After the Rain

There's not much like the fist sunny Sunday after a week of rain in Southern California to tempt one outside to paint. Unless it is combined with an invitation from the California Art Club to a paint out in a beautiful location. Then it's irresistible! The paint out, hosted by Pat Kelly, an artist I much admire, was held in a rural area near Ramona. It featured beautiful views of snow dotted mountains, seasonal ponds, trees not yet in leaf, and vast stretches of meadow just turning green.

It was a lovely day to paint in the company of other plein air enthusiasts and followed by an instructive group critique. I have "tweaked" my effort a bit in the studio, but essentially this is the painting. I call it "Almost Spring."