Kathy O'Leary Art

NEW PAINTING TO BE FEATURED IN MY SOLO EXHIBIT AT PIANTE GALLERY, EUREKA, CA

2011-10-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

This new painting, "Moonstone Beach Sunset, Oil, 24 x 36 will be included in my exhibit at Piante Gallery for November

SOLO EXHIBITION, NOVEMBER, AT PIANTE GALLERY, EUREKA, CA

2011-10-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

This painting, titled: "Dunescape" 36" x 48", will be featured in my upcoming solo exhibition "EARTH TONES" at Piante Gallery, 620 2nd St, Eureka, CA. The show will open November 4th, and include close to 50 paintings. The opening will coincide with Eureka's "Arts Alive!" on Saturday, November 5, 6 - 9pm.

San Francisco Landscape Workshop

2011-08-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a 4 day workshop on painting the landscape, put on by the San Francisco Studio School. This is a scene from our day painting at the Marine Art and Garden center. SFSS is a small school that includes both skill and intellectual development as a part of the students artistic training. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The Landscape course was taught from a more modernist point of view, so I am still intellectually and artistically digesting the experience. Its wonderful, as an artist, to be challenged to think about what I think I already know. Its a stimulating time for me artistically. And the fun of it is, I don't know where it is all going.

"CALIFORNIA HILLS AFTERNOON" oil on Canvas

2011-05-13T10:51:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite subjects, the hills of Central California. The late afternoon light made it particularly exciting to paint. This new painting measures 24 x 36 and can be viewed at the Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, California

"AFTERNOON ON COAST HIGHWAY 1" Oil on Canvas

2011-05-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is a new painting from a Spring trip to the Northern California coast. The painting measures 24 x 36 and is available to be viewed in person at my Carmel gallery, the Edward Montgomery Fine Art Gallery.

"TEJON RANCH TRACK" oil painting

2011-05-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

This new painting was completed after my 3 day paint out with the California Art Club to the Tejon Ranch in Southern California last Spring. The ranch consists of thousands of acres, 90% of which is now under land conservation agreements. A beautiful place to preserve. The painting measures 14 x 18 and was done on panel.

This painting is now being shown in the California Art Club exhibition: "SPLENDOR: PAINTINGS OF THE TEJON RANCH" at the Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, California

"CYPRESS ON THE EDGE" oil on canvas

2011-05-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

This morning scene on the coast of Central California has been juried into the exhibition: "EARTH PORTRAITS: CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE PAINTERS". Its the 81st Annual Statewide Exhibition of the Santa Cruz Art League. Exhibit dates May 28 - June 26, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA

"EARTH AND SKY - TEJON RANCH" A California Art Club Selection for New Exhibition

2011-01-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

This 11 x 14 oil painting and three other plein air paintings from my trip to the Tejon Ranch last May were selected for inclusion in the California Art Club's exhibition, "Capturing California's Preserved Lands and Historic Districts: Paintings of the Tejon Ranch". The exhibition is being held at California Art Club Gallery at The Old Mill in San Marino, CA. The show runs from January 4 - May 1, 2011. Stop by to see the show if you're in the Pasadena/San Marino area.

EVENING SURF, Oil Painting at My Carmel Gallery

2011-01-06T11:20:00.001-08:00

This is a recent painting of the surf and rocks in evening light along the coast at Pacific Grove, California.This and 5 other paintings are now on display at my new gallery in Carmel, California at Edward Montgomery Fine art. SOLD

OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA WESTERN REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION

2010-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

This painting, "Coastal Prairie and Pines", is being shown at my Sacramento gallery, Elliott Fouts Gallery.

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

2010-09-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

CAC Centennial Exhition at the Old Mill, in San Marino, California: Capturing California's Preserved Lands and Historic Districts, "Gems from the Central Coast"

This piece in the current CAC exhibition is "Johnson Ranch Trail" 11 x 14. It was painted on location at a Land Conservancy site near San Luis Obispo this past April.

The piece shown below :"Coastal Prairie Grasses and Eucalyptus" is also being featured in this exhibition. Sold

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB PAINT OUT, SAN LOUIS OBISPO

2010-05-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

In April, I joined over 40 other California Art Club painter members for 4 days of painting the natural environment at land conservation sites of San Luis Obispo County. Below are two of the paintings finished on the trip. As a part of the Club's 100 year Centenial Celebration, two exhibitions of the work produced will be held. The first exhibition will be at the CAC's Old Mill in San Marino, October - December 2010. Then January 2011, The San Louis Obispo Art Center will host a show of the work.

SAN LOUIS OBISPO SCENES, Oil on Panel

2010-05-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

"San Luis Morning" 8 x 10, Oil on canvas panel.
"Coastal Prairie Grasses and Eucalyptus", 9 x 12, Oil on Masonite panel. Sold

MORE DUNES, 8 X 10 Oil on Panel

2010-05-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

MORE PAINTINGS FROM SO. CAL TRIP

2010-05-13T14:17:00.001-07:00

LIGHT HOUSE, PT.VINCENTE

2010-05-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

Another view of the Pt. Vicente Lighthouse that includes Santa Catalina in the misty distance.

WILD MUSTARD ON THE BURMA ROAD TRAIL

2010-04-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

I did two paintings of this scene from slightly different positions overlooking the Burma Rd. Trail. Unlike the region I come from, Humboldt County,(where the Mustard grows 3-4 ft. high) the Mustard here is often 8 or 10 feet tall. This painting measures 9 x 12 and is the one visible in the photo below of me painting. Sold

PAINTING PALOS VERDES CALIFORNIA

2010-04-23T17:42:00.001-07:00

Continuing on my travels I spent several days painting around Palos Verdes. Its a beautiful coastal region north between Long Beach and Santa Monica. The coast is generally heavily populated but the locals have worked to put several areas into protected conservation areas and land trusts. A passer by photographed me doing a painting of the mustard covered hills, called the Burma Road Trail.

RECENT PLEIN AIR - POINT VICENTE LIGHTHOUSE

2010-04-22T17:17:00.002-07:00

This is a new piece completed on location at the Point Vincente Lighthouse, on the edge of Rancho Palos Verdes. Its a beautiful spot, and this is one of two painted there. Sold

NEXT STOP - SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

2010-04-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

My next stop on my travels was several days at San Juan Capistrano. I've painted there before. Each time its always different. This time more fog in the mornings. But the gardens were in full Spring Bloom, quite spectacular. These are two of the paintings I completed, and this week's small daily painting offering (lostcoastdailypainters.blogspot.com) is also from that visit.

PAINTING WITH MARTI

2010-04-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

at Traveling in Central California, near Hollister, I met up with a new artist friend, Marti Miller Hubbell. She's from several generations of a ranching family in the hills near Hollister. She took me to her family's ranch where we painted all day looking at rolling hills covered with new grasses, and wildflowers, and the newly leafed out oaks. Beautiful scenery.

CALIFORNIA TRAVELS

2010-04-20T07:53:00.001-07:00

I'm traveling this month, painting and visiting connections I've made through my painting, and art blogs. This is a scene along one of my favorite California highways, Pacheco Pass (HWY 152). Its Spring, and there are all shades of green and wildflowers everywhere. I painted this piece on location, in the late afternoon as the sun was lowering. It created a beautiful violet light, setting off the chartruese of the newly leafed out oaks and new grasses. Sold

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR DAILY PAINTER'S BLOG

2010-02-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

This month marks the one anniversary of the launching of the Lost Coast Daily Painter's blog of which I am a member. We have 7 member artists, one of which posts a new painting each day of the week. Our local television station, has just done an art segment feature on our group. It was aired Friday, 2/5, during their newscast. It was a great way to mark the beginning of our second year. To view the segment, CLICK HERE.

NEW WORK "MORNING ON THE COAST"

2010-02-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

This is a painting I recently completed showing some of the beautiful rocky coast of central California. I love trying to capture the light and moisture that occurs along California's coastline. My Spring (see below) trip to various regions of our coast will give me ample opportunity to explore it further. Sold

SPRING PLANS FOR TRAVEL AND PAINTING

2010-02-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

This coming April I will be traveling to the Central and Southern coast of California to paint and photograph. Beginning as far south as San Juan Capistrano, in the early part of April, I will paint at the mission for a couple of days. Then, having made a wonderful contact in Palos Verdes through my daily painter's blog, I will take several days to explore, photograph and paint the local Land Trust, and other undeveloped areas of the region.

Moving north, on April 18th, I will be joining other artists taking part in the California Art Club Land Preservation Paint-out on the Central Coast of California (near San Luis Obispo) Once again this will be an opportunity for me to paint en plein air, some of the natural lands of California not normally open to the public. The paint-out is sponsored by the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, and the San Luis Obispo Art Center.

Moving north from there I will be spending the last part of the month in the Monterey/Carmel region of Coastal California. Hopefully, contacts made through my daily painter's blog will once again open up some new parts of this region that I have not yet visited, nor painted.

Since a couple of my goals for the year were to paint at more land trusts, and paint more of California's beautiful coastline, this April is shaping up to provide me the opportunity to do both.

NOTES ON THE EARTHQUAKE OF 2010

2010-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

As most people know by now there was a large earthquake on the coast in northern California on Saturday (1/9/10) at 4:37 pm. It was centered about 20 miles off the coast of Eureka/Ferndale. My home and studio are both in Eureka. Since I am writing this you also know I survived, as did everyone else in our town. However, while my home is up about 20 blocks (which did receive some breakage and minor damage) from the coast, my studio is situated in the 'old town' area, and sits a block from the