Dramatic Northern California Sunset with Windmill

The day this dramatic sunset scene enveloped our lovely county, I knew I had struck creative gold. My heart raced, because I was driving home from visiting my mom, in Marin County, south of where we live. My conundrum was WHERE and HOW could I view and photograph the setting sun, as time was of the essence and I am greedy. The more inspirational pictures I have in my file, the better.

Adding to the rush of my excitement was the sight of our annual Sonoma Marin Fair, visible from my position on the crowded freeway at rush-our. Against the unfolding drama of the heavens, I could see the Ferris Wheel and other attractions starting to glow with their neon goodness against the darkening midway. What to do. I couldn't think straight and I wanted to be in the right spot to get the scene I could already picture in my head.  Then I remembered: MY SON WAS AT THE FAIR! Frantically, I called him praying that he would somehow accept my phone call, amidst the joy and chaos that is the summer fair at dusk, teenagers, freedom, COTTON CANDY, kettle corn... 

But he is a good boy. He ANSWERED! (And he HEARD me!) He took the exact picture I was lusting for...Fodder for a future painting (which I have actually started!), but it freed me up for this baby:

Sunset over Stony Point ©2014           Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 18"

Lucky me! Although I was fairly squirmy with anticipation, I was able to calmly plot another location to hoard a different photo exploration of the crazy-beautiful sky. The above painting is the result of my terrific fortune. This gorgeous setting was already in the que for a painting with a late summer brooding, grey sky (that I have NOT painted yet), but I had a feeling it would look good in these colors, too. Before I started to paint, I entered it in a different local fair, later that summer. Proudly, it won first place and I sold it to a very dear friend in time for it to become the ultimate anniversary gift for my OTHER very dear friend. Wow! That was a fortunate sequence of events!

Commissioned Painting - Penngrove California

I was quite thrilled when a friend purchased this painting, spontaneously, a few years back. I was even more excited (and honored) when this same friend commissioned me to paint his family ranch. He is the proud son of Italian immigrants and cherishes this property, dearly. Although I could not get photo resources to help me paint the ranch from the perspective I wished (due to trees and the fact that I'd have to be in a raised angle above a busy road), but I did my best to piece together elements to turn my visual hope into a completed painting.

Here is the final result and detail shots:

Tarca Family Ranch ©2014       36" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas

Once the painting was complete, my handy hubby was kind enough to create this beautiful custom frame made with vintage barn wood. My customer/dear friend and his family were delighted with the result and I am elated to have such savvy "repeat customers!" Win, win one and all!

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. I sure appreciate it!

Plein Air Ranch Painting Fail

 A few years back a girlfriend of mine came over to paint, plein air in my back field. I've never done that before and I'm sorry to say, I spent at least eight times the amount of effort back in the studio, so I don't think I can really have credit for this being a true in the open air piece. Oh well - I had a lot of fun and loved the completed painting SO much, I got over it. 

Painting, like so many things we do in life, is like exercise. You have to work at it routinely. One of these days I'm going to try to create more spontaneous "muscles" in my work...  But for now, I'm grateful for the painting muscles I do have!  

 Springtime at Rancho Durenberger © 2013              9 x 12" Acrylic on Canvas

Happily for me, a dear friend saw this painting in my kitchen and bought it on the spot. Shortly after that he commissioned me to paint his family's ranch! I wonder if "ranch painting" could be my thing? 

(I like it!)

Petaluma California Ranch Painting

A few years ago I painted this lovely ranch that I would see each morning on the drive to take my kids to school in Petaluma, California. I was constantly surprised by how different it could look in various light and nature conditions. I intend to paint it again, and again in the future, but for now I am grateful it was completed and suited the vision I set out to capture. Last year I had the good fortune of meeting the wonderful family who live on this incredible property - and THEY BOUGHT the painting! Yay!

 

Jewel of the Backroads ©2014 by Elise Durenberger                   9 x 12" Acrylic on Canvas

Cruisin' the Boulevard's Salute to American Graffiti

Original painting by Elise Durenberger. 

24 x 30" Acrylic on Canvas

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Cruisin' the Boulevard