Plain air painting at Lakeside Beach

Trying to escape the heat, my family headed up to South Lake Tahoe. The scenery up there never disappoints. One of our favorite beaches is Lakeside Beach. Although the beach can get pretty crowded, if you get there before noon, it's not to bad. I scoped out a spot back among the trees to avoid getting any more sunburned than I had the day before and started to paint. Already the sunbathers were out and I had to determine how many of them would make it into my painting.
I narrowed it down to three although my original sketch had 5. Painting subjects while they are moving around is quite a challenge, and although these sunbathers didn't move around too much, it was enough. I'm not sure I'm happy with the composition of the painting. I need to crop out some of the sand. The focus of the painting is also unclear: the lake and mountains, the sailboat, the sunbathers, the clouds?

Santa Cruz seascapes in watercolor

So here is the watercolor of my lighthouse sketch. I added the sailboat to add some interest to the right side of the painting.  I really like the effect I got with the marine layer (payne's grey) and the blue sky. I simplified the waves, and darken the lighthouse...maybe a little too dark.  

Some watercolor painters it's tell me they work on more than one plaiting at a time. So while waiting for one to dry, they work on the next. As I worked on my second Santa Cruz inspired painting, I realized that in order for painting more than one painting at a time to be effective, they need to have similar palettes. I kept having to completely rinse off each brush.

 This second seascape was done from a photo I had taken. I needed to crop more of the foreground out.  On this painting I tried to put more focus on the waves.

Plein air painting on the American River

One of my favorite spots to paint is along the American River. It never disappoints. I can always find a beautiful, serene view.  And the weather was a perfect day to be outside. This is at the Howe Avenue River Access, just past the boat ramp. My daughter was with me and asked about how I decide how to simplify all of the details. I told her it was a good question, because that is the part that is the most challenging...to simplify it down to a manageable scene for painting. I did tell her that I generalize the background, and then add in a few details toward the foreground.

This boat was not there while I was painting but after I was finished, it showed up. Maybe I should paint it in...what do you think?

Sailboat on Lake Natoma

What better way to spend a Saturday morning than sitting out by the smooth glassy water of Lake Natoma painting?  We'll let me tell you:  sleeping in and then enjoying a nice cup of coffee with my wife! So I got to the aquatic center on Lake Natoma around 10:30, just in time to see about 30 kids heading down to the dock. The water was smooth, but not for long. I decided to toss out the idea of plein air painting and take a picture before the kid started rowing.  Then I went home and painted in my studio from the picture.

Plein air painting at Pinecrest Lake

Can't beat being at the beach, in the mountains, and painting simultaneously! Pinecrest Lake never fails to disappoint...

I love painting the water but I'm still trying to figure out how to best represent the ripples on the water...