january moon rise

full moon on january 15 - we decided to try the view from the bluff at shoreline park. it is a challenge. beautiful, big yellow moon, with great reflections on the water.

libby smith

wolf moon, january 2014
10"x10", oil on panel

16 january 2014

mid-january. the weather has been unbelievable. down-side: drought and fire season year round. up-side: warm days, clear beautiful weather, sunny most days with amazing sunrises and sunsets. needless to say, great for plein air painting.
the école is still a bit scattered with the things life puts in the way, but we hope to be back on track with the four of us together on mondays once again.
in the mean time, Mimi and Coco have been going out to paint, with a guest appearance of Gigi. 
are we looking at the same thing or what? interesting to see the same view through our own lens.


this was a grey day, great spot to paint and try out our new gear - pochade boxes & tripods

nina warner
IV bluffs toward devereux
6"x12" oil on panel

libby smith
winter afternoon, devereux point
8"x16" oil on panel


a warm day with constantly changing skies and mountains.
a bob-cat grabbed a coot for lunch right across the lagoon from us.

nina warner
goleta slough
8"x10", oil on panel

libby smith
goleta beach slough
8"x8", oil on panel

trying to get out of the wind. calm spot where we watched squads of canada geese come in for a landing, have a rest and take off in formation. the sound of them: honking and beating their wings as they flew over our heads, was amazing.

nina warner 
devereux 
8"x10", oil on canvas



looking south toward campus point. the white heron posed for a little while, then got bored and left.

nina warner
IV bluff
9"x12", oil on canvas

libby smith
january, campus point 
9"x12", oil on canvas


Coco is catching up on sending images: 

libby smith
arroyo burro beach walk
9"x12", oil on panel


beautiful way to start the new year - looking down at the ocean rocks as the tide moves out.

libby smith
new years day, 2014
8"x16", oil on panel

happy new year 2014

beautiful winter day - cool sunshine, cooler shadows.
as one of the cats has often said, "begin as you would continue", so out to start the new year with paint brush in hand. cold spring canyon actually starts out as 'gould park' before running off into various trails, so as I keep working on my park series, it was a good place to start. the light was fleeting in the canyon, but caught this young bay tree for a moment.

nina warner

gould park
cold spring canyon

oil on panel
6"x8"