San Juan Capistrano Mission

The Mission of San Juan Capistrano is beautiful and this day, the garden was spectacular. All the roses were in full bloom and the humming birds and butterflies were delighting in the nectar that the flowers were providing for them. There were three artists who were painting this view so I took a photo and painted from this reference shot back in my studio. Someday I will travel up again and bring my easel to paint right in the garden as well.

San Juan Capistrano Relic

My daughter and grandson and I went on the train to San Juan Capistrano last week to see the historic Mission. After we had done a tour of the Mission, we had a delicious lunch at a little Mexican restaurant right across the street. When lunch was over we walked around and found a petting zoo just west of the station. Alpacas,llamas, pigs, goats, sheep...are real zoo right there in Capistrano. As we were walking back to the station, to wait for our train, I found this wonderful old home and took a snapshot because I thought it would make a fun painting. Imagine if those walls could talk I bet they would have a lot of history to tell us about the area. 6x8 oil on panel

San Diego Botanic Garden

The San Diego Botanic Garden is having a two day fundraiser this weekend and I am going to participate this year. I and am hoping the weather will cooperate for all of us and not be too hot or too cold. This summer has been crazy so there is no telling. At one point in the planned activities there will be an auction and the artists were asked to donate a piece. I decided to paint the Victorian Gazebo that is on the grounds and add some people to give it a little human interest.

I hope it sells well!

Hotel Del

This was the other painting I did that would remind one of San Diego. It's the famous Hotel Del and located on Coronado Island. It's a very unique looking building with its bright roofs and a beach that stretches forever. It was a little challenging to paint because I kept it on a 6x8 inch canvas board.

Coronado Bridge

This painting is going to end up in Texas as a wedding gift for a couple who came to San Diego for a visit recently. The gift giver was looking for an image that would remind them of their trip here and I thought....Coronado Bridge or the Hotel Del. This is the painting that was chosen.

Border Collie

The workaholic of the dog world, the Border Collie is the world’s premier sheep herder, prized for its intelligence, extraordinary instinct and working ability. Medium-sized and athletic, the breed controls stock with stalking movement and an intense gaze known as "eye. This dog has just finished corralling a herd of sheep into a pen following it's handlers signals in record time. So now, a cooling off dip in a water bucket is his deserving reward.

Rowboat

There was something that so appealed to me about this little rowboat that I felt like capturing it on a 6x8 inch canvas. It had definitely seen years of service for its owner and still looked like it could be of service for many more. Ahoy there you darling little dingy.