the land the trees and grasses were muted. The sky on the other hand showed much more contrast and color as a result of reflecting the last of the sunlight through approaching rain clouds. This painting is on panel and measures 8 x 10. To learn more or bid, CLICK HERE. SOLD

"SUNRISE OVER THE LEVIES", oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

This painting was done from a morning walk I took on the levies surrounding the southern part of Humboldt Bay's National Wildlife Refuge. The sun had just come up, so the grasses on the levies and wetlands surrounding the edge of the tidal areas glowed in shades of gold as they caught the first light. We are fortunate to have so many beautiful natural areas surrounding our bay, but the refuge, even with its old levies left over from ranching days is surely one of the most spectacular. This painting is 8 x 10 on panel. SOLD

"BARN AMONG THE DUNES" oil paintng by Kathy O'Leary

Living on California's far north coast gives coast residents, photographers and painters the opportunity to view, walk, and paint some of California's most interesting and varied sand dunes. This scene is in a protected dune area in the community of Manila, on Humboldt Bay's Samoa Peninsula. The painting was done on panel and measures 8 x 10.

"SIERRA FOOTHILLS VERNAL POOL" oil paintng by Kathy O'Leary

The large size of this vernal pool is what first caught my eye. Vernal pools generally appear in early Spring when Winter runoff collects in the same location each year in low basins often with hard pan soils underneath to allow for water retention. They also teem with amphibian and insect life. From an artist's perspective they offer a wonderful relief to the GREENS this time of year, reflecting trees, light and the blue of the sky. This painting is 8 x 10 on Canvas covered wood panel.

Painting the vernal pool on location in the Sierra Foothills.

On a recent visit to Fresno, California I toured the Sierra Foothills looking for vernal pools. I found several scattered among the boulder strewn ranches of the back country and painted the above piece on location one morning. One of the ranchers stopped and told me this was her favorite of all the vernal pools in the region.

"POPPY BLOOM-TEJON RANCH" Oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

Last Spring I attended a 2 day paint out with the California Art Club (CAC) at the Tejon Ranch in Southern California. This was one of the scenes we found as we looked for places to paint. The ranch is vast and contains a variety of different dessert and mountain environments including these soft rolling hills where we found large fields of poppies. Most of the ranch is now in Land Conservation, not normally seen by the public, and it was a real treat to visit and paint there. This painting is on panel and measures 8 x 10. SOLD

"COASTAL PRAIRIE IN MORNING FOG" Oil paniting by Kathy O'Leary

Living on the north coast of California I find many scenes like this, especially in winter and early Spring. I love the subtleties that coastal fog can bring to a landscape, particularly when the sun is just beginning to break through. Painting this coastal prairie allowed me once again to explore color and light in the more muted tones and values of a tonalist pallet. This painting measures 8 x 10, and is done on panel. SOLD

"WINTER MORNING ON THE COAST", Oil Painting by Kathy O'Leary

This painting was done after a recent morning drive around our Northern California coast. This spot is just south of a small coastal village called Trinidad. It was the soft atmospheric sunny morning looking through the sculptural shapes of the trees to the rocks beyond that caught my attention. Like most late winter scenes on our far north coast, the colors and light are muted and show everything in much closer tones/hues than found later in the season. This piece is 8 x 10, and done on panel.

'OAK KNOLL - NAPA" oil painting by Kathy O'Leary

This is a scene from a trip to Napa last summer. I love to encounter the 'heritage' oaks that are found throughout the hill country of California. Becoming rarer, they are usually large and twisty creating wonderful sculptural shapes. This hill fairly glowed in the morning light at the north end of the Napa valley. I played with color and a variety of brush strokes as I tried to render the feel of the scene. this painting is 8 x 10 and is done on panel.