San Gregorio Beach from the Hillside Trail Ala Prima, Acrylic, 11×14 9/9/23
My 16 year old daughter Maizie and I travelled south down Highway One looking for a good En Plein Aire vista. We pulled into San Gregorio State Beach and looked around. It was pretty crowded with picnickers and beach combers. There was a lot of human stimulus with people and music. We wanted a quiet, less distracting spot so we climbed the very steep hillside trail and discovered this view overlooking the bluffs. We agreed this was the place, set up our easels and began painting. As always, I exclusively used painting knives. They are much easier to clean when changing colors and for resetting a messy pallet. Another reason is I don’t have to hike in or pour out any paint water. I try and not leave any traces of art residue when in nature. I occasionally use brushes but only in the studio and only for tiny details. It was a little windy and overcast that day and after about 2 1/2 hours, Maizie started getting cold. When I’m painting alone I normally take between three and four hours to power through cursing the elements out loud in a mad and desperate attempt to finish the painting on site. It’s like a sport. I don’t want to have to touch it up after the fact. That would be cheating! In a fury I finished off all the green of the hillside and we packed it up for the day. Maizie’s painting came our really great. She’s more into still lifes, portraits and figure drawing and not really into landscapes so I was really glad she agreed to come out with me. We had a nice drive home up scenic Highway 84 through La Honda and the redwoods on our way home.
This painting was purchased by Tammy Fortin who tipped us off to the spot. Thanks T!