A snowstorm has settled into the mountains of Central Nevada on this cold winter evening. Here, the Nevada Northern Railway's main yard at East Ely is at the southern most tip of the Steptoe Valley. Just beyond the snowstorm is Saxton Peak. Further back in the mountains is the Ruth Mining District, home of one of the largest copper pits on the continent, and the reason this railyard is here.
Nevada Northern Railway's Locomotive 93 was delivered here, to the East Ely Yard, over 100 years ago. She is a heavy freight locomotive who spent most of her life hauling copper ore out of the mines and up to the smelter. Today she is in excellent working order and still hauls passengers on the same rails that she has used for over a century.
As if someone cast confetti on the cliff above Laguna's Heisler Park, color specs fall upon the sandy beach below.
The sun's rays are trying to make their way through the coastal fog onto the giant solar panel that powers the new Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel. Hopefully, there will be enough power stored up to keep the Ferris wheel in operation.
The Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona comes to town every September. Here, on a warm evening it is a whirlwind of fun. Both the young and the young at heart enjoy being tilted, spun, and dropped.
About an hour north of Oji on route 33 the road descends upon the far southwest corner of the San Joaquin Valley. Here, nestled up against the Carrizo Plain and the coastal mountain range is one of the most intense oil-producing regions in California. As far as the eye can see, endless oil pumps move rhythmically in the late afternoon haze.
On a typical L.A. morning, despite all of the congestion and activity just above its banks, our Los Angeles River continues to make peace, as best it can, with decades worth of impositions that we have made on it.
Hidden in this gem of undevloped coast line is a small path to the sea.
Current view of Nevada Northern Railway's main yard at East Ely, Nevada. Not much has changed in the past 90 years at the East Ely Yard. It was painted in a single morning from the deck of the historic freight house, which has a commanding view of the railway's main yard. In the distance are the coaling and water towers that once served steam engines used in heavy ore traffic from one of the largest copper pits in the US.
New York is like a visual candy store for me. It seems that every street is full of treats. Among my favorite objects to look for are bright yellow cabs, fire escape ladders, and water towers.
At the base of this tower there is a signh that reads "Danger, High Voltage"
During the off-season you will find may lifeguard towers stored in neat little rows, waiting to be deployed once again with the crowds return to the beaches.
As twilight comes to the Morongo Valley near Palm Springs hundreds of giant windmills are busy at work harvesting all of the wind (and smog) that blows easterly through the Patrero Pass that is used by the Los Angeles' main link to the Southern half of the U.S.
A small study of a scene that those who drive in the harbor area are too familiar with.
It is a pouty Winter afternoon in Southern California as the San Pedro cargo ship cranes keeps the sky full of activity.
Peace, Harmony, and clean laundry on an Autumn afternoon in the mountains of North Carolina.
Utah farm in winter. The land is resting for a season, but those who live here will be counting on a bounteous crop of hay this Summer.
Flowers in bloom, filling a window planter on one of Laguna's original cottages.
It?s a beautiful Summer evening just off of Catalina Street in the village neighborhood of Laguna Beach.
New York, the city of steel. Girders and tresses, stacked over time as the needs of the city grew. Above it all, the light penetrates down into the depths, leaving an interesting play on light and shadow.
It's another day of "June Gloom" with high tides along the Laguna coastline.
It is a beautiful night to be out for a walk on the beach. We can still hear and see all that is happening in downtown Laguna from here, but we have this little piece of beach to ourselves. The tide is quite high, so there is only a modest surf. Love the sounds and smell of the ocean right next to us. Let's go barefoot.
The Fourth Street Bridge in East LA is perhaps one of the best example of Gothic Revival among the river's historic bridges. This bridge, when it was originally constructed, was a vision of the future of Los Angeles. As viewed through the structure of power grid supports, it spans a valley of concrete, shadows, and what is left of the once wild L. A. River. The river almost seems like one of the homeless people who live at its banks, hoping for a token of love to sustain it for another day.
As the evening starts to descend on a January rush-hour in Los Angeles, the freeways are all aglow in white and red.
A hazy afternoon sun reflected through the tall buildings of downtown Los Angeles. They appeared and disappeared in the atmosphere. Bridges and buildings seemed to move in the light along with their deep windows.
Looking north from Main Beach as the sun sets on Laguna.
