Sunny and Cloudy Days in CA

SUNNY DAY. Painted in the car on the way from Scotts Valley
to Monterey.  What a beautiful drive through the farms,  fields
and layers of hills as a backdrop. Every so often a bump in the
road would make a loop or mark not needed.

GRAY DAY. In the car and on our way to Capitola, near Santa Cruz.
It would drizzle and clear up, drizzle and clear up,
but the sun never did come out.
Still beautiful, but in a whole different way.

Sketching only. Sometimes I just sketch the simple shapes I see.

Artist Note.

I took my watercolors with me on vacation and was happy
to get some painting done.
Traveling with watercolors is easier than oils.
I have this little box I have owned for over 30 years.

I have a round and flat travel brush. Both sable. I love the way
you slip them in and out ot the tube.
A use Holbein water spray to moisten my paints and
sometimes the paper.  I also fill the bottle which
comes with the box. You can see it cleverly doubles as
a palette surface.. There was another little flap too, but it broke
off years ago so I pack the plastic lid off my greek yogurt. Nice
and flat - it slips into the bag which is a neat 8x 10". and it fits
easily into my purse.

The two small sketching/watercolor
books I like. They both have a
system for closing tight to stop a
curl in paper. The Holbein and
moleskin
The Moleskin I get is a good size
for landscapes
It can pop into a 5x7' opening
of an 8x10 readymade  mat.
Notice my name and phone
in a large size. Same inside the
Moleskin.
I lost one once but never again!
Oops... I just noticed my
area code has changed since then.
Good I am doing this.



Below is a painting my granddaughter, Caroline Oliver did.
She has just turned 6 and loves to draw and paint.

I was teaching her the different ways to hold the brush in
this one. Start with the tip of the brush then push down to make
leaves and petals.  And make centers to the flowers.
It is lovely - proud grandmother!