Strauss Ranch Sycamore

9" X 12" Oil on panel

available: bobbi@bobibina.com

Late in posting this one. Not sure why but I kept looking at it and altering little things.  That's not usually a good thing! I was attracted to the little stream in front of the tree. Most of the water in these parts is all dried up from the scorching summer heat. But this was earlier in the summer after the late, for the season, rains.

Mission Creek Pastel

View to the Mission

pastel on panel, 12" X 16"

available: bobbi@bobbibina.com

This pastel was done in the studio using a combination of photos from Mission Creek, Santa Barbara and Placerita Canyon, closer to home. The lighting and vegetation were remarkably similar. My photos from Mission Creek were a bit too dark and the foliage was too dense to see much in the distance. I took artist license here and "voila"! You can see the Mission in the distance. Actually, I did see it from where I took the real photo but it wasn't working for me in this size and format.

Carpinteria

Carpinteria, Floral Carpet
Oil on panel, 9" X 12"
Available: bobbi@bobbibina.com

Another SCAPE paint-out painting. I started this one and discovered that I was standing in the midst of a tar pit. The infamous Carpinteria Tar Pits are nearby but the tar also seems to ooze out in lots of unsuspecting places. Count one pair of old tennis shoes as victims of this phenomenon! I also visited the nearby Harbor Seal Rookery - fascinating! Hundreds of seals were beached here to give birth to their cubs. Volunteers from the Sea Watch group were there to gave us a lot of information about the seals and their behaviors. Another reason to be in love with this whole area!

Botanical Garden Plein Air

Spring Garden Bloom
Oil on panel, 12" X 9"
Sold

Painted this on a workshop day at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden with guidance and help of Lynn Gertenbach. Lynn is an awesome professional artist and teacher as well as a super nice person! I met her one day while painting at the King Gillette Ranch on my own. I look forward to many more workshop and casual painting sessions with Lynn as she lives not too far from me. She is a signature member of The California Art Club; Plein-Air Painters Of America; and Oil Painters Of America. Check out Lynn's web site to see her beautiful works.

Santa Barbara-Plein air

Goleta Slough Mustard

Oil on canvas, 10" X 8"

Available: bobbi@bobbibina.com for details.

I have been so lucky to find and participate with the SCAPE painting group. It encompasses two things I am passionate about. Painting and preserving our precious environment. SCAPE = Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment. I've had the pleasure of meeting many new friends and painting companions. It has been a link to several other art opportunities and I am SO grateful for all the new experiences. These people REALLY know where to find inspirational painting spots and it's always beneficial to chat and share with everyone. Thank you SCAPE!

King Gillette Oak

Sunlit Oak
Oil on canvas, 10" X 8"
available, contact: bobbi@bobbibina.com

I've been doing a fair amount of plein air painting in oil recently. This was painted several weeks ago at the King Gillette Ranch. Central California is a great inspiration for this land locked, mid-west born painter. I'm drawn to the coastal areas in particular but living in Valencia and about an hours drive from the coast, I am getting more practice inland. That's not exactly a hardship as the variety and beauty between here and the ocean is phenomenal! I am still finding my way with oil and landscapes but have had some breakthroughs due to watching others with such great skill and just plain "sticking with it" at times. This is one of my earlier attempts. I'll post a few more in the next days.

Small works

Playing Koi

3.5 X 2.5 watercolor

Myrtle Turtle

3.5 X 2.5 watercolor

Ms Piggy

2.5 X 3.5 watercolor

A few more little animals works here that I wanted to publish before digging in to the oils and pastels. I have a renewed commitment to PRODUCE over the next few weeks. Hoping to get a couple of venues to show work in the really near future! Will post them as they happen.

Available by contacting bstegora@mac.com

Countryside near Apt, France

Vineyard Guardian

9 x 12 Pastel
Sold

I've really missed painting in pastel and a painting session in Ojai, CA a couple of weeks ago made realize I just had to return to this medium. It was a great experience with new friends I met after a search for plein air groups in this area. The subject is from a photo taken on a trip to Provance in 2007. This was one of several heart stopping scenes I tried to document with my camera for later interpretation in paint. This painting is now an entry for the Santa Paula Art Show, March 17- April, 7. Anxious to see all the other entries at the opening reception on Saturday, March 27.

Painting is available by contacting me at bstegora@mac.com

Finally Back!

Polar Protection
2.5 X 3.5

Romeo
2.5 X 3.5

Gertie
2.5 X 3.5

Sheepish
2.5 X 3.5

Out to Pasture
2.5 X 3.5

So just where has the time gone? I can't believe how long it has been since my last post. Moving to Valencia was hard for me - painting wise. I'm now back in the saddle and will post some things that I have done in the hiatus. Also I'm committing to posting on a regular basis again. I'll see how it goes but I hope at least once a week. I've recently found some wonderful and inspirational groups to paint with so that should be a great help. I'll share more about them in the future.

One of the things I've done to keep in practice is a series of ACT cards (aka: ACEOs) with the theme of "Compassion". They've all been animals so far but I intend to add human subjects as well in the near future. In case you're not familiar with ATCs read this link for an explanation.

Please contact me for purchase of originals at bstegora@mac.com