Working the Dunes
The Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters (MBPAPA) has teamed up with Fort Ord Dunes State Park for an inspiring initiative: hosting paint-outs while volunteers restore the habitat and prepare the area for a brand-new State Park campground. This hidden gem, currently accessible only by foot or bicycle, has been a favorite biking spot of mine for years.
Yesterday, I joined the paint-out. The turnout was great—around six artists and fifty dedicated volunteers braved a chilly morning to contribute to the project. We were granted special permission to drive into the site, forming a convoy of cars snaking through the coastal dunes. To commemorate the moment, I filmed a time-lapse of the ride—proof for my biking friends that I traded pedals for horsepower to reach this familiar spot!
Once on-site, I set up my easel and began painting a sweeping vista of the dunes. I let my artistic instincts take the lead, blending two stunning views into one composition. The left side of the canvas captures the vibrant iceplant, rolling dunes, and resilient junipers, while the right reveals the expansive beauty of Monterey Bay. Although these views face slightly different directions, they harmonized perfectly in my painting.
The day started chilly and cloudy, but gradually the sun appeared, and warmed us up a bit. Below are a few snapshots of the day—










After about two hours of focused work, I completed my study. For now, I’m letting the piece rest, but I’m fairly pleased with how it turned out—it might not need much tweaking at all. Here is the ‘maybe’ finished painting.

MBPAPA and the State Park staff are exploring ways to showcase this restoration project as a shining example for other State Parks. Proposed exhibition venues include Asilomar State Park Gallery, CSUMB, Monterey Airport, and even state office buildings in San Jose, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Stay tuned—this collaboration could inspire even more creative and environmental synergy