Santa Monica Mountains Plein Air Day

There is only one true thing: 

instantly paint what you see.

~Edouard Manet

Previously, I posted a bunch of photos I took at the King Gillette Ranch and the Santa Monica Mountains. This is what I did after the hike and my little picnic lunch.

I really like the refurbished building that was the old 1924 horse stables, so I found a spot behind it, with a nice view, and no one was around.

First I did a little field sketch to see what I wanted in the picture. All the dimensions and perspective were off, but it gave me a bit of a clue on how to go forward on my sanded pastel paper. (Uart paper on board.)

You can see, below, the Uart paper is sort of pale, sand color. I used a sanguine colored pastel pencil, or conte to start loosely sketching in my composition. Then I went in with the watercolor underpainting, trying to think ahead what colors would go over the top and how they colors would react to each other.

My tripod broke, which is what I usually screw my pastel box into (there is a little easel attachment,) but thankfully there were a couple of picnic tables, so I still had a way to set up!

Painting outdoors is a distillation of time, 

a capturing of the essence of existence during a specific

period in the artist's experience.

~Charles Muench

I love having the watercolor underpainting to work off of, with the pastels. I like letting the color show through, but sometimes it's not in the cards, and you end up covering all the watercolor. Nice not to start with a a white/beige sheet of paper though!

While waiting for the watercolor to dry, I did a little watercolor sketch of the same subject, trying out some different colors.

The clouds started to roll in. So then, the shadows were totally different, at that point, and the cool air was keeping the underpainting from drying. I went ahead and cleaned up.

I had a photo with the shadows from earlier in the day, so I knew I would resolve the painting later, with pastels, back in the studio. (Or at least try to!)

I don't often work in plain air (outside) but I do enjoy it! I don't know if I'm all that crazy about my final work outdoors but it makes for a great recording of a day and time.

When you're an artist -

especially a plain-air artist,

where you're working outside -

you see the best of life all the time.

~Tom Nichols

Finished piece ~

Happy February!

King Gillette Ranch ~ Santa Monica Mountains

Back in November, before my little visit to the Paramount Ranch, I headed to the King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains, for a little hike and plein air day! 

It was my first visit to the area and it made me realize (once again) how much there is left to explore, that is so close to where we live our every day lives! It felt good to get out of the bubble!

This short film talks a bit about the old 1920s horse stables, at King Gillette ...

I loved this building, and how they restored the original horse stables to be a great little Santa Monica Mountains visitors' center. It just opened in June of 2012!

There was a 10:00 am guided nature walk with one of the rangers, which was a great little intro to the area. Through the trees you can see the original, early 20th century ranch.

The quieter you become,

the more you can hear.

~Ram Dass

And up we went!

Below, you can see the actual "ranch house" on the left. In the middle, is a dormitory which was built for a buddhist group, who was on the land, at one point. The tennis court and large building on the right are temporary. A bit of the land is leased to the TV show The Biggest Loser. In fact, a lot of TV shows have filmed in the area, including Castle.

On the nature hike was a big Brownie troop, having their father daughter day. So cute!

Brownies enjoying the view!

We are all just

walking each other 

home.

~Ram Dass

Beautiful views of the Santa Monica Mountains!

The universe is an example of love.

Like a tree.

Like the ocean.

Like my body.

Like my wheelchair.

I see the love.

~Ram Dass

After the hike, I found a spot to picnic and do some art ...

Below, little field sketches and the 9 x 12" underpainting, on the lower right. The weather was cool and the clouds came in, so the watercolor wouldn't dry enough for me to start the pastels over the top. I will show you how I resolved the piece in the studio, next time!

I see my life as 

an unfolding set of opportunities to awaken.

~Ram Dass

This following video gives more info about the beautiful area and Santa Monica Mountains ...

Beautiful area, right? On a weekend morning it only took about 45 minutes to get there! (Mind you, it takes 10 minutes for me to get to the freeway.) To think I've been driving right past it for decades, and  had never jumped off the 101, to check it out!

Links:

Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitors Center (the old stables)

Santa Monica Mountains, Things to do!

King Gillette Ranch

Hope you are all enjoying your neck of the woods, wherever that may be!

Many blessings and much light!!!