Friends, at the Friends Meeting House, San Jose

I completed another speedy quarter sheet painting yesterday at the Friends Meeting House in San Jose. I loved the bare trees and their smooth light branches snaking over a grey sky.  The morning began very overcast, but by the time I stopped painting the sun was out and the light was completely different. This is always the challenge of plein air painting - working fast enough to capture the mood and light before it changes.

Carmelite Monastery, Santa Clara

All was peace and serenity in the gardens of the Carmelite Monastery.  The rain held off and it was wonderful to be outside painting.  I've painted the Monastery building in the past, so this time I focused on a view toward one of the many statues dotting the garden.  I have always loved the olive trees here, and I think I could come back time and again to try and capture them.