“852. Bird Waiting for Spring” oil painting by Mariko Irie

This Bird is Mejiro, which is a Japanese White-eye.

I have thought this bird is Uguisu, which is Japanese Bush Warbler till check with Wikipedia.

Many of Japanese confused Mejiro and Uguisu.

Because Japanese called Uguisu-Iro, which is the name of color, is same as Mejiro feather color.

The Japanese White-eye starts singing from early spring on or by the plum trees.

Hi everybody,

My show at the Northcoast Artists Gallery in Fort Bragg will be round the corner.

After my show reception at the Highlight Gallery in June, we went to San Diego to have a family gathering. We had a great time together for one week.

Then I started painting for the show “Mariko Irie 2016”.

I had ideas for this show in January in this year.

Now I finished main paintings.

I love to show you one of them  “847. Plum Trees”.

“847. Plum Trees” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This is Mariko Irie Japonnica.

Plum blossoms indicate harbinger of spring after cold winter.

How do you like my new direction?

And these are close-ups of the painting “847. Plum Trees”

“847-1. Plum Trees Part 1” Watercolor Painting by Mariko Irie

“847-2. Plum Trees Part 2” Watercolor Painting by Mariko Irie

“847-3. Plum Trees Part 3” Watercolor Painting by Mariko Irie

“847-4 Plum Trees Part 4” Watercolor Painting by Mariko Irie

Love,

Mariko

“846. Quiet Moment at Jug Handle Beach” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Jug Handle State Park, which is one of my favor beaches.

Some how, when I’m there, it relaxes and soothes me.

The atmosphere holds me nicely and softly.

What a wonderful place, don’t you feel?

“840. Spring Ranch” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This location is along the Hwy 1, Spring Ranch in Little River CA.

I painted “551. To Mendocino II”

“551. To Mendocino II” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This was same location but facing North.

This time I painted facing South.

I don’t know how many times I drove this location.

When I lived in Mendocino, facing north was my way home.

Now I live in Santa Rosa, so facing south is my way home.

After rain, fresh grasses cover ground. It’s spring.

Sun is going down. So shadow is long.

The oldest barn has been standing there since 1864. So many histories went by.

Everything is fresh and exciting for our lives and I will cherish this scene.

I love Roses.

“845. Rose World II” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Russian River Rose Company in Healdsburg CA.

This painting looks so busy. But actual place is very clean and neat.

I wanted to paint roses’ energy.

Lovely roses are everywhere, and cheer me up.

Cheer to May flowers and you.

“825. Clear Sea” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This location is very closed to Mendocino village CA.

It was cloudy day.

When it’s cloudy, I can see more colors than when it’s sunny.

I stared at waves coming and going without paying attention to the time.

I was watching the beautiful colors, aren’t they beautiful?

“839. Sunny April at Big River Beach” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Big River Beach, CA.

It’s April Spring.

Nice warm lights are everywhere.

Feel so good and relaxing.

Let’s breath deep and smile.

I painted same scene as this in Watercolor before:

http://www.mariko-irie.com/peekingbigriverbeach.html

I’m having fun painting same scene in watercolor and in oil still.

What do you think?

“838. Glittering World” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This location is at Mendocino Headlands very close to Big River Beach.

It was nice sunny day in April.

The painting is framed by tree branches, so I feel like in my special world.

Everything is twinkling and glittering softly.

I love to be in this world forever, don’t you?

“832. Trees on a Cliff” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This location is above the Seaside Beach CA.

I painted this scene in watercolor before:

“810. Wooden Trail on the Cliff ”

“810. Wooden Trail on the Cliff ” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

Now I painted in oil.

I’m having fun painting same scene in oil and in watercolor.

Same scene, but they are different atmosphere by media and my feeling on the day painted.

I like how this painting came out. It has a charming touch. What do you feel?

This trail goes toward the ocean; there is a nice guesthouse on the headland. The view from the house is only ocean. Can you imagine?

Good news is: the house is for vacation rentals you can rent.

“834. Barn and Eucalyptus Trees” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Spring Ranch CA, same place as “833. Barns at sunset”.

I don’t know how many times I passed by there.

It’s very characteristic place.

Along the Hwy 1, so many eucalyptus trees and several old barns.

Maybe Some story teller starts to talk talk about this place like this “Once upon a time…..”