October almost over

 The past many months seem to have flown by. After a year and a half of Covid restrictions we have started to emerge out into the world again (carefully and masked). After going through the trauma of losing our beloved cabin, we were able to get ourselves another cabin and started to settle in there. A lot of work but worth it. It has been very healing.

I started doing an online course with Australian artist Colley Whisson. It’s a year long course and even though it’s all online, he’s done a great job of connecting with each student. I’ve also gained knowledge and direction with his wonderful critiques. The beauty of this is that he doesn’t know me or my work personally so he can look at my work with a completely objective eye.

I also did a weekend online workshop with Claudia Rilling - a fantastic painter whose work is more abstract than mine and that I had much to learn from.

In the meantime I have been consistently going out and painting every week - plein air - which has also kept my sanity and my work intact. Also painting every week in a garden with 3 friends: flowers! Mostly roses. Such good practice.

Also been in a few online shows and sold work through my Instagram account (#nwarner13). 

Now to catch up with work from the last many months:

The Santa Barbara Mission invited a group of local artists to paint the Mission from various aspects and to display them for the summer in the 'Grand Sala'. This was part of a fundraiser for the Mission which suffered a decline in revenue due to covid restrictions and less tourists visiting this beautiful place.

Misson gate from the cemetery, 11”x14” oil on panel

Mission jailhouse, 11”x14" oil on panel

Another favorite spot to paint was the San Marcos Preserve. This property was going to be mostly developed but the community came out and donated big bucks in support of purchasing it from the developer and keeping it an open space for the people to enjoy. It was a tremendous effort and we did it! Makes me very proud of the things that this community values - open space, less development and protecting our beautiful environment.

Old oak, san marcos preserve  8"x10" oil on panel sold

dry grass, san marcos preserve, 6"x12" oil on panel

Painting at the Santa Barbara Botancial Gardens during the Spring flower bloom:

Poppy meadow, 8"x8" oil on panel

Upper trail at the Garden, 8"x10" oil on panel

Currently on view at the Architectural Foundation Gallery as part of the "Local Treasures" show

Nojoqui park, tree study  6"x8" oil on panel

Also going to the coast and painting cliffs, water and what have you. SCAPE was having an online show with the Maritime Museum so we also were looking at boats.

at Haskell's 8"x10" oil on panel

Cliffs at Shell beach, 9"x12" oil on panel

Coastal cliff, 8"x10" oil on panel

Blue Morning Sail, 11"x14" oil on panel SOLD

on the mark, Leadbetter cliff, 8"x10" oil on panel

And finally, painting in the Sierras around the new cabin - same general place, but across the lake from our burned one. Lots of new views and things to see.

Mule ears, 8"x10" oil on panel

dam keepers house, 6"x8" oil on panel

cabin next door, 6"x8" oil on panel

low lake, early morning 6"x8"

So that's mostly it - many I didn't include because in the middle of all this time I had to buy both a new computer and new phone, so many of my photos have been hidden away somewhere in the 'cloud' I hope. I have not yet learned how to retrieve them.

Next Post will catch up on all the flower paintings done over summer.