When the group show’s theme was announced, the outline of this painting came. The theme is “(Spring) Equinox.”

After I painted “ Joyous, Passion, Appreciation”, I painted this.

“721. Sprout of Love” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

Something moved inside of my heart. That created this painting.

Spring is not here yet, but I had a good feeling that inside of me something was sprouting.

It was Love.

But it was strange that I didn’t know what kind of Love any thing.

The ground is getting warmer, so sprout is coming out soon.

This painting is sold to my special person.

He promised that he would take care of this sprout with love every day.

What a wonderful, isn’t it?

The idea of this painting came, when the theme of group show was announced, which is “Equinox”.

Spring Equinox…

Good energy is half way, going up softly and gently. It’s warm and precious.

This painting appeared smoothly, simply and easily on the panel. What a wonderful thing is happened.

“720. Joyous, Passion, Appreciation” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This is my scene of life, which is joyous, passion and appreciation.

“A Seagull at Headlands” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Mendocino headlands, CA.

Always Seagulls are there.

When I was at the beach of La Jolla Shore. I bought a real good sandwich from the deli. I sat down on a bench, opened the bag and took out the sandwich. I ate one bite. I felt air moving behind me, and next moment my whole sandwich was gone from my hand. I couldn’t believe it. A seagull glided down, didn’t touch me at all and took my Sandwich. That sandwich was my lunch, you know?

Anyway it was a very skilled Seagull.

After that I eat food inside of my car, when I see Seagulls, even one Seagull.

Do you remember “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” ?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8COt1n3jDqA

Where is Jonathan Livingston Seagull now?

Is it you?

“743. Sunny Cypress Cove” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This is Cypress Cove on Mendocino Headlands CA.

I hear that people do wedding ceremony there.

The place is surround by trees, peeking ocean and headlands.

Even it’s very cold windy day, inside of Cypress Cove is quiet.

And on sunny day look, lights are dancing around.

“742. Orange Sunset” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This is same location as “741. The Ocean meets the River”, Ten Miles Beach CA.

It was nice sunset. Waves were going and coming, clouds were changing and sun is going down.

See you tomorrow.

“741. The River meets the Ocean” Oil Painting by Mariko Irie

This location is Ten Miles River meets the Ocean in Fort Bragg.

It was in the morning. This river line changes. Just watching this river line changing is fascinating.

This is from my friends’ back yard. What a special place to live. And I was the lucky one, I could stay and watching this view all day. Thank you.

It’s very nice warm weather for days in Santa Rosa, CA.

I took a walk to the Nagasawa Community Park, which has a little lake.

Canadian geese are coming back to this lake. They were quaking. Pre soon many babies follow mothers.

Flowers are starting to bloom.

I wonder if Douglas Iris make a mistake to start bloom on Mendocino Headlands, because unbelievable nice warm days, just like in Spring.

“740. Iris at Headlands” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

“590. Secret Trail to the Beach” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This trail leads to Northwest side of Van Damme Beach in Little Rive CA.

I got a note from the gallery: It was the couple who asked where the trail was located. It held special memories for them and they were so happy to purchase it for their home.

A lot of people have nice special memories at the locations.

“182. By Van Damme” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

I painted this “182. By Van Damme” in Watercolor in 2004, which is the same location, just a little going toward west from the “590. Secret Trail to the Beach”.

Long time I didn’t go to the place, but I was looking at the print of “182. By Van Damme”, I wondered what it looked like in 2011. So I went to there. It’s amazingly the place was not much changed.

“479. Trail to the Beach” Oil Painting by Mariko Irie

And again I went to back there when Margaret were blooming.

“480. Trail of Margaret” Oil Painting by Mariko Irie

The trail is winding and going down and down. Both side of the trail is wild plants including wild fuschias. Over grown plants cover the ocean view. Just keep going, and sudden it opens up and you are on the beach.

“415. A Trail from the Beach” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

When I was climbing back from the beach, I saw this Victorian house. And when I was painting the trail part, some how my memory went to my child food in Japan. I felt nostalgia. We were running as laughing on the trail.

Have you had that kind of flush back?

“730. Happy for Tomorrow” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

Happy New Year!!

I wondered what is “Happy”.

There is no such a phenomenon.

It’s depending on how you think or feel.

So a person feels happy because can walk. That is Happy one.

A person feels happy because can see. That is Happy two.

A person fell happy because can hear, eat ordinary, can breath normally on a on….

So you can have so much Happy.

If you want to be Happy, just say “I’m Happy.” Then you will be happy.

If you want to have positive energy, just say “I’m lucky.” Then you get good positive energy.

Because your brain listens to your voice all the time, “Words” have power.

And then just say “Thank You”.

Your happy life has begun.

Happy, Happy New Year from my heart.

Mariko

I painted several paintings scenes looking at the beach and ocean from this bridge.

“733. Jug Handle Creek Bridge” Oil Painting by Mariko Irie

This one is from ocean side looking at the scene with bridge.

I found the bridge name is Jug Handle Creek Bridge and the park is named after Jug Handle Creek, which runs through it; the name “Jug Handle” is also sometimes spelled as a single word, and comes from the shape of a bend in the old road across the creek.

California State Route 1, which we call High Way 1 now crosses the creek on a concrete open-spandrel deck arch bridge, built in 1938.

This bridge is where Jug Handle Creek Trestle used to be. The Trestle spanned the Jug Handle Creek. It’s built over Jug Handle Creek in 1884 by the Caspar Lumber Company to reach logs in Hare Creek to the north of Caspar. It was 1000 feet long and the rails were 160 feet above the creek, which was once the site of the tallest wooden trestle bridge in the world.

It fell down in the 1906 earthquake.

I love this open-spandrel deck arch bridge.

I’ve red Russian Gulch Bridge construction is very similar arch bridge to this Jug Handle Creek Bridge. I drive over Russian Gulch Bridge all the time, but I have never seen the bridge itself. I will do sometimes.