Solitude

This is my personal favorite of the three paintings I did during the Carmel Art Festival, Carmel, California, in May 2010. It was very gray, foggy, cloudy, overcast and chilly during the plein air competition. I really like contrast in my paintings, which is sometimes difficult to find in a subject on a gray day. The cypress and eucalyptus trees make the perfect subjects in this situation, not only for their interesting patterns and nice vertical elements but for the strong dark contrast they create against the gray sky and light foreground. I also loved the mood of this scene...it was very quiet and and peaceful as I painted here in the solitude near Carmel Beach. This painting was included in 2010 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition.