"Across Menterey Bay" pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

I’ve been quite fortunate to be able to travel with my husband on his golfing trips down to Carmel. This was one of those days that California is famous for, a bright, warm, sunshiny day on the coast. Perfect for sitting, watching and making sure the waves keep on rolling in. This particular piece is a 6 X 9 matted and set in a 10 X 13 black frame. To bid  CLICK HERE.

"Soft Light", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

South of our town is a resort and state park named Benbow. This is the view as you are driving into the campground. There's a great swimming hole there but unfortunately this is one of the parks scheduled for closure due to the state budget cuts. It was a soft day. Muted sunlight and a gentle breeze in the river canyon. This is a 5 X 7 unframed set in a 8 X 10 mat. To bid CLICK HERE

"A Flock of Trees", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

On the back roads of Southern Humboldt, you'll see many places like this. The rains have a way of creating their own beds to flow down through the groves of scrub oaks, madrones and evergreens. This is a 9 X 7, unframed but matted in an 14 X 11 mat. To bid CLICK HERE

"Rocky Bank", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

In this small sketch, I was taken by the light on the surface of the water. Even though it was in deep shadow, you could still see all the different light and changing colors of the river. I was looking down at the river while walking along a no longer used portion of Hwy 101. This was a very dangerous portion of the highway. Very steep and narrow. Real fun while you meet a logging truck on a curve. This is a 7 X 5 matted but not framed. To bid CLICK HERE

"Early Morning", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

When the old bridge crossing the South Fork of the Eel River was washed away in the flood of 1964, the only way folks living west of the Garberville area, was to travel this old, old road through Briceland. On the map this area looks very empty. But when you drive it, you realize how many people are living out there in the small hamlets of Shelter Cover, Whitethorn, Briceland, Ettersburg etc. Every once in awhile, I take the old road. It's beat up, full of pot holes, small slides etc. But the vistas on this road are marvelous, reaching all the way to the barrier of the Kings Range to the west and the Yolla Bollys to the east. Great for painting. This is a 5 X 7 painting matted but not framed. To bid CLICK HERE

"Path to the Creek", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This is actually a figment of my imagination. I did start with a photo of this creek and the overhanging tree. But like artists do sometimes, I changed it totally. About the only thing that remained the same was the foreground tree. I didn’t care for the original painting so I scribbled some color on it. Then I let the painting talk back to me. Lots of times it does and it’s always better for the painting if I listen. This is a 8 X 8 matted and set in a black and gold frame 12 X 12. To bid CLICK HERE

Community Park Morning, pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

Here in Southern Humboldt, we have a community park that is located down near the South Fork of the Eel. Originally the area was an old farm that was purchased by donations from the local community, hence the name. There are several old buildings still in use on the farm. Animals are being raised there besides the community garden where you can plant your own veggies if you don’t have room at home. The park is definitely a community effort. This is a 5 X 7 matted and set in a warm wood frame 8 X 10. To bid CLICK HERE

"Bell Springs View" original pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

Driving up on Bell Springs Road and Alderpoint Road is a real eye opener for scenes like this. You see it especially in the early morning and late afternoon, when the shadows lengthen and color can change with the setting sunlight. This is a 5 X 7 matted and set in a cherry wood frame 8 X 10. To bid CLICK HERE

"Welcoming Committee", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

I was in west Marin County attending a pastel workshop. We were going out to an old ranch to paint. Coming around the bend, we ran into these guys welcoming us to Uncle Pete’s ranch. Tho the weather wasn’t all that great for pastel painting, we still had a great time. This is a 5 X 7 matted and set in a cherry wood frame 8 X 10. To bid CLICK HERE

"Autumn Bank", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

Winter has finally arrived in Northwest California, a month late. This past week has been so dark, damp and dreary that I had a yen for some color. Since autumn is my favorite season, I wanted bright, bright hues. This quick sketch from a photo is the result. It is 6 X 8 matted and set in a dark wood 9 X 12 frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Sun Break Thru", by Ralphie Hendrix

Alicia and I were down in Aptos visiting fellow artists Dee and Laura Boyles a few years ago. We were out scouting early one morning down near Moss Landing heading toward Elkhorn Slough when we came around a bend and this sight stopped me. The fog was burning off early and sunlight was starting to warm the air. It was a good day and a wonderful visit. This painting is 4-1/2 by 6-1/2 matted and set in an 8 X 10 cherry wood frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Down Near Pismo", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

When I was a kid living in L.A., occasionally we would take a long drive up to Pismo Beach. Mind you, this is back in the 40's. The little town of Pismo Beach had a gas station, small market and a couple of clam shacks that you could get fresh clams, chowder etc. That's the main reason my dad would take that long drive, fresh clams. The place has sure changed. That whole area is practically all city now. I liked it better when there was just a couple of clam shacks there. This is an 8 X 8 matted and set in a black matt frame 12 X 12. To bid CLICK HERE

"Unamed Arroyo", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

As I've written many, many times on the blog about how much I enjoy riding the trains, here is yet another unknown hillside with the arroyo etched into the side from recent rains. I reall enjoy finding these quick views of California's hills and of course the wonderful oaks that live on their surfaces. This is a 4-1/4 X 4-1/4 image set in a double matt in a 10 X 10 cherry wood frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Spring Sky", original pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

After the rains pass during the spring and the winds turn to soft breezes, the skies turn this deep cerulean blue. It can look so fake in a painting but in actuality the color is quite true. This is a 5 X 7 matted but unframed.