marcypleinairchalkhillartresidency2015

Been waiting a long time, to be able to get out and paint the entrance road flowering plums, so lovely against mustard-yellows and Mt St Helena's shifting blue-violet gray hues.....strong morning shadows....working fast, alla prima, as another warm day, though cooler than Monday, hastening further buds to open, still many trees @60% blossom stage. #pleinair, #pinkfloweringtrees

In May, 2015, I spent almost 3 weeks just east of my home town of Healdsburg, at Warnecke Ranch, Chalk Hill Artist Residency.

Each day, I would awake before dawn; (this is the view towards the west, and the large studio I had to myself). Most days were foggy starts, thankfully, as it can be quite hot, and I love the color vibrations of the strawberry blond and ochre grasses against the blue violets that can exist in those fogs....even had some drizzle, SO great to experience during this epic drought.

I lived alone in the 1920's cottage, no TV nor computer. I found this my optimum way to live and create, and when needing rest, read a lot of GREAT art books and fiction, that artists donate. (DeKooning, particularly lovely to read the WHOLE, huge book).

I did several, quick, sunrise studies, 2 bigger works, that I took out on multiple days, the 16x20 St Helena one and the pond and its reflections, 18x24. I produced 25 pieces in 18 days, here are a few, many oil sketches do hold promise of creating larger pieces from.....