Just south of Crystal Cove State Park there is an out coping of rocks that extend into the ocean. This is a great spot to find breaking waves.
It's time for a Sunday brunch in Laguna Beach. Just steps away from Hotel Laguna and the breaking waves, couples are enjoying a leisurely morning at Greeter's Corner Cafe.
Catenary lines over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line. The juice in those overhead lines delivers 12,000 volts to keep the trains moving, the passengers warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. Next stop: Newark.
A hot Summer afternoon day at the L.A. County Fair.
Fair Weather was painted on-site at the L.A. County Fair, and was selected by California Art Club to be in their 106th Gold Medal Exhibition in the Main Gallery of the Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, CA
Just passing under the 4th street bridge, Amtrak's Southwest Chief is only a few minutes into its 2265 mile journey back home to Chicago. With a quick stop at Fullerton and Riverside, it will soon be heading up Cajon Pass as the sun sets. Tomorrow's sunrise will find it nearing Gallup, NM, almost a world apart from the one we are just departing from.
Just to the left of the scene in this paining is the wide-open expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The setting sun cast its warm glow on the old Crystal Cove Village.
This is now part of the California State Park system, and these lower cottages will soon be available again to enjoy this view. Imagine all of the memories that have been indelibly recorded over the years by those who have had the opportunity to sit on those porches and have enjoyed this sunset.
Painted on-site early in the morning at Newport's Backbay Preserve. The sun broke through at about 10:30 and turned into a beautiful day.
Farm in California's Central Valley
Like a huge labyrinth, the East L.A. Interchange weaves its way toward the City
Painted overlooking a pond at the edge of Backbay in Newport Beach, CA
Circles upon circles. It is a busy day on the Santa Monica Pier. In the background, the original Ferris wheel stops for a moment to pick up the next set of riders up to the top.
Moon over Aliso Creek, just as it runs under the PCH bridge and into the ocean.
The house built on Table Rock is a South Laguna landmark. This late afternoon view was painted looking south from the West Street Beach.
A mountain meadow with wildflowers and a mountain range in the distance.
There is no place I love to paint more than the Newport Backbay. I love the weeds, grasses, birds, and watery reflections. By painting down in the grasses you get a better view of the local wildlife.
One of my favorite places to be on the full moon of a mid-Summer's eve is Newport Beach's Backbay. The moonlight, the coastal haze, and the subtitle sounds of the wildlife make for wonderful memories.
Big Wheel, painted on-site at the L. A. County Fair's Midway as fair-goers watched, was acquired by the Los Angeles County Fair as part of the permanent collection of the Millard Sheets Art Center.
It's a wonderful Summer evening, looking across the bay toward the Fun Zone on Balboa Peninsula. The sounds of Summer are everywhere this evening. There are lights on the Ferris wheel, lights on the boats that pass by, and lights in the windows. As it all dances off of the water it makes for a visual treat.
This is a view I am familiar with on a daily basis. I started this painting one morning under the protection of my porch while we were having an unusual Autumn drizzle. About half way through the painting the sun started poking through the clouds, and eventually prevailed across the entire sky. One of the interesting challenges of Plein Air painting is to watch a scene intently for several hours, noticing changes in the sky and shadows, and figuring out how to represent it.
Meditation received the Award of Excellence at the 17th Laguna Plein Air Invitational
Everyone is looking at the sunset this evening in Laguna Beach, but take a look behind you. The sunset is illuminating the hills overlooking Laguna Beach.
The further north you venture in Crystal Cove State Park the further behind you leave the crowds of tourists. Here, on a quiet Autumn weekday morning, there is hardly anyone here. It is 2015, and we are all hoping those clouds bring some much-needed rain.
A material yard in Irvine's industrial area is all aglow in the twilight of an Autumn evening.
Santa Monica pier Ferris Wheel.
This was a day when I happened to look down around my feet while painting another painting and was completely taken with the beauty and simplicity of the wild grasses and flowers.
Against a backdrop of big skies and big ocean, two surfers call it a day and head back up the cliff to Laguna Beach
A breezy Sunday morning along Laguna's Main Beach. This painting was created during a LPAPA paintout.
The tall palms on Balboa Peninsula are catching the last afternoon rays as the lights come on at the Fun Zone. How about a Ferris Wheel ride to catch a glimpse of the sunset this evening?
It is a busy Saturday in Newport Bay. In just a few moments the ferry that was there will be out of the way, and our ferry will deliver us right at the center of the Fun Zone. I can hardly wait!
The West Side has many nameless buildings, just like this one. Here, a fine example of what makes up the structural backbone of New York is posing on wintery January morning. There is beauty in how the complex structures of the city looked against the remarkably plain but stormy sky that day.
A strong, late afternoon sun illuminates the ruin of the Main Chapel at Mission San Juan Capistrano.
On a warm Summer evening the Back Bay estuary near Newport Beach is alive with birds gathering their evening meal from the tidal plains. This evening is a low tide, which make the hunt all the more exciting for them. Soon the sun will be setting and the nocturnal animals will begin their day here in this wonderful, peaceful setting.
Painting of Newport Beach's backbay wildlife preserve. This oil painting was done very early on a summer morning while the mist was still fresh in the air.
The Los Rios Historic District near Mission San Juan Capistrano is a great place to visit. From there you have a great view of the dome which sits atop San Juan Capistrano's original Santa Fe depot.
Whenever I have the opportunity to fly into LAX, I am mesmerized by the city, and especially by the patterns and textures created by the freeways. Here, in the typical Southern California haze, is a view from above all of the detail that those drivers below are dealing with.
Woven Concrete was selected by the California Art Club to be in their 107th Gold Medal Exhibition currently in progress in the Main Gallery of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Whenever I go to New York I am fascinated by her bridges, both large and small. Here, a ways out from the city, on a cloudy summer afternoon is one of the many rail bridges across the Hackensack River in New Jersey.
Crossing II was selected by California Art Club to be in their 106th Gold Medal Exhibition.
Birdbath depicts the western part of California's San Joaquin Valley known as "Cotton Country." Here, amidst a power distribution grid so vital to the valley's irrigation network, a flock of birds bathe in a puddle of water overflowing from a clogged irrigation ditch.
Water towers are everywhere in NYC if that is what you are looking for. I especially enjoyed this one, perched atop an apartment building in the Morningside area, basking in the warm yellow glow of a late New York afternoon.
A plein air painting of the San Juan Capistrano Mission on a misty morning in June.
Clouds are gathering on a Saturday afternoon off the coast of Crystal Cove State Park.
The morning sun breaks over Temple Hills and casts its rays on Downtown Laguna, prominently highlighting the iconic Hotel Laguna.
Low tide off of the coast of Laguna Beach.
Returning from a NHRS convention a few years ago, Santa Fe's 3751 steam engine leans into the last curve as she descends off of the Cajon Summit at dusk.
On a hill overlooking Irvine I saw an old stand of eucalyptus trees that seemed as if they were set on fire by the brilliant sunset.
Skirting the west side of Downtown LA, Hiway 101 from the 3dr street overpass.
Los Angeles' Sixth Street Viaduct, a.k.a the Whittier Bridge was built over the L.A. River is Southeast Los Angeles in 1932. Here, this unsung workhorse of L.A.'s East Side takes a much-needed rest on a lazy, hazy Sunday morning.
The old movie theater in downtown Long Beach is preserved here on a quiet Sunday morning.Â
Summer memories of Crystal Cove must have been very special for those who lived in these cabins during the 50's and 60's. Today they are restored and preserved, and available to rent from the state park to create your own Summer memories from a bygone era.
The Pacific Harbor Line railroad bridge in Wilmington, CA
My son and his family now live in Kansas. I love to drive across the state, following lines that the prairie railroads laid over a century ago, which followed the covered wagon trails laid even earlier.
It was a perfect Saturday afternoon at the Santa Barbara harbor. There was not much activity today in the commercial section of the docks. Both the water and the air were still in the late afternoon rays.
Clipping along through the New Jersey landscape, just 8 minutes away from Penn Station aboard Amtrak's northbound Southern Crescent, you are about to tunnel under the Hudson River before completing your long journey from The Big Easy to the Big Apple. It looks cold out there on this winter afternoon, but who goes to New York for the weather?
One of a series of shallow pool paintings done in the Sierra mountains. The perspective is looking directly into the water,
Driving through heavy traffic along the highway I was stopped at a traffic light. In the time it took the light to change I found myself awestruck at the beauty of the filtered light streaming through the soft silhouettes of the palms.
