Northern California Landscapes

The paintings in this gallery are scenes of beautiful Northern California. I have painted them in studio from my photographs of the area. The sizes will not include their frame.

Images will be arranged from most recent to later.

Eel River- December 2016

High water on the Eel River in December, 2016. As seen from the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt County, California. Bright blue winter sky with towering forest in the distance.

Oil on Linen 20 x 24 inches

High Tide - 2017

Humboldt Bay, as seen from the Hikshari Trail in Eureka, California, goes over it's banks in this clear skied winter image. Three trees in the foreground sit in swamped grass (usually a dry hillock). A distant sandy spit, that keeps the Pacific Ocean out, anchors the horizon.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

A Rocky River

Summer on the Trinity River when water has been released from the dam upstream to save possible migrating salmon down-stream.

A large "lion shaped" rock outcropping with bushes and grasses spring from it's surface sits to the front right side, daring the viewer to climb for a better look. The distance reveals a narrow rocky canyon where the water noisily carves it's way toward the sea.

Oil on Linen 22 X 28 inches

River Becomes the Sea

Overlook of the Klamath River in Northern California. The river runs into the Pacific Ocean and is mostly separated by a long sandbar.

Oil on Canvas 18 x 24 inches

Oasis III - Willow Creek

A popular swimming spot in Willow Creek, California. It's a hot summer late morning and the water is perfect with it's calm reflective quality. The distance has craggy rocks to climb on to dry out briefly before jumping into the cool water again.

Oil on Linen 20 X 24 inches

Trinity Gold

Late Spring in the Emerald Triangle. Some plants are working hard to get their flowers "on".

Oil on Canvas 18 X 24

Strawhouse Beach

View of a small private beach on the Trinity River by the Strawhouse coffee shop and resort. Lush manicured grassy area with shade trees where the rocky river flows by gracefully.

Oil on Canvas 14 X 18 inches

Arcata Marsh Winter- Dawn

Arcata Marsh, Arcata, California as seen from the north end of Humboldt Bay looking southeast just as the sun rises in the early winter. It's a clear, cold morning and frost highlights the bank of the pond as it reflects the emerging sun. This area serves as a cleansing pool for the water treatment plant before being released into Humboldt Bay. It's a haven for diverse wildlife.

Oil on Linen 24 X 30 inches

Humboldt Bay Poppies

A Spring day on the banks of Humboldt Bay, Eureka, California. Poppies, a blue flowering bush and tree log decorate the foreground. An old pier can be seen in the distance with hills and a beach.

Oil on Linen 16 x 20 inches

Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge

Southern most area of Humboldt Bay. Early summer overlooking grazing area down to the wetlands. Canada geese congregate here in the winter and other waterfowl call this home in the summer.

Oil on Canvas 24 X 30 inches

A Slough Morning

Early morning in Humboldt County, California. A Great egret glides across a coastal slough in search of breakfast. Distant forests and mountains reveal themselves above the coastal fog.

Oil on Canvas 22 X 28 inches

Intimate Landscapes

Close-up, almost abstract images of plant life define the paintings in this gallery. Small parts in a single moment in time can make a spectacular piece of wonder to witness.

River Life

Glistening sunlight reflects off the river and floating algae on the late summer shallow portions of the Trinity River. Fallen decaying leaves add orange highlights to the scene. The algae resemble floating alien life.

This is an example of the creativity that can be derived by using my photographs to capture the freezing of a small moment in time.

Oil on Canvas 20 X 24 inches

Flora

Plants living on and around an eddy on the Trinity River create a small ecosystem. Algae, flowering grass and small ferns make their home among the rocks and water.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

Trillium

A white trillium, common spring and early summer flower in these redwood coastal forests, makes it's appearance surrounded by it's leaves and ferns.

Oil on Linen 14 X 18 inches

River Sculpture

Is it some wasted farm equipment wrapped in the remains of a deceased animal trapped by dead wood and plant material?

Honestly, I really don't know. I discovered it on a river bar after it had been used to start a fire. It's interesting how the plants have used it's structure as a nesting spot. At one time some of it was "man-made" and discarded or perhaps swept away in a flood.

This is left to the viewer to decide ... enjoy what the river has created.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

Paradise? At the SF Transit Terminal

24x30 oil on canvas two Bird of Paradise flowers facing opposite directions with modern glass building in the background

It's Hard to Be an Angel

18x24 oil on linen painting of emerging angel trumpet (dreams of the beautiful flowers to come) with hungry snail approaching

Joshua Tree Series

From the first time I saw Joshua Trees I was fascinated and attracted to these living entities that resemble wizened individuals. They survive in some of the harshest environments on Earth, and are only native to two places, the Mojave National Wildlife Preserve in California and Israel.

This gallery contains my visual exploration and attempt to show the admiration I have for their rugged determination.

Unlike the other Paintings, this gallery has been arranged from earliest to most recent to demonstrate my creative journey.

Joshua Flower One

The early stages of a Joshua Tree flower. Resembles an artichoke, but certainly not as tasty nor useful to us.

Beautiful in it's delicate color, but quite dangerous to touch ... hundreds of razor-sharp thorns protect it from any encroachment by a predator. Seeded tendrils shoot up from the flower as it continues to ripen.

Oil on Canvas 18 X 24 inches

Joshua Tree One

My first in the series of Joshua paintings. The surrounding desert is kept as monochromatic as possible and the Joshua Tree's color is heightened to emphasize it's dominance in the landscape.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

Twins

Joshua Trees can reproduce from side shoots of each other or by seed. There is "safety in numbers" as these two large plants demonstrate being surrounded by several smaller individuals in this rare Joshua Tree forest.

Once again I have kept the surrounding desert and distant mountains in grey tones while emphasizing the color of the twin Joshua's.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

Last Seed

The remaining seed pod on a tall Joshua Tree. It's odd doughnut shape, framed by the azure sky, is caused by invading insects finally being able to get a meal from the protected flower. Chances of Joshua Trees coming from this seed are unlikely.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

Standing Tall

Lone Joshua Tree does it's best to tower above the surrounding vegetation. Even manages to tower above the rocky structures nearby.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

Its a Hard Life

This is the, so far, final painting in my Joshua Tree series. I wanted to emphasize the desolation in which these plants continue to live.

Only dried grass, cactus and hearty bushes are present in this land of sand and rock. The area is actually quite lush in this painting because the time of this image was February, at the end of a particularly wet winter. The ground and air are still cool and moist ... that will change soon.

Oil on Canvas 11 X 14 inches

Other Subjects

This is the area where other subjects are put, be they images from trips or more human representation. I hope you enjoy the diversity of subject matter.

A Harbor on Lake Michigen

This painting came from a photograph I took while visiting Chicago, Illinois. A stop-over during a cross-country train trip I took a few years ago. The fog bank reminds me of home.

Oil on Canvas 18 X 24 inches

My Brother's Lucky Number

Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale, California, showing the horses before the race. Don't remember if the horse was a winner, but it wore my brother's lucky number.

Oil on Canvas 18 X 24 inches

Viewing at the zoo

Visiting the Portland Zoo, a young girl sees a swimming otter while it checks her out from the other side of the window.

Oil on Canvas 24 X 30 inches

Blue Horse

Not so obvious, the horse's legs are shadowed with dark blue. The horse stands in a large pasture, curious about this visitor, but keeps a safe distance. Northern California's beautiful redwood forest towers in the distance.

Oil on Canvas 18 X 24 inches

Mall Expressions

A bored child joins the window display to rest from her mother's lengthy shopping excursion. The store theme, Expressions, is echoed on her face.

Oil on Canvas 16 X 20 inches

Triad

A very early painting that has been rarely exhibited. A young woman stands at the edge of the Pacific Ocean with the normal Northern California fog bank on the horizon.

Oil on Canvas 18 X 24 inches

Oregon Coast

This Gallery is highlighting new paintings that were inspired and created from my trip up the coast of Oregon in late March.

I hope it will inspire others to make the journey along this beautiful area of our country.

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Northern California Landscapes