'Summer Sky' pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This particular photo was taken from a bus. I always have my camera on hand when I’m traveling, especially when I don’t have a wheel in my hand! Besides train rides, I love relatively short bus rides. I take the bus down to catch the train and we all know how much I like the train. But I just love low light, whether it be morning or evening. It is provocative  with the peachy color of morning or the rich orange of evening. And the shadows can be so deep. This painting is 7 X 5 set in a 10 X 8 mat. To bid CLICK HERE

"Gate's Closed" pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

The rolling, golden hills of California with the oak trees dotting the landscape has to be one of my favorite painting scenes. It reminds me of my youth when the hills all looked like this. Many, many of these hills have been decimated by development but you can still find large areas away from cities that still are pretty much like they were a hundred years ago. This painting is 11 X 9 set in a 15 X 13 mat and in a walnut frame. To bid CLICK HERE. 

"Tabby" pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This old guy’s name was Roger and he’s passed on to the big sandbox in the sky. We brought him home with his brother Cramer and his sister Spook. He was my husband’s cat and I think the old geezer still misses him. Roger was a good one and I still miss him also. This pastel is 3 X 4-1/2 double matted and set in a 5 X 7 black frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Usal Beach" pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

 
Usal Beach is located in northern Mendocino county just off of Hwy 1 where it turns inland to meet up with 101 at Leggett. It has camping grounds and is quite beautiful in this remote coastal part of No. California. I’ve driven on the paved and dirt roads to get to this beach. The dirt road can be quite challenging but so quiet, uncrowded and lovely. A perfect place for an artist to paint. This painting is 8 X 10 set in a 11 X 14 mat. To bid CLICK HERE

 

"Before the Hair Cut" pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This is my daughter;s little Shiz Tzu named Cosmo.  He's about 6 years old now and is an absolute love.  He is also a joy to paint.  It's a real challenge to try to paint all the many colors of creamy white which is his coat's color.  This particular painting measure 7 X 5 and is set in a 10 X 8 mat. Click Here to bid.

"Bank to Bank" Pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

A few days after a good rain storm passes through and the muddy runoff subsides, the river turns a beautiful celadon color of green. The fishermen around here say this is the best time to fish the river. The photo I took was a couple of days after a heavy storm had gone away and I really tried to catch the color of the water. I came close and it was fun to paint. I’ll see if I’m successful with a larger version of this particular scene. This is a 7 X 5 set in an 10 X 8 mat. To bid CLICK HERE.

"Steep Bank", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

I like painting the sides of the hills and mountains around my home. There is always such a difference in color when you really look at dirt. All sorts of browns, reds, tans and purples jump out at you with the attending weeds adding even more color. This is a 7 X 5 matted and set in a cherry wood frame 8 X 10. To bid CLICK HERE

"Rock Shadow", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This little sketch is also one that I did about 4 years ago painting plein aire on the South fork of the Eel River. I posted another one about 3 weeks ago. I sure had fun that day getting several relatively decent sketches done. It can be difficult but when it works, it’s a grand feeling. This is a 5 X 7 set in an 8 X 10 cherry wood frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Long Valley Creek", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

While driving back from Oakland, I stopped at a rest stop north of Willits. I wandered about looking at the light changing with the incoming clouds. I took this shot on the bridge crossing the creek. The sun light was getting weaker, the shadows lighter and the values much more close together.
Views like this really should be painted on-site instead of from a photograph. It is 8 X 8 matted and set in a black wood frame 12 X 12. To bid CLICK HERE

"Low Water #2," original pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This little plein aire sketch is one that I did about 4 years ago during the late summer. I did several sketches at that time because the river was so interesting. The water was quite low and the algae had taken over large portions of the banks. But it was so beautiful in its odd way that I just had to paint it. It is a 7 X 5 matted and set in a 10 X 8 blond frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Husky Pup", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This is a portrait of a sweet puppy that romped in our yard for a few minutes, much to the dismay of our 6 cats! She had very strong markings. It was hard to keep from making her look like a cartoon. I sort of got it. I like to paint animals. Sometimes their faces give me a jump start when I’ve been away from my easel too long. It is an 8 X 8 matted and set in a 12 X 12 black frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"View From Myers Flat Bridge", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

