Happy New Year 2024🎉🌈💝
Hope this year brings sparkle to our lives .
Peaceful. Lovely, wonderful lives for us😊
Only today and tomorrow left in 2023.
This year passed so fast and I did a lot of things.
Now I just want to lay down and stare at sky while watching fluffy clouds go by.
This location is at Mendocino Headlands, CA.
The atmosphere in Mendocino is always peaceful, soothing, beautiful and secluded.
The warmth of the sunset wraps us comfortably like cozy love.
Do you feel it?
This location is in Mendocino, CA.
I was inspired by Janet Ashford’s photography.
I love the scene from this location.
I painted several paintings. The weather is different, lights are different.
While painting this, I was in a sweet mood from the soft light, the line of the slope leads to the ocean, and a few houses indicate the small village of Mendocino.
I love Mendocino. It makes me a smile.
This location is Big River in Mendocino CA.
One morning, I was driving to our gallery, Northcoast Artists Gallery in Fort Bragg CA.
It was sunny, not much wind, waves were calm.
Suddenly I wanted to get off Hwy.1 and get down to the Big River.
I was right, some people are enjoying canoeing on the river,
I have never done canoeing.
But I love the idea,
Sitting level of a canoe is very close to the surface of the river: imagine sitting on water with a low eye level making the world feel bigger.
Just paddling, no motor so it doesn’t pollute water nor disturb creatures.
I’m so lazy to paddle, riding electric motor boat is perfect for me.
The eye level was just like sitting in a canoe, droving slowly to not disturb creatures to enjoy River Otters, Blue Herons and others’ affairs.
Manner of canoeing is so peaceful and beautiful.
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.
These views are from the porch at upstairs of the building.
What a sweat Mendocino village, isn’t it?
I love this scene. Just simple, happy, cheerful, wonderful energy!!
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😊❤️.
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 6â€, and this painting, 14″x 21â€, sizes are different proportions are different, both from same photo.
Plus my feeling is different everyday, effecting my painting very much.
Janet’s photo gave me a good vibration from start to finish.
Janet, thank you for sharing this sparkling scene.
I painted this scene inspired by the photo Janet Ashford posted.
You may know this location.
It’s on Main Street in Mendocino Village, CA.
On the left side is ocean side, Ford House and on the right side is Kelly House.
This fantastic lights changed the atmosphere dramatically, don’t you think?
When I was painting this, I felt beautiful energy through my body.
Thank you Janet for sharing your photo.
And she commented on Facebook “How wonderful, Mariko. Thank you for this very special painting of my photo.†And she love to purchase this painting😊
During pandemic I read about how meditation is good for mental and physical health.
So I started to do it every morning.
It works.
My way of meditation is focus on breathing.
Breath in for 7 second to make stomach and breast as big as I can, stop for 1second and breath all out.
I do for 10 minutes.
Then I don’t get the anxiety, irritable feeling all day long now.
Also when I get some kinds of feelings, I analyze them from third person point of view.
I found that was a way not to get too emotional.
Mendocino Coast offers many places to meditate.
This location is looking at Mendocino village from the North, Russian Gulch State Park Side.
I enjoy watching the whirlpools around the rocks.