Category Archives: Mariko Irie

1140. View from New Location( Highlight Gallery)

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I think many people know about the Highlight Gallery which presents my work, moved to a new location.

The address is 10480 Kasten St, Mendocino, CA 95460.

When I moved to Mendocino in 1982, the building was called “Gallery Fair” run by Warren W. Zimmer. He was a great watercolorist as well.

Then “Flockwork” was there, run by Janet Self, executive director. She brought many fantastic art shows, events to this building as Mendocino art community.

Now Highlight Gallery moved to this historical art building.

It’s a very charming place, especially upstairs with great high celling, my favorite place to show my work😊.

I appreciate that the owner of Highlight Gallery, Sharon Peterson and her people take care customers with a friendly smile and sincerely.

Please visit and enjoy the art.

“1140. View from New Location” Oil painting by Mariko Irie
“1141. Southwest View from New Location” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

    These views are from the porch at upstairs of the building.

    What a sweat Mendocino village, isn’t it?

    1142, Blue Ray over Big River

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    This location is Big River, CA.

    It was a sunny morning. Several Kayaks were on the river.

    It was a mild day with fresh air. What an enjoyable morning.

    I took a photo, when I got home I looked at the photo, there is a mysterious blue ray.

    I don’t know what it was, but it’s beautiful. 

    I painted.

    “1142, Blue Ray over Big River” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

    We can make a story about blue bridge for a location at which somebody can land on this earth😊.

    By the way, today is July 7th which is 7/7.

    In Japan we write our wish on small charming paper and hang on Sasatake which is small bamboo branches for prayer.

    An old story about “Tanabata” is the night of July 7 when Orihime and Hikoboshi cross the Milky Way and meet only once a year, when wishes are written on strips of paper decorating bamboo throughout villages. The wish colorful decorations swing with the wind. 

    People go out in summer Kimonos with Japanese fans. 

    It’s a quaint atmosphere. 

    Now they say, “Wish and release to universe.” I like this simple custom while looking at the stars.

    Let’s wish with a nice smile tonight😊❤️.

    1136. Cattle Ranch

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    I didn’t go out to paint for long time.

    I love to paint early morning. cooler than afternoon, in a location with fresh air, without much wind, and good lighting.

    The grass is all dried, turned golden. I discovered recently I love smell of dried grass, a kind of sweet fragrance. 

    When we cycle to play tennis, we pass this cattle ranch, often many cows and caves graze on grass. 

    But when I went to paint none of them were there. This ranch is huge, other side of the road is same owner’s ranch, maybe they moved cows there.

    At first I was disappointed without cows, but really enjoyed painting there with fresh air, birds singing. 

    “Cattle Ranch”Oil painting by Mariko Irie

    When I finished, I felt silence infiltrating this painting, the feeling was just like after meditation.

    1135. Cloud, Wind, Earth

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    This is another painting for Winewong, https://winesong.org.

    They gave me two panels, exactly same as the other 4” x 4” centered on a 5” x 5” panel.

    “1135. Cloud, Wind, Earth” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

    I painted the morning ocean scene on the panel. I love the cheerful fresh wind blowing clouds, it gives me good energy for the day.

    In bed at sunrise, I was staring the painting wondering how I want to paint on the border. Trees’ leaves block the sun, in the dark shadows light peeks through leaves and branches. That is the way this painting was born.

    A beautiful morning gives us good energy to start a day,

    Let’s have a beautiful day😊❤️.

    1134. Rain and Sunset

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    This year Winesong stuff decided to give artists 4” x 4” panels centered on 5” x 5” panels to paint. They are going to make posters from these paintings for a Winesong event.

    I have never painted oil paintings on such a small surface, nor on glued a double panel.

    After I painted a rainy day ocean scene, I was not sure how to paint the border of the surrounding larger back ground panel.

    I stared the painting, then I imagined all day long when we got rain, then suddenly the sky opened up to a beautiful sunset. Wouldn’t it be marvelous?

    Here is, “Rain and Sunset”.

    “Rain and Sunset” Oil painting by Mariko Irie

    I know we are eager to have rain now.

    1133. Brilliant Mendocino Headlands

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    I love this scene. Just simple, happy, cheerful, wonderful energy!!

    “1133. Brilliant Mendocino Headlands” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

    The ground is covered with wild flowers, waves are moving slowly and rhythmically.

    The sun shines, making a colorful bright world.

    It gives a big smile on my face, as if skipping happily on a trail. 

    Don’t worry the temperature won’t get too high in Mendocino CA. 

    Yesterday we got 105℉ in Sonoma CA, 64℉ in Mendocino CA.

    The tomato plants I seeded in a bed on full moon, May 26, and planted in the ground on new moon, June 10, wilted a little from the heat yesterday, looked so sad. But in the evening looked fine. Soil held it moisture, so I didn’t water, this morning they looked fine. They are strong, making me happy.

    Let’s enjoy our day😊❤️.

    2021 Winesong Box

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    I painted a Winesong Box this year.

    Winesong is the annual event for Benefiting the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation: https://winesong.org/

    Oil painting by Mariko Irie

    This box is well made. I love the grain of the wood, so I designed the image to show wood in my painting.

    I’m very satisfied with this design and painting.

    Very good energy from waves in the morning light.

    I put a small sea shell and shadow in the open space.

    What do you think?

    They are going to put bottled wine in this box and do auction during the event.

    1129. Cheerful Sparkles at Main St.

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    I painted “1122. The Sparkle of Sunset” inspired by the photo Janet Ashford posted.

    When I was painting from her photo, I felt so good, making me smile cheerfully. 

    I wanted to paint bigger and in watercolor.

    Painting in watercolor and in oil is very different. So changing media is exited me to paint from the same photo. It’s a challenging adventure for me.

    “1122. The Sparkle of Sunset” is 6” x 6”, and this painting, 14″x 21”, sizes are different proportions are different, both from same photo.

    Plus my feeling is different everyday, effecting my painting very much.

    “1129. Cheerful Sparkles at Main St” Watercolor painting Mariko Irie.

    Janet’s photo gave me a good vibration from start to finish.

    Janet, thank you for sharing this sparkling scene.

    1128. Peaceful Tender Evening

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    One day I worked at Northcoast Artists Gallery from 11am.

    I was able to leave the gallery 4:17pm, earlier than usual, which I was happy about.

    I drove down south to get on Hwy 128.

    Oh no, the road was closed because the Novaro River had been flooded. It was not a rainy day!?

    I didn’t want to go back to Mendocino to get on the Comptche Ukiah Road to get to Hwy 128.

    It was close to sunset. I thought it would be nice to enjoy sunset along Hwy1 where I didn’t travel for years.

    The sun peeking through Big clouds was beautiful, and I enjoyed the pinkish sky of this scene.

    “1128. Peaceful Tender Evening” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

    Soon it got dark and heavy fog rolled in, making it hard to drive on a road I didn’t know well.

    It was pitch dark, not many cars were driving. I followed the road not expecting such a sharp u-turn, it was shocking.

    I was anxious of missing the Bodega Bay turn to get Santa Rosa or Petaluma, not wanting to go all the way to SF.

    It was a such slow drive in the heavy fog and the pitch dark of a winter evening that I couldn’t figure out where I was, only that I was on Hwy 1. My navigator didn’t have reception.

    I saw cars in a State Park entrance parking lot. I drove in and asked how to get Santa Rosa, finding via Petaluma was a better way to get home to Sonoma.

    I got Trader Joe’s, Petaluma before they closed, to shop there. After that no fog, everything normal, smooth driving to get home. Happy ending😊.

    1127. Nice Breath for Soothing

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    “1127. Nice Breath for Soothing” Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

    This location is looking at Mendocino village from the North, Russian Gulch State Park Side.

    I painted this image on 6” x 6” in oil, (1120. Peeking Mendocino Headlands).

    While painting, I wanted it bigger in watercolor.

    I came up with this watercolor is 29″x 13.5”.

    I stop at this location to watch ocean and whirlpools. 

    Breathing deeply, watching whirlpools is a great meditation.

    I finished morning meditation with nice breathing on bed, the sun is on my face now. 

    I will get up and start a bright day😊❤️.

    You too, have a wonderful day❤️😊.