Every time I travel up to Eureka I see this scene and want to paint it. The bridge is on Hwy 101 and is a long sweeping curve, too dangerous to walk out on to paint or take photos. So I had to be a passenger in order to get some decent photos. I tried to find a way down to the river to get more of the whole panorama but locked gates kept me out. I started this little sketch with my left hand as I was recuperating from carpel tunnel surgery on my right, and yes I’m right handed. I was surprised how my untrained hand was able to put color down in a somewhat focused manner. But then I cheated and finished it off with my right hand. It is a 5 X 7 matted and set in a cherry wood 8 X 10 frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Plein Air sketch #6, pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This is just a quick moment down on Redway Beach. When you’re walking down the path and look off to your left you will see the river curve with the huge redwoods looming over the water. I did this particular scene in the middle of summer and everything is richly green in so many hues. It is a 5 X 3 matted and set in a black wood frame 5 X 7. To bid CLICK HERE

"Rocks in Surf", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

This is a little sketch that I did down on Monterey Bay. We were on a short vacation and I got so many great photos. The weather cooperated which is always good especially with pastels. Pastels don't like moisture. It is 5 X 7 matted and set in a black wood 8 X 10 frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"By Redwood Creek", pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

Here in Southern Humboldt, we don't get the bright reds and orange foliage like they get in the Northeast. But on the other hand, we do get bright yellows turning to orange and purples that are wonder to see, yet a challenge to paint. This is my favorite time of the year. But it looks like we're having a very short fall and possibly a long winter. This 7 X 5 image is matted and set in a cherry wood frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Somewhat Tamed". pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

I am trying out a new paper as I can't seem to get my usual as it's been on backorder since August. This is actually an experiment to see if this paper can take the abuse that my usual surface gets. I think the color is brighter but it doesn't hold the pastel. Just something different. The photo for this painting was taken down near San Luis Obispo. It is a 6 X 8 image matted and set in a 9 X 12 walnut wood frame. To bid CLICK HERE

"Ocean View", original pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

Along the coast line, there are so many primo beaches just waiting for someone to come and play in the surf. Unfortunately getting to some of them can be a challenge. This unnamed beach is one of them. Steep cliffs prohibit easy access. This is a 4 X 4 matted and set in a 8 X 8 black matt frame. To bid CLICK HERE.

"ALONG THE SALINAS#1" by Ralphie Hendrix

Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train runs between Los Angeles and Seattle, Washington, a ride I have taken many times. South of San Francisco the train stays on the western side of California including a wonderful stretch right along side the ocean. A simply beautiful ride. Near the city of Salinas the tracks follow the Salinas River for several miles. This is a small sketch I did of the river in the late afternoon. It is 7 X 5 matted and set in a cherry wood frame. To bid CLICK HERE.

"Downriver From Benbow", original pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

A bunch of artists in Southern Humboldt got together to paint outside a few times this summer. This view is at Benbow State Park, looking down river from the picnic tables. Tho the “lake” doesn’t exist anymore, the area is still quite lovely and serene. This painting is 7 X 5, matted and set in a 10 X 8 cherry wood frame. To bid, CLICK HERE.

"ALL EARS", original pastel by Ralphie Hendrix

I was on a photo shoot way up in the mountains east of us here in Southern Humboldt. I was taking photos and just wandering around the Kettenpom area when I happened on this scene. Came around the bend and there was mom with her fawn. Scared the fawn more than her. I guess she was used to traffic. We see them in our yard all the time and welcome them. We can share our apples. This painting is 5 x 7, matted and set in an 8 x 10 cherry wood frame. To bid CLICK HERE