"Sara Lee Vineyard View" by Georgia Simons

This is a plein air painting by Georgia Simons painted at Sara Lee Vineyards.

"Harvesting Lavender" by Kathy Barry

“Harvesting Lavender” painted at the Matanzas Creek Winery this June.

"Early Spring" by Andrea Way

“This is the first large painting I’ve done for awhile. It was a good experience and I would encourage others to work in a size other than what they normally do”. -Andrea Way

"Robert Young Winery" by Char Wood

This plein air oil painting by Char Wood was painted at the Robert Young Winery in Healdsburg, CA.

"Blair House Mendocino" by David Walker

This is an 11″ x 14″ oil on board by David Walker entitled “Blair House Mendocino”.

"Oquirrh Mountains" by Katrina Small

“I was in Salt Lake City for a convention in June, and had some time to do a couple of watercolor sketches of the Oquirrh Mountiains outside my hotel window. The name Oquirrh (pronounced O-Ker) was taken from the *Goshute Indian word meaning ‘wooded mountain’.”
-Kat

"My Garden Corner" by Dominique Armendola

“This plein air piece was painted at Sharon’s family garden. There is so many beautiful sites to paint in that garden, I could spent many happy hours painting there. Every time I paint outside especially in a beautiful garden, I think of my compatriot Monet who spent his days in the French countryside. Actually the light in the south of France where he painted, is very similar to our beautiful California light. This particular painting is going to be in a new movie by Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) called ‘I Hate Valentine Day’.”
-Dominique Armendola

"Apple Drying Shed" o/c

On June 24, 2008 Marcy said: Oh….my attempt at being more green whilst at the green Shambala Ranch, tried Duo water minisible oils, not liking their yellows & missing my familiar oil pigments to mix, so some dissatisfaction w/coolness & middle values herein on the fabulous Apple Drying Shed there. One of 3 paintings I did in lovely 24 hrs spent there….priceless experience. Did I hear this was a Pomo shed before the ranchers took over? Okay, others painted this barn, was it Cindy? C’mon, share yours.

View of Shambhala Ranch

Pia sent in this photo she took of the hilltop above Shambhala. Here is some history of the land from the Shambhala Ranch webiste, “Shambhala Ranch and the surrounding Comptche countryside is considered spiritual not just since the Ranch’s beginning, but from long, long before. During the Stone Age, migratory Pomo Indians travelled especially through this area for its sacred aspects –such as the abundant natural hot springs -on their way to the nearby Mendocino coast, where they would harvest fish, seaweed, and acorns. Along the way, they stopped for the various marvels provided by Coyote (their creator). One such stop was the ‘Living Waters,’ a stream near Shambhala they believed had curative powers.” Read more>

Shambhala Ranch Paint-Away

After our paint-away to Shambhala Ranch in Mendocino County, it seemed like the right time to get a blog going so we can share our paintings, thoughts and stories. I was going to add a page to the Monday Morning Painters website to share this particualr experience, but thought this would be much better. You are invited to post at any time, after any excursion. There is a link on the MMP website to this blog.