This painting was done on site at the M Three Ranch. I used this painting as a base for the larger painting below. My goal in painting landscapes this year is to paint studies on site and to use them to do larger paintings.
Both of these paintings might be for the Yolo Arts & Ag Project Gala in November. I haven’t decided which one.
This painting was done on Rominger Brothers Farm part of the Yolo Arts & Ag Project. Every month there is an invitation to artists and photographers to a farm or ranch located in Yolo County in California. In November there is a gala opening to view the arts create during these visits.
I submitted these two paintings, The Tree and Red Shed for the Art Farm Events that happens every year. It’s an exhibition inspired by the farmlands of Yolo County. YoloArts had scheduled a monthly visit to the farms for artists to captured the California landscape in their medium.
There are two Art Farm Events. I had entered the Red Shed into the Art Harvest. This is a non-juried exhibit and viewers who had purchased a “shovel” gets to dig up the “art” that matches their number. The Art Harvest is also a preview for the juried exhibit, Art Farm Gala. This year will be jurored by Natalie Nelson of the Pence Gallery. There are awards totaling $1,000. Art that has been jurored in will be in a silent auction. This year I had chosen The Tree to be juried. I think it’s a winner. 🙂
I came up with another painting from a visit to the Clos Cavanis Farm in July. I discovered this lone tree by itself in the middle of a few fields. It was massive. I love how it dominated the whole area and make its presence known.
The process – the underpainting, general block in of local colors and the refinement.
The July visit for the Yolo Arts and Ag Project was to Clos Cavanis Farm in Woodland. The most striking feature on this farm is the Victorian home that Van and Catherine Overhouse had spend 20 years remodeling.
Instead of painting the Victorian home, I went for the red shed.
This painting maybe part of the annual Yolo Arts Farm and Gala in October and November.
In June, artists were invited to the Elkhorn Basin Ranch in West Sacramento as part of the Yolo Art & Ag Project. This ranch has over 400 acres of sunflowers. In this painting I tried to capture the fields of sunflowers against the rolling hills. But I also wanted to capture the hazy sky caused by the fires.
This painting maybe part of the Art Farm Exhibit in October or the Art Gala Juried Exhibit in November in Woodland.
I am back to participating at the Yolo Arts & Ag Project. It’s a project sponsored by Yolo Arts where artists/photographers are invited to private farms/ranch to captured the California landscape in paintings or photography. Every time I go and visit a farm I am captivated by the vast landscape and the faraway mountain ranges.
For the July Art & Ag Project, the artists were invited to Fong Farms. Owned by my husband’s cousin, the farm has been in the family for many years. I had visited the farm with my sons but when I visited the farm as an artist it took on a different look. I was attracted to the different layers of fields and the purplish, pink sky of early morning.
I did a quick oil study, about 6 x 8, catching the colors of the sky and the safflower fields way in the back. The painting was completed from the study and the photos I had taken.
The Art & Ag Project is a call to artist event.
“The Art & Ag Project cultivates a dialogue between artists, farmers, and the community to raise awareness about the importance of preserving farmlands and the visual arts in Yolo County. A nationally recognized creative place making project, Art & Ag has invited farmers to open their land to local artists, providing unique opportunities to capture private landscapes that would otherwise remain inaccessible and unseen.
Each month, artists visit a different farm where they can meet the farm owners, paint en plein air, or take photographs. Artists are invited each Fall to exhibit their agriculturally–inspired artwork at YoloArts’ annual Art Farm Gala, the first Friday in November.”Â
The “Red Barn” was painted at the Valley Oak Wool Mill. A young woman rented one of the buildings to run her wool mill business. She would take raw wool and spin it for clients. Her waiting list is about a year long.
The next two paintings was done at the Good Hummus Produce. Caught this dog napping in the middle of the road. Love how the sun light shaped around him.
The “Red Tractor” was parked underneath these trees. I did a small quick study, 6 x 8 and got up to stretched. Before I knew the owner had driven the tractor away. Thank goodness I had that quick study plus a few photos.
This last painting, “Hazy Day” reflect the fickle weather of March or maybe April. I love how the grapevines captured a glimpse of the sun peeking through the clouds.
There are still more farm visits coming up. I probably would visit up to September.
Marlene Lee Art 