Category: color

New artwork…

On By Heather O'ConnorIn ArtsObispo, color, exhibits, landscape, pastel3 Comments

It’s spring and I’m ready to show you a few more pictures!

Santa Barbara fire colors flow north – Pastel

The one of the biggest fires in California’s history raged and drove towards Santa Barbara, CA and the nearby wealthy area of Montecito.  As it did, the sky over the Morro Bay State Park turned colors!

This will be in my Open Studio Tour shown along with other pastels and oils. Some a bit more calm and peaceful like this one below.

Southside light on one of the Morros – Pastel

Morning light always pleases the Nine Sisters, a group of volcanic eruptions in San Luis Obispo County. I live at the most western end of one. It’s Morro Bay well known for Morro Rock.

Until the next sketch, Heather

A few orchids…

On By Heather O'ConnorIn color, colored pencil, flowers, medium, plants, watercolor2 Comments

During the Open Studios Tour in October, I showed several pieces of artwork that are not pastels. Orchids !   Watercolors and colored pencils suited their brilliance. Only a fascination with orchids stirred me to share these with visitors. Here are what they saw…

 

Five Orchids

A closer view of the Vanda sp.

Vanda sp.

A view of the Odontoglossum sp.

Odontoglossum sp.

And a look at the Burrageara intergentic…

Burrageara intergenetic

Looking for more orchids to draw and paint…maybe in oils or pastels. Their brilliant color always make me feel so good in winter.

Until the next sketch… peace, Heather

Looking North…

On By Heather O'ConnorIn ArtsObispo, color, pastel, seascapeLeave a comment

Facing the Pacific Ocean and Morro Bay, the views are always inviting me to gaze at the ever changing moody skies and brilliant colors. Tides rise and fall making the pickle weed marshes like chameleons. Light never is quite the same.

Overlooking Morro Bay

 

Sand dunes reaching for Morro Rock…

Looking North over the sand spit

From one of the first pull offs in Montaña de Oro, I overlooked the sand spit reaching for Morro Rock. I was high up and could look down on the native woody shrubs as late summer faded them into a golden hue.

Morro Rock from the “Pit”

A surfers’ more northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the wide Estero Bay when looking  to capture the southerly breaks… I often notice the power and weight  of Morro Rock, a long eroded volcanic peak formed 23 million years ago.

Until the next sketch…peace, Heather

Steamboat Springs visit…

On By Heather O'ConnorIn color, landscape, pastel, skyscape2 Comments

After visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks, I was on the way to see my son, Adam. He lives in Colorado ever since he left our family home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He has explored and lived on the Front Range, in Boulder and Lyons. Those were beautiful places, but the lure on snow country drew him westward so I followed to see what he’d gotten himself into. Snow, cycling, hiking and hunting activities were for him to explore while immersed in the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. I got to visit often!

IMG_4534.jpgThe Flat Tops often seen with virga pouring from the high clouds. All is this is easily viewed from Adam’s house.
IMG_4497.jpgThis is his passive solar home on their 7600 foot mountain top where he, his wife, Rudy and daughter, Livia, live with views of Gambel’s oaks, Quaking aspens and Engelmann spruce before they see the distant mountains often with the alpenglow.

Until the next sketch… peace, Heather

An arboretum series…

On By Heather O'ConnorIn alphabet, color, colored pencil, medium, plants, typography, watercolor2 Comments

Please share my website with your friends…and have them sign up for updates! You’ll never know what might show up.

Since late September, autumn, I’ve been going over to the California Polytechnic State University to draw in the Leaning Pine Arboretum with some friends who are plein air painters.

Leaning Pine Arboretum Photo by Heather O'Connor
Leaning Pine Arboretum                                                                                       Photo by Heather O’Connor

We’re planning an art show at the Morro Bay Art Association, Morro Bay, CA. in March. Lots to do, finish up the pastels that I started, matte and frame several pieces to be judged into the show.

My drawing will be the Art Show invitation. We should be picking up the post cards from the printers soon. More details to come.

Until the next sketch…peace,  Heather

"Arboretum"
“Arboretum”