From Field Study to Studio: Ft Ord Dunes

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All great traditional landscape artists paint from nature.  Painting on location, or plein air painting, captures the true colors, light, and atmosphere of a scene in a way that photographs often distort. Cameras can alter color values, compress depth, and lose subtle details in shadows and highlights, whereas painting from life allows the artist to observe and interpret the full range of natural light and color relationships. Additionally, being present in the environment engages all the senses, leading to a more dynamic and emotionally resonant representation.   While I frequently paint en plein air, only on rare occasions does a field study captivate me so completely that it inspires a studio painting nearly identical to the original.

One such moment happened last January when I joined the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters for a special outing to Fort Ord Dunes State Park, a breathtaking stretch of coastline not far from my home. You can read about that adventure here. I’ve painted the dunes around Marina, CA, many times before, but this time, park rangers led us to a remote, rarely accessed location. I often ride my eBike through this area but it’s just a little too far to walk.   I produced a decent piece, which was a keeper, and loved the view and composition of the painting.  Here are just a few snapshots from that day…

This is the original plein air piece, with hardly a smidgen of touchup in the studio.

Working the Dunes, 8×16, oil on board, plein air

I liked the composition and scene so much, I spent the last week doing a larger piece in the studio very true to the original on location piece…

Dunes Vista, 15×30, oil on canvas

As usual, I might touch it up a bit, but seems finished to me!

Here is the original plein air painting on top of the studio piece in a single snapshot. (I blocked out the extraneous parts of the photograph.)

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

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A Unique Competition For Big Bucks

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I recently started showing my paintings at a new gallery in Pacific Grove, CA called 480 Lighthouse, deemed the largest art gallery on the Monterey Peninsula.  

This incredible space in Pacific Grove, CA, is currently hosting one of the most unique art contests I’ve seen. The challenge? Each participating artist gets randomly assigned a 16×16-inch square on a massive board, is provided with acrylic paints, and has 30 days to complete their masterpiece.  Once all squares are painted, a panel of judges will select the top three winners.  Currently, only artists showing in the gallery are eligible to enter. Here’s the real kicker—first place takes home $6,000 with $10,000 in total prizes! That definitely caught my attention, so I jumped in.

I was assigned a square in the lower right corner of one of the two giant panels. The painting surface? Rough chipboard covered in white gesso—not exactly a smooth canvas! Maneuvering into my little section was a tight squeeze, but luckily, no other artists were working nearby while I was painting. After a number of visits, I completed my piece—a vibrant depiction of a Boracay sunset, inspired by my recent trip to the Philippines.

Here are some photos of the panels.

Here is the final painting. If you look closely, you can see the texture of the particle board.

Boracay Sunset, 16×16, acrylic on board

Right now, less than half the squares are finished, and the variety is amazing—everything from bold abstracts to intricate animal portraits and still life. It will be interesting to watch the artwork evolve, and see the final result. I suspect this contest is also a clever way for the gallery to bring in new artists—fitting, given the sheer size of the space!

If you are in the area of Pacific Grove, be sure to stop in and see what develops, view, and purchase some great artwork!!

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Platanus racemosa 

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Platanus racemosa is a real giant among trees, often called California sycamore, western sycamore, California plane tree, or just aliso if you’re in North American Spanish. This tree is native to California and Baja California, hanging out in all sorts of wet spots like stream banks, canyons, floodplains, and around springs and seeps. It loves to chill along rivers and streams in various habitats.

Faced with the ticking clock of an impending art show deadline, I found my plein air portfolio unprepared—only one canvas in my studio fit the show requirements.  I wanted at least one more entry, so, I went out to a nearby park and painted a California Sycamore.  It was a nice sunny day, warming up to about 70.  I painted for over 2 hrs, and the piece turned out pretty well.  It won’t need much if any touchup in the studio! Below are a few moments of the day…

I used some artistic license in eliminating some of the tangle of smaller branches, and adorned the sycamore’s bare limbs with a cascade of imagined leaves for a fiercer interplay of light and shadow. 

Platanus Racemosa, 11×14, oil on panel, plein air, pending touchup

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Working the Dunes

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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.

Working the Dunes, 8×16, oil on board, plein air

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

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LA QUETE: The Quest

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What started as a simple idea quickly grew into a bold journey, one I wasn’t even sure I could or would complete. I had no idea if it would yield anything more than a stack of painted panels destined for the scrap heap. But week after week, I ventured out, painting creeks all over Silicon Valley, ghost towns in suburbia, haunted springs, the signs of wild beavers in urban landscapes, the world’s largest homeless camp, and even the world’s first “plein air selfie.”

And then it took off: a feature on NBC TV, stories in major publications, exhibitions in diverse venues, and even a book. What began eleven years ago today as a year-long quest turned into something unforgettable—a legacy of 60 paintings, capturing 43 different creeks across the South San Francisco Bay Area, each one painted en plein air, or directly on-site.

What I didn’t expect was the response. Strangers approached me with hugs, telling me how these scenes of the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” brought back cherished memories of a place they thought they’d lost.

The entire collection of 60 paintings remains intact, and I’m always looking for new venues—local, national, or international—so if you know the perfect place, let me know!

Dive into the quest and explore a short documentary, interactive map, weblog entries explaining the historic significance of each painting, and more here: http://www.donaldneff.com/blog/works/creeks/

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2024 Small Works Holiday Sale

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Searching for the perfect, one-of-a-kind holiday gift that will be treasured for a lifetime? These charming little paintings are an unforgettable choice for anyone on your list! Plus, this year I’m offering beautifully crafted notecards and art books at unbeatable prices. It’s my biggest holiday sale ever, with discounts of up to 70% off! Most pieces are unframed originals, but if a frame is shown, it’s yours too. Don’t miss this limited-time chance to share the gift of art!  If you are interested, just email me at donald@donaldneff.com

The paintings are listed on Pinterest. Just click the image below–

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Back in the Saddle

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It had been quite some time since I last picked up my oil paints—early August, to be exact. We just returned from a trip to Europe, where I managed to just do one acrylic painting of the shores near Lerwick, Shetland Islands, from our cruise ship balcony. That painting wasn’t my best work, but it holds a special place as a personal souvenir from the trip.

Soon after we returned, I found myself in back-to-back events. On Saturday, I hosted a plein air demo with the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters (MBPAPA), and the following day, I painted as a guest artist at the Knights of the Vine annual gathering.

MBPAPA DEMO

The MBPAPA demo on Saturday went well. Although it was a somewhat gloomy day, with lots of grey, I painted for about two hours and I hope attendees got some value out of it! Below are some photos of the event. (Note: all these photos were taken by MBPAPA members and Airdropped to me, so I can’t remember who gave me what, so please speak up so I can give photo credit!)

Several members also took a video of much of the demo, which I combined and sped up 20 times.  (Again, I can’t remember who gave me which videos.)

The painting is only about half to 2/3 complete, so will finish it in the studio in the next few weeks. I’ll post the result when time comes.

KNIGHTS OF THE VINE

On Sunday, I was invited to the Knights of the Vine annual BBQ. For the past 30+ years they have had a party on the Sheltered Cove pier by the Beach & Tennis Club in Pebble Beach, CA. As is tradition, I painted live during the event, and the finished piece was auctioned off for charity. This was my third time being invited, and the experience never disappoints. It’s always a delightful day of painting, good food, and even better wine. You can see blogs from my last visits here and here.

The day started out a bit gloomy, but the sun made occasional appearances. I spent a little over two hours capturing Stillwater Cove and the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Course, using a touch of artistic license to bring more vibrancy to the light and colors. By the end, the painting found its way to the auction block and was sold during the event.

Here are a few photos to share from the day.

Shelter Cove, 9×12, oil on panel, plein air

So, I am back in the saddle again. Stay tuned for more adventures!

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480 Lighthouse

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Thrilled to announce that I’ve been invited to showcase three of my pieces in a new gallery in downtown Pacific Grove! They had a soft opening yesterday, and I’m sending them all my best for a successful journey ahead. I’m honored to be part of this vibrant new space!  

I don’t think their website is up yet, but hours are Sat 10a-5p, and other days 10a-3p.  Please stop by if you are near downtown Pacific Grove!!

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Keeper!

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It had been a couple months since I last painted with the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters. My last outing was at Rustique Winery (you can read about that adventure here).

This time, they were gathering at the breathtaking Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove, and as luck would have it, I needed to run an errand in the area—perfect timing to blend a little creativity with my to-do list. This State Beach’s name, meaning “a refuge by the sea,” perfectly captures the serene beauty of over 105 hidden acres, where lush forests meet the crashing surf and rolling sand dunes. It’s a true sanctuary of nature’s finest views.

The day was nothing short of spectacular! The sun was shining bright, with just a bit of wind, and the surf was gently rolling in. Painters were dotted along the coastline, each capturing the scenery in their own unique way. I couldn’t tell exactly how many of us were there, but it seemed like the usual group of 10-12 artists.

Here are a few snapshots from the day.

I spent a little over an hour immersing myself in the stunning coastal view translating it to canvas. Using a little artistic license, I made the wave bigger than the day’s surf, but have seen it that large many times before.  Normally, I’d refine the painting later in the studio, but this one feels just right as it is—a keeper!

Asilomar Study, 10×8, oil on panel, plein air

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Neither snow nor rain nor…

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“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

–US Postal Service

This steadfast creed of the US Postal Service could just as well apply to us plein air artists. We paint through the snow, rain showers, scorching heat, and even under the cover of night. Yet, there is one foe that makes our creative endeavors nearly impossible: WIND! And, of course, those pesky mosquitoes. But truly, the wind is our greatest adversary.

Yesterday, the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters gathered at Rustique Winery for a paint out. It was a gloriously sunny day—if you could overlook the relentless gusts of wind! Easels toppled, supplies scattered, and occasional chaos ensued. Determined to make the best of it, I set up shop in the back of my SUV, using the open door as a windbreak, as did several others. After a little more than an hour, I managed to complete a quick, bold-brushed sketch of the stunning vineyards and Salinas Valley landscape before packing up for afternoon commitments.

Here are some snapshots of our group in action.

As for my sketch, a brief critique reveals my mixed feelings. The middle ground composition suffers from unbroken, parallel lines, mirroring the scene too faithfully. The perspective feels slightly off, too. However, I’m fond of the background, particularly the misty essence of the Salinas Valley. This piece has potential, and I’m eager to refine it in the studio. It’s definitely a keeper!

BTW, I had recently visited Rustique Winery…and made this brief video of the area and above, which led to scheduling this paint out. The hills were quite greener then. In case you missed it—

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