Leo Carillo Reflections

This is a stretch of Leo Carillo State Beach in Southern California. It's been a favorite beach since I was a small child.  The rocky outcrops are full of caves and there is even a natural tunnle leading from one cove to another.

The beach has been the setting for movies such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Beach Blanket Bingo among others.  It's also a popular surfing break.

On this particular day we went with some of our grandkids to explore the tide pools.  Not every day is sunny in SoCal, but the overcast and foggy days have their own charm.

Painted this in studio on 140# Arches cold pressed paper.

Here is another recent painting entitled O, Deer.  Play on words suggested by my granddaughter Emma. 

It's been a while since I've posted on this blog.  I've actually set up a website for my artwork at spencermackayfineart.com.  I've also started a newsletter that you can subscribe to from the website.

I've been trying to paint more and decided to post a couple of my recent endeavors.  This painting is entitled: Solstice Canyon Sycamore and is painted in watercolor on 300# arches cold-pressed paper. 

I've recorded a time-lapse video of the creation of the painting with a voice over explaing what I am doing while I paint.

Here is the link to my Youtube video: https://youtu.be/WvSWKdXlQDk

I'll try to post more, please feel free to comment.

Virgin River Afternoon

Painted this from a visit to Zion National Park in Southern Utah.  Watercolor on 140lb Arches 14 x 22.

This watercolor depicts a grove of oaks in Chesebro Canyon near my home.  There is something wonderful about the shady areas under the tree canopy on a hot summer day.  The canyon is good deer habitat and it is not unusual to see a few when hiking the trails.  Done on 140 lb Arches cold press, about 14 x 22.

I did the watercolor based on a shrine I visited in Kyoto, Japan a few years ago.  Done on 140 lb Arches cold press.  14 x 22.

Leo-Carillo-Beach

Leo-Carillo-Beach, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Done a while back on an October trip to Leo Carillo Beach near Malibu. Done plein air in Moleskine wc sketchbook.

Hobble Creek Barn

Hobble Creek Barn, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Watercolor sketch done on recent trip to Hobble Creek Utah. Done plein air in Moleskine sketchbook.

Oak Path

Oak Path, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Lone oak tree in Chesebro Canyon Park about a half mile from my home in Agoura Hills. Lucky to have such a magical place so close. Makes it easy to secape civilization on a moment's notice.

20 x 28 on 140 lb Arches WC paper.

Shadow Oak

Shadow Oak, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

20 x 28 wc painting of oak tree near my friend Taylor Driggs' house in Oak Park, CA.

East Lake, Hoover Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California

Had a great time backpacking with two of my sons last week in the Hoover Wilderness on the East slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains.  The area is Northeast of Yosemite National Park near Bridgeport.  On Friday, we hiked from our camp at Green Lake to East Lake.  I brought along my watercolor stuff and this was done plein air from a rock on the shore of the lake looking North.  Arches paper about 8x10 in size.