Plaza Fountain - SOLD

Few weeks ago, I went to Chapman University in Orange CA and passed through the downtown in Orange. It had been long time since I had been to this place for plein air painting (painting outdoors on location) - about 4 years... I was quite a beginner, but it was fun to stand out there in front of the fountain and paint. This time though, I took my camera along and clicked a lot of pictures around the fountain since I wanted to paint it again. After browsing through many pictures I chose one that I liked best and painted in studio. Here is the result and I am very happy how it turned out.

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Plaza Fountain - 14 x 18 inches, Oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Rainy Dark Night on El Toro Rd - SOLD

I had in mind for a long time to do a night scene and that too when it is raining. Last time when I had the urge to click a picture of such a scene,  about an year ago, I did not have my camera on hand. About couple weeks ago, as I was returning back from the First Thursday Art walk from Laguna Beach, I got a perfect opportunity to click pictures. It was dark and rainy, but I was driving. I pulled out my camera from my purse, and clicked many many pictures while driving. After coming back home, I uploaded all pictures on my laptop and sorted through until I found the best picture I wanted to paint. Here is the result:

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Rainy Dark Night on El Toro Rd - 11 x 14 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

SOLD

This picture is clicked as I was slowing down at the signal at the intersection of El Toro Road and Rockfield.

Rainbow in Foothill Ranch

This is a result of one day "marathon" painting session. I had lot of fun doing the sky. I loved the contrast of light and dark in this painting and the inspiration photo too. And most of all I wanted to try paint a rainbow which I had never done before and did not know if I will have success painting it "wet in wet". I think it would have been easier if the underpainting was dry and then paint the rainbow over it - but I might try this next time. I am happy with this wet in wet result too. Everytime I put color in the rainbow, I thought I was going to ruin the whole painting... so I feel very accomplished after doing this.
I was in a time crunch too, since I had to submit this painting before the deadline time... I have submitted this painting for Viewpoints: Orange County juried exhibition, and keeping my fingers crossed until the results are out next Monday!

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Rainbow in Foothill Ranch - 14x11 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Here is the inspiration photo. I cropped the original picture in the painting.. This is from the back of my office, on a rainbow day. The picture was clicked by my friend - Marilou: