Painting Catalina- 2012

Once again my plein air friends, Terry d Chacon,  Joan Coffey  and I all had an inspiring  four days of painting,  in the beautiful Island of Catalina, CA.  I truly love to paint at this location, and in the summer months when it is so very hot where we live, the cool sea breeze of the Island is always a welcome change.  

Painting boats is always fun to do in Avalon, as there are always allot to choose from.  This  evening, this umbrella inside this little boat caught my attention.  By the time I was half finished, they had taken down the umbrella, but I already had it drawn in, so no problem.  I did love the colors of the reflections in the water cast by the colorful umbrella.

"Moon over Avalon" 12x6 plein air pastel.

Painting the night scenes have always been a tradition of ours.   This week we had the wonderful  fortune of seeing the full moon over the Avalon harbor.  It was so very beautiful, we were all inspired.  I liked this black and white photograph of the evening also.  

Photos of Joan and Terry painting (above), and of me painting the Casino vista.

"Yellow boats at the pier" 11x14 plein air pastel.

"Avalon afternoon"  11x14 plein air pastel.

Terry and Joan painting the street scene in Avalon.  My umbrella is in the far distance.  This year was the first time we all decided to paint the street scene with the green Pier at the end of the street.  We stood in the street next to the parked motor scooters, and while we were painting, one by one, the scooter owners drove away, and we had the parking area to ourselves.  

"Walkway to Descanso Beach"  9x12 plein air pastel.

This is my favorite place to paint  on the island.  It is the Buena Vista overlook area.  These old Eucalyptus groves are high up on the hill (Mt Ada) overlooking  the town of Avaleon.  

"Soldiers of Mt. Ada" 9x12 plein air pastel.

View from Buena Vista.  Our last day, painting in this location was a great way to end our four days of painting in this magical location.   I do love my job, and feel blessed to be able to be a plein air artist, traveling to such beautiful locations, and painting with such good artists/ friends.