“833, Barns at Sunset” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This is the Spring Ranch in Little River, CA.

I painted that area before:

Looking from south

“Driving in the Sun”

“592. Driving in the Sun” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

“To Mendocino”

“551. To Mendocino II” Watercolor by Mariko Irie

And

To Ocean at Spring Ranch

“673. To Ocean at Spring Ranch” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

These barns are old. I’ve red “the oldest barn is circa 1864.”

I was heading south the sun was going down.

After rainy days the ground is coved with fresh green. It’s spring in California.

The warm soft light gave me sweet nostalgia.

“829. Bodega Bay in Spring” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Bodega Bay, CA.

I went to there between rainy days. I was tired from rainy days; of cause we need more rain water. Any way I looked the weather.com on the day morning, it was sunny all day.

So I put my painting gear in my car and heading west to the Ocean.

My friend recommended me, take Occidental Rd, get Occidental and take Coleman Valley Rd., because along the Coleman Valley Rd. is so beautiful.

So I did, I got Occidental and went to the Coleman Valley Rd. But I lost. So I took other road to get Bodega Bay/Ocean. I drove a little North and found small parking spot by the ocean.

Flowers were blooming, covered the ground, waves were going and coming slowly.

What a soothing time.

But the Sun was very hot. When I was painting with Plain Air group, painters told me that not put sunglass on. So I had never painted as putting my sunglass on. But this time the sun was so harsh to my eyes. I was looking the view and my painting palette through my sunglasses, why should not put sunglass on. So I put my sunglass on and painted this painting.

When I painted sunny day like the day, I painted in the sun without sunglass, the painting got much darker. This time it didn’t get darker. Just looks fine.

So I discovered, painting with sunglass is good for my eyes and painting as well.

After I finished this painting, I saw the road sign across the Hwy 1. It was the Coleman Valley Rd. of cause I took the road coming home. It was beautiful scenery.

Looking down is Coastline, along the road there are several ranches covered with fresh grass and flowers, and some big rocks. I felt like I were a different world.

But the road is a narrow snake road, so it was hard to park my car and take photos.

I just keep the scenes only in my memory.

“827. Casper Beach in Spring” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Casper Beach, CA

It’s a bay and very small beach.

There used to be a small hexagon or octagon shape house, which was made fromWine barrel at this beach.

It’s gone now.

That building made this beach so unusually look.

I saw the building in 1980’.

I see a several people there but this beach is still nice, quiet and feeling private place.

We got rainy and cloudy days in Santa Rosa.

I know we need more rain. But we were getting tired.

Then it has been beautiful and warm days, what a precious.

I wonder if it has been beautiful days in Mendocino coast as well.

Watching waves at warm sunny beach.

What a wonderful life, isn’t it?

“824, Peeking Big River Beach” Watercolor Painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Big River Beach in Mendocino CA.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

“821. Indication in Trees” Watercolor/Sumi/Gold&Silver painting by Mariko Iire

It’s soooo warm days, over 70 F in Santa Rosa these days. I love it.

Mostly deciduous trees don’t have leaves yet.

But I feel spring.

Birds are chirping as busily flying.

Clouds are like thin cotton candy in pale blue sky.

I feel indication of loves in cheerful peace, don’t you?

“210. Beach at Sunset” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This scene is my imaginary one.

This is my hope from my heart for this year.

It’s peace, soothing, exiting, colorful, bright, warm and happy in love and appreciation for this universe.

How are you everybody?

I had a car accident on HWY 128, way home to Santa Rosa from Mendocino on Jan. 3^rd.

Don’t worry; I didn’t get hurt at all, just my car.

I was so lucky that no car on both lanes at that moment. My car slipped and lost control. I didn’t want to go off from the cliff, and my car sudden U-tuned to get on the other lane facing Mendocino Coast and the next moment my car was facing the bank and crashed. It might be a short time, but I felt that I was watching movie.

My car’s bumper part was hanging, so I push up and I drove.

Very nice people, two cars stopped for me and guarded my car and led to Navarro Market. They were so kind people.

It was on Sunday. When I went in a store, maybe just before 5pm. The store manager was closing, but he let me use the phone to call AAA which my insurance company.

The manager was so nice; he let other employee went home, he waited for me to finish phone call. He offered me coffee and sweet. He had to close the store. But he told me that he knew the Towing Company guy. He went home, and called the Towing Company and made sure it was coming to rescue me. And came back to me to tell me ”Don’t worry they come.” It was so sweet. After the accident, it was getting dark; I had to wait the towing car in a dark by myself. But these people supported me. Plus I had a good book and good flash light to read for waiting.

The towing driver was a sweet person. We had a good conversation about “Love”, “Appreciation” and other things way to my home for two hours. And then the driver gave a good tip how to handle an insurance Company.

I have never accident before. I didn’t know what a hassle.

The next day I call my insurance company to report.

After the shock, it was hard to think, but I had to tell them and answer all questions. But they did well. They sent me a check to buy a new car. They estimated my car more value than “Blue Book”.

Finding a car is other hassle. I studied cars and had to decide which one to buy. Insurance company paid rent a car for me.

Some car sales man was in a hurry to make me a decision. I was not comfortable at all with a sales woman. I needed a car right a way, but still I wanted to think what I really want.

And alsoI didn’t know how I was so fragile and stressful after the car accident even I didn’t get hurt at all.

But I met Tom Larson and Charles Hansen at Manly Honda in Santa Rosa. They were so relax mood, have a lot of patient to listen to me that made me so comfortable. And they found the car I wanted exactly. I purchased my new car on Jan.11^th. So I could drive my new car to Mendocino Coast to attend our annual meeting of Nothcoast Arists Gallery on Jan.12^th.

Now I drive my Honda Fit 2016. I crashed my car was Honda Fit 2010. I amazed Honda improved Fit much better in 6 years.

After my accident, three weeks were gone.

But now I’m so relaxed and painted “ 818. Lupine by Ten Miles River” in watercolor.

“818. Lupine by Ten Miles River” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

I painted this scene in Oil before, but I wanted to paint it in watercolor.

It’s soothing, isn’t it?

This location is at Navarro Beach CA.

When I come to Mendocino Coast, I take Hwy 128. This is first place see the Ocean after valleys, mountains, redwood trees and river. It’s very exiting place. Probably all tourists take photos at this spot.

The last time I visited Mendocino Coast, between storms. I heard they got monster waves and high tide so beaches were disappeared.

When I got at this spot, it was incredible scene. Look!

“817. Light at Navarro Beach” Watercolor/Sumi/Gold& Silver Painting by Mariko Irie

I’m still playing with Watercolor, Sumi, and Gold & Silver on my paintings.

What do you think?

Marry Xmas

I was watching the morning mist.

It’s fantastic and mystery.

I just kept the feeling and painted this.

“816. In Trees” Watercolor/Sumi/Gold & Silver Painting by Mariko Irie

I still play with watercolor, Sumi and Gold & Silver.

What do you feel?

The other morning I looked outside from my window.

I couldn’t believe the view has been changed sudden.

The day before the morning, trees had a lot of colorful yellow orange leaves on. In the morning the leaves were glow in dark, in the evening the sunset light made the leaves like fire.

But during that night almost leaves were gone.

Trees are all sticks. So now I can see the neighbors roofs and the forest.

And a lot of birds come to the trees and two squirrels run on branch to branch so smoothly.

Yes, I got other scene from my window.

But autumn is gone.

“815. End of Autumn” Watercolor/Sumi/Gold&Silver painting by Mariko Irie

I still play with Watercolor, Sumi and Silver & gold.

What do you think?