Girls Night Out

I needed to get out and paint. The weather was glorious and the crescent moon beckoned. On Sunday I got my chores done, helped the kids with various projects and homework, then headed out for some solitude. My hike to the edge of the bluffs at More Mesa (its farther than it looks) was rewarded with a breathtaking view. I did two paintings, wrapping up well after dark. My long walk back through a darkness as black as Lamp, Ivory, and Mars all mixed together made that long walk even longer. I had plenty of time to count my blessing and give thanks for the beauty that surrounds us.

Notice the crescent moon in the upper left of the smaller photo.

Photos: Kate Burt

From the Edge...

... of the Blueberry Field, Carpinteria.

Day two of the painting workshop with John Budicin earlier this month found our group in the Carpinteria Valley. We had plans of spending the morning painting at a farm, but John had different plans as we approached the entrance of the property. Like him, I was taken with the view from the side of the road. We asked "Kay", if we could set up in her driveway. Not only did she agree, she also regaled us with stories of her life, growing up the area before development impacted Carpinteria and Rincon. She even brought out some of her own oil paintings that she created decades ago.

The field across the road yields blueberries.  We arrived as the pickers were wrapping up their morning break. They were singing and laughing as they moved into the fields to pick. It was a  timeless scene that was beautiful in so many ways. I felt as if I was in a setting not unlike Van Gogh's, only happier.

I was very entertained by one of the workers who's job seemed to be shooing the birds from the field. He walked back and forth in the fields whistling and clapping all morning long. I am intrigued that this charming method delivers the best ROI. I'd like to see the data.


Berry Field, Fall. 9" x 12" oil on board

November Summer in Santa Barbara

The first week of November felt like summer. This warm sunny day reminded me why I live in Santa Barbara. From the Douglas Preserve I could see up coast, to UCSB and beyond. The day also brought a video crew out shooting for a local tourism organization. They asked to take footage of me while painting. Self consciously I said yes -- worrying that my butt looked XXL on video and wondered if my pony tail was attractively arranged. My hair takes on a life of it's own when I am out painting!
I've seen the footage and it looked better than I expected. Thank goodness I was in silhouette. I'll let you know when the video goes live, you can tell me if my butt looks fat. Really, you can tell me.

November Afternoon, 9" x 12", oil on board.

A View that Gives Me a Rush

Rush, 9" x 12"

Santa Barbara is beautiful. But LA serves up exciting vistas that really inspire me. I grew up in LA and worked with my father during the summer at his Downtown office when I was a teenager. There was special meaning for me to capture a scene I always found beautiful: city and traffic lights at dusk. I'm sure I traveled down that very street in the painting dozens of times with my dad when I was a kid. I never fail to appreciate the effect of car exhaust and urban humanity has on the evening sky.

I am honored to have this piece accepted into the California Art Club show currently hanging in Hennessy + Ingalls Art & Architecture Bookstore in the Third Street Mall in Santa Monica. The show hangs until January 15. The Opening Reception is tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to experiencing a bit of the LA art scene.

 Art Between the Lines:

An Unthemed Exhibition 

  

Opening Reception Tomorrow

Saturday, November 19; 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Hennessey + Ingalls Art & Architecture Bookstore

214 Wilshire Blvd., 

Santa Monica, CA  90401