This location is at South of Mackerricher State Park, North end of City limit of Fort Bragg.

513. Vulture by the Beach Oil painting by Mariko Irie

There are old industrial buildings far a way and a vulture is sitting on a old fence post.

It’s a very fascinating view.

I drove along the Ten Mile River in the morning.

I saw this view.

512. Rustic Cabins in the Morning Oil painting by Mariko Irie

Lupines were blooming, clouds are flying and rustic buildings.

Do you smell morning fresh air?

I have never been under this bridge, so I went to. Then I saw this view.

511. Under Ten Mile River Bridge Oil painting by Mariko Irie

A big and dynamic curve of the bridge in the nature is stunning.

I just found that MacKerricher State Park. Extending from just north of the Fort Bragg city limits to Ten Mile River.

I have friends who live almost South end of MacKerricher State Park and live the North end.

Some day I want to hike the end to end of MacKerricher State Park and meet both friends.

When I was driving to Mendocino from Fort Bragg, I saw this beautiful view. So I had to turn around.

510. Jug Handle Beach in Summer Oil painting by Mariko Irie

It was very low tied. So normally Ocean meets creek. But it didn’t happen.

Then it made a beautiful, colorful line and Ocean is sparkling emerald green and blue.

I felt so summer in Mendocino Coast.

The last Saturday, June 23 was Mendocino Art Center’s 20th Anniversary Mendocino Coast Garden Tour,

I wanted to go to other gardens, but I got out house late. When I got in Mendocino, it was already noon.

Mendocino Art Center scheduled me to paint out at the Harmony Woods.

I went to there.

Wow. It’s in a redwood forest. It’s fantastic. It’s an Art, Living Art. Because plants are living, growing.  And the owner decorate with very charming stuff. Some of them are funny. Anyway I’m very pleased to see  how the owners are enjoying creating this property.

The owners, Judy and Bob have created this garden for 20years.

It’s a man made, still there is harmony with nature. That I love about. And being there makes me relax and peaceful.

Fist I strolled as taking photos. I was so overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to paint. Anyway I had to paint. So I sat up my easel where doesn’t disturb the traffic in the flower garden.

I painted this painting first. Dark redwood forest is background, a few shad of purple flowers and the green, which was glowing by afternoon sun.

507. Harmony Garden Oil painting by Mariko Irie

Just colors attracted me so much.

Before I finished this painting, the lady bought it.

She told me that they have a second house in Irish Beach, this painting’s colors match to the room.

Then we named this painting “Harmony Garden” together.

I painted “ The End of a Rainy day” on 6”x6” panel in the last winter. It was on Mendocino Headlands CA.

I like it so much, so I wanted to paint bigger, which is this “Glow on a Rainy Day” on 12” x 16” panel.

504. Glow on a Rainy Day oil painting by Mariko Irie

On a computer, 6” x 6” and 12” x 16” are not much different. Just dimension/proportion is different.

But real world, as you know, size difference is big different. I love to paint on big surface. I feel much better.

I used brush and pallet knife on this painting. It came out just right. I’m very happy with it.

I stare this painting as enjoying peaceful evening.

I wanted to paint very simple composition and still very attractive painting.

It was at Laguna Beach. This area, there is no rock anything. It’s a very flat and long beach.

503. Crashing Wave oil painting by Mariko Irie

It’s very simple composition and showing power of wave. I love the breaking point, where water is dancing. This painting satisfied me very much; I love to paint similar scene and composition on very big surface some day.

A few days ago, in Santa Rosa it was over 90 degree outside. I wanted to jump in cool water. But still I wanted to paint a picture. So I decided to paint translucent waves. Then I painted this “Waves”.

502. Waves oil painting by Mariko Irie

Footmarks are my wish, which is going into cool water.

I love this weather. It makes my life vibrant and dries oil painting much faster than cold wet season.

It was a fogy morning. I was going to the Northcoast Artists Gallery in the morning and parked my car at the parking lot of the Skunk Train. The train was just about leaving.

501. Skunk Train in Fort Bragg oil painting by Mariko Irie

When my sons were little, we took the train. It goes over the pudding creek, which is so beautiful and going into woods in Willits.

When I was a little, going to my grandparents’, we used to take trains, which were steam engines.  It was a long ride from Tokyo to Kanazawa. It was very enjoyable. There were mountains, ocean, villages, towns, and cities along the ride all day long. Every stations offered special lunch boxes, and vendors carrying lunch boxes to windows of trains for sale. So we didn’t need to get out from train. In Japan, every country has own special food. It’s a part of highlight for traveling.

And tunnels. After going through tunnels, some of them brought to different world. For example, after through the tunnel, it was a snow country.

Several years ago, we took train to Kanazawa. It’s much faster, nice seats, interior, and room temperature was perfect. But tunnel, tunnel and more tunnels. I couldn’t enjoy view. It was a big disappointment.

Riding Skunk train in Fort Bragg has nice scenery.

By the way, coming Saturday, June 23, 10am -5 pm, will be Mendocino Art Center’s 20th Anniversary Mendocino Coast Garden Tour.

I will be painting one of the gardens, Garden at Harmony Woods in the afternoon: http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/MyLasso/AnnualShows/GardenTour12/Harmony_Woods.html

Please join us. It sounds very beautiful and interesting gardens. I’m looking forward to painting there and seeing you.

I have painted every day after I came back from Mendocino Coast.  I have been so busy painting, I don’t make digital file of these paintings yet.

In Santa Rosa, it’s so warm now days. I love it. I have painted waves, fogy scene…..

399. Wow oil painting by Mariko Irie

I painted this painting “Wow”, when I was in San Diego.

I missed what the surfer did. But from these audiences, I guess that he did some awesome action.

The other surfer is giving the surfer “Cool” sign. The girl’s armed dropped from surprising her and the body of other girl in mother’s arm moving forward exited.

It’s a nice scene of warm day at the beach.