Palettes in My Mind from Beyond the Window

Winter on the 33,” Landscape on Parchment with Prismacolor pencils, 18 inches X 12 1/2 inches.

I love to jump in my car and head out of town for a day. Most of the time, I have only a general idea where I am headed. I head out on the road without a plan. There is nothing better than a random day trip through the beauty that California offers.  

Over the years, I have come to notice that when I am looking out my window at the magnificent countryside, I don't just see mountains, trees, deserts and cactus.  I see colors-the colors of nature, the colors of the ever-revolving seasons.  I am fascinated with nature's palettes. Colors that I would have normally not used together in the studio. Palettes are rarely seen in design, but in each peek out the window give me such pause.  I have said countless times to those who accompany me that I am just dumbfounded by the strange combination of color that really works together like a grand scheme.

Highway 33 leaves the Ojai Valley in the direction of Taft and winds it way through the Los Padre Forest.  I often drive this route and enjoy the ever changing palette of color that each season brings.  For years I have been wanting to somehow translate these observances into my work.  What would happen if I designed one of my drawings in a landscape format using the colors from beyond my window?  Well, this week I did just that!  I am excited about the results and might just do a series based on this idea.  Notice the pale purple and the light sage green. There are so much of these two colors this time of year.  I love floating by and taking it all in.

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