“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…..”

“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.