Fields of Sunshine Jane Ramsey Plein Air Watercolor

"Fields of Sunshine," plein air watercolor, 12 x 9

What a memorable day painting in this field of sunflowers with members of the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters. The weather was perfect, warm with low humidity. The blaze of sunflowers with their faces all turned towards the sun was magical. I loved the backdrop of the stately old barn with the roof line softened by the climbing vines. Many thanks to our lovely hosts, Eric and Nancy Olson.

This painting is for sale and currently on exhibit with other paintings from members of the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters at the Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th Street, Camp Hill, PA.

Visit my website or blog to see more of my work.

Plein Air Painters at Windmill Creek Studios Farm near Port Royal

It was a glorious day for all the artists who gathered to paint the sunflowers in the four acre field (L to R) Clare Klaum, MaryBeth Brath, host Eric Olson, Jane Ramsey, Claire Beadon Carnell, Linda Young

Mary Beth

Work in progress, Linda Young

Claire amid the Dream Field

Clare

The apprentice plein air painter

The field of dreams, oh yes...it really Was!

artists entering "Bottini Woods"

Seven Lively artist Robert L. Hughes

Joan, a friend of the Olson's

Nancy Bartholomaei-Olson and Claire B Carnell on Windmill Creek Studio's porch.

 Windmill Creek Studios  You couldn't ask for a more beautiful day than today; blue skies, yellow fields of sunflowers and the field alive with the sound of the buzzing bees.  All of us were quietly painting away when suddenly, each of us "felt a little strange". 

After family members called Claire Carnell and Mary Beth, we were told that feeling was the 5.9 earthquake we all had just experienced.  I recall Mary Beth saying she thought someone was behind her shaking her chair; I had a feeling of wobbly legs similar to getting off a boat onto land. 

Thank you to our hosts Nancy and Eric Olson for their wonderful hospitality.  We all want to come back again to your lovely farm and painterly Heaven.  The sunflowers really were amid a field of dreams.

Linda Young, photographer

website

Linda Young Watercolors

P O Box 941

Carlisle, Pa.  17013

Saarloos Sunset Jane Ramsey

Saarloos Sunset, 8 x 10, plein air watercolor

My favorite time of day to paint... that magical hour when light, color and shadows intensify. The winds pick up in the evening through Ballard Canyon. The old windmill creaks in the breeze. The earth is warm underfoot from the day's sun.  One of my favorite spots to paint in Los Olivos, CA - the Saarloos family's vineyards.

To see more of my work, visit my website or blog.

Lavender in Los Olivos Jane Ramsey

 "Lavender Fields," 17 x 7 plein air watercolor, Los Olivos, CA

Just outside of the little town of Los Olivos, CA is a charming lavender farm, Clairmont Farms. You enter down a long driveway lined with very old olive trees with great gnarled trunks. Beyond the trees' wispy long branches waving in the wind, is a sea of lavender that spans the property with majestic oaks springing up from the masses of color. Surreal.

I wish you could scratch and sniff the monitor! The smell was intoxicating and as I made my way out to the center of the field to do the painting above it became stronger. I set up under the shade of one of the oaks... the ground underneath crunchy with dry grasses. Beyond the lavender was a farmer's field in vivid greens. Soft breezes were filled with perfume. Honey bees were buzzing happily among the flowers.

"Sea of Lavender," 14 x 8 plein air watercolor, Los Olivos, CA

I  returned the next day to paint again. The blooms were at their peak and I didn't want to miss another chance to paint. When I drove by a week later the purples had turned to blues and they had begun to harvest the blooms.

Highways & Byways Jane Ramsey

"Highways & Byways"
Old Coastal Highway, Santa Ynez Valley, CA
plein air watercolor, pen & ink, 14" x 11"

 

I love to venture off of highways to discover roads less traveled. The rusty old roof of this barn caught my eye as I began my downhill descent into the Santa Ynez Valley via Highway 101 North. I decided to keep a look out for a turn-off or exit. Up ahead was an unmarked road and I slowed down and turned off onto a narrow old road. I was delighted when I saw the barn up ahead and pulled in to paint!

To the left of this barn were huge vegetable fields and hehind me were rows of strawberries and raspberries. Helmut, the owner, stopped over to see my painting in progress and talk. He told me the history of this barn... once an old dairy farm that delivered cheese and butter on wagons up over the mountains and to boats waiting in Gaviota, south of here, to be shipped to San Francisco. Today it is Helmut's impressive organic fruit and vegetable operation.  I returned a few days later to paint the rows of lettuces and vegetables ready for harvesting.

"California Hex Sign"
Old Coastal Highway, Santa Ynez Valley, CA
plein air watercolor, pen & ink, 14" x 11"

 

To see more California paintings, visit my blog. My website is www.janeramsey.com

California Light & Color Jane Ramsey

"Dusk in the Canyon"

Ballard Canyon Road, Solvang, CA

Watercolor, plein air

12" x 9"

I just returned from four weeks in the Central Coast of California.
While my daughter continued her equine training at
Monty Robert's ranch in Solvang, I roamed the winding roads of the
Santa Ynez Valley with my paints and easel. I kept pinching myself!

The light in California is intoxicating... luminous.
The shadows are rich and yet, have so much reflective light revealing
subtle color and hues. Evening time was my favorite time to paint.
The afternoon winds quiet down and the heat of the day
gives way to cooler temperatures. The birds appear to hunt for evening bugs and eagles soar above, their shadows moving along in flight.

"Evening's Glow"

Ballard Canyon Road, Solvang, CA

Watercolor, plein air

12" x 9"

You can read more about this painting on my blog or visit my website.