Bel Air Geraniums

For several years I have painted the flowers surrounding my sister's home in Bel Air, California.  Geraniums, Camellias, Roses, Dahlias and more decorate every corner of the property and provide unending subject matter for painting.  Amidst row upon row of Geranium plants, my eye was drawn to this grouping of buds and newly opened flowers.  This acrylic work is small, 6' x 6", and is painted on a wood panel.

Malibu Waves

We rented a lovely house, one of those that are hardly noticed from PCH.   It was a 'wet beach', barely dry from low to high tide.  The waves were unending and perfectly timed...a body surfing and boogie board paradise.

Painting water, moving water, is a challenge to any painter and, at least from my perspective, perhaps one of the greatest challenges.  Malibu was particularly fascinating.  From my vantage point, from the balcony, no landmass was in sight.  My view, my composition for the painting was a constant moving image.  This particular stretch of beach is known as one of the premiere spots for boogie boarding and body surfing.  The waves are not huge, but their height is remarkably consistent and the separation from crest to crest seems calculated and precise.  There was no drop off, no riptide, no counter force.  Everything moved forward in time and place.  The repetitive sound, day and night, of waves crashing ashore was soothing.  We made our rounds to Santa Monica and Paradise Cove but always worked hard to return to our balcony on the Pacific.  Did we swim in this little slice of heaven?  No, the water was too damn cold.