Today, we tried a new place, Sunol Regional Wilderness. We took a trail to "Little Yosemite", then looped back along the road. Part of the park is still used as grazing country so we got a nice visit with some cows along the way.

Went on my annual trek to see the pink/purple wildflowers at Pacific Grove. One of my favorite sights.

I finished a new seascape in oil paints today. While it's getting dry enough to photograph, I thought I'd post about the wildflower walk I went on today...

I heard of a new open space preserve in South San Jose (new to me, anyway) called Rancho Canada de Oro. We went on a short 1/2 mile loop through a meadow filled with purple lupines, then did the 4.3 mile loop. The first half was all up but not too steep. I was amazed by the flowers, California poppies that went all the way up the hillsides. Truly, a beautiful place. I feel lucky to have seen it at this particular time.

There's a nice park only 20 miles away that has beautiful waterfalls. It's called Uvas Canyon. This was a great time of year to go. Dry enough to hike but still plenty of waterfall action :-).

Here is my latest painting, "The Coming Light":

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Against a dramatic dark sky, the cypress tree perches on a rock along 17-Mile Drive in Carmel, waiting for morning, which is almost dawning. This California ocean seascape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in blue acrylic).

Size: 8" x 10"

Made a bunch of new pendants last week and got them all uploaded to the Jewelry page.

After years of walking at Windy Hill, I finally walked far enough to see why it's named that. It wasn't too windy yesterday, although cold & gray. It's around 2.5 miles to the top. We nearly made it but not quite.

Here is my latest painting, "Winter Peace":

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The full moon illuminates two red cardinal birds on snow-covered tree branches, arcing to form a peace sign. Snowflakes dance in the blue night sky. This hope-filled piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (visionary landscapes in a contemporary Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in black acrylic) and can be hung with just a nail—no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting.

Size: 11" x 14". Prints are available.

Here is how the sky looked yesterday at Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto, California. It told of the rain to come but, at that moment, it was a beautiful pearly gray.

New peace tree pendant in patriotic red, white & blue:

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The rising sun illuminates red butterflies and blossoming tree branches, covered in cherry blossoms. The tree branches have arced to form a peace sign. Some of the petals are dancing in the sunrise, which is in shades of blue. This hope-filled piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (visionary landscapes in a contemporary Asian style), is offered as a fine art pendant, hand crafted from one of my paintings.

An adjustable knotted cord is included so the piece is ready to wear and will fit most sizes (these are adjusted by sliding the knots and don't have a metal clasp). If you would prefer a cord of a particular length or color with a clasp instead, let me know at the time of the sale (no additional charge).

Nibblefest time again...

For those that don't know, nibblefest is a monthly art "contest" on ebay. All entries in the theme start at only .99. It starts on the 20th and runs through the 27th of each month. I don't normally run auctions on eBay anymore but, out of a sense of nostalgia or continuity, I tend to do nibblefest.

This month's theme is vintage cats. I submitted two auctions, as close as I could come.

The first is a black cat pendant on cord (from one of my paintings).

The second is an ACEO (mini) print of one of my recent paintings of a tortie cat that I felt had an old-fashioned spin to it, Cherry Blossom Waltz

I hope these little bargains find good homes :-).

Here's my new one, just to share. I took the photo where it's hanging to dry (indoors) so it isn't the best quality but you get the idea :-). There is a woman & cat meditating on the hill.

It's a 16x20 oil painting on stretched canvas. It won't be ready to ship for at least a month but I'll be able to run prints late next week.

Here is my latest painting, "Cherry Blossom Waltz ":

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Cherry blossom petals dance around a lovely tortie (tortoiseshell cat), who is watching the sunset. This charming landscape, with a touch of the old-fashioned in the gentle palette of rose, mauve and gold, is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in black acrylic) and can be hung with just a nail—no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting.

Here is my latest painting, "Golden Afternoon Meditation":

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A Siamese cat and zen buddhist monk sit together in contemplation as the afternoon gives way to a glorious sunset in shades of yellow. The sunset turns the tree into a dazzling display of yellow, orange, red and purple. This visionary landscape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in purple acrylic) and can be hung with just a nail--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting.

New cypress tree pendant:

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I have a special fondness for that painting because it's the only one I painted on location (our hotel room overlooked the ocean and I'd brought a canvas & paints with me).

Kona Kat ACEO Limited Edition Print

A black cat has leapt onto a table where coffee has been laid out, mesmerized by the steam rising from the cup and pot. The red hibiscus flowers in the background are echoed in the blue batik cloth on the table. The pottery coffee pot has a relief of palm trees crossed above a tiki and is an earthy shade of raw sienna. Behind it, palm trees sway and sea gulls glide in a glorious tropical sunset in shades of yellow, orange, magenta and purple. Tiki torches are aflame on the distant beach. This Hawaiian seascape is offered as a limited edition art card (ACEO).

This is my entry in the Nibblefest Art Contest, a themed art contest beginning on the 20th of each month. Please be sure to search for NFAC on eBay to see more great entries, each starting at just $0.99. Thanks!

I am participating in an auction for Barack Obama:

Japanese Garden Vertical Wall Calendar
Buy this product at CafePress
Designed by Japanese Garden Landscapes

My latest oil painting, "Sea Foam and Seashells":

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On a distant rock, a mermaid lazily swirls a hand in the water. Seagulls glide through the gentle sunset, the darkening sky in shades of yellow, rose, lavender and gray. Sea foam swirls around the rocks. Seashells and a sand dollar adorn the beach. This seascape is an original oil painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in brown acrylic) and can be hung with just a nail—no need to frame. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting.

New pendant, "Halloween Sunset":

Item 180285993307

A black cat and crow frame the setting sun. The sunset sky is in shades of orange. This monochrome visionary landscape is offered as a pendant, hand crafted by the artist from my original painting. Made from polymer clay with the print fired onto it, then sealed for protection.

An adjustable knotted cord is included so the piece is ready to wear and will fit most sizes (these are adjusted by sliding the knots and don't have a metal clasp). If you would prefer a cord of a particular length with a clasp instead, let me know at the time of the sale (no additional charge).