"Color Change"

"Color Change" - Oil - 11" x 14" - $225

"The autumn colors this year have been extraordinary in northern California. This tree, near the entrance to the Sacramento River Trail in Redding, was brilliant in the afternoon sun and supported by the green foliage in shadow." --- SFG

NOTE TO ARTISTS:

When painting a subject that's so brilliantly lit that it exceeds the value range of our palette, I use darker areas to make the lights seem lighter and use color and intensity to further the effect. The darker leaves on the opposite side of the tree were handy for this purpose. Also, I made sure that the sky was slightly grayed and more violet than it really was to intensify the yellow.

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"Autumn Near Weaverville"

"Autumn Near Weaverville" - Oil - 11" x 14" - $400

"Overcast skies always make fall colors glow and I took advantage of this setting as I drove home one day from painting in Weaverville, California. A familiar sight to those passing, the barn has been converted to an art gallery." --- SFG

NOTE TO ARTISTS:

Using warm colors to advance and cool to recede, I walked a delicate line because of the overcast skies. Due to the presence of cool, reflected light from the sky, shadows were warmer than usual. Also, the shining roof was lighter than the sky because it faced west, where the afternoon light, though muted through clouds, was stronger.

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"This Way to Heaven"

"This Way to Heaven" - Oil - 11" x 14" - $260

"The evergreens seemed to conspire with the granite summit to point skyward. Born in the Trinity Alps National Recreational area of northern California, the repeating shapes and light-dark contrast made this one special. The mountain really was all granite to the valley floor and uncommonly beautiful." --- SFG

NOTE TO ARTISTS:

The painter must be careful when appoaching a subject like this. Repetition is a useful element in a painting, but you must vary the shapes to avoid boring the viewer. I used warms in the foreground to create the depth needed to push back, first, the dark trees and, secondly, the distant mountain.

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"Lupine in the Valley"

"Lupine in the Valley" - Oil - 12" x 16" - $260

"Lupine loves the gravel bars in riverbeds or on mine tailings nearby. This distinct array filled one side of the riverbed while a small community was nestled in the distance. The site is south of Hayfork, California." --- SFG

NOTE TO ARTISTS:
In this painting, I used the dark trees in the foreground to help create a sense of distance, leaving lighter tones for the middle ground and distance. The larger tree on the left balances the shape of the lupine mass as well. Spring colors were used with the spring-blooming lupine.

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"Spires"

"Spires" - Oil - 11" x 14" - SOLD

"Imagine being greeted by this stunning view every day! We love our visits to our friend's cabin in the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area of northern California. I paint while my family hikes and fishes. We gather in the evening to feast and tell (almost true) stories." --- SFG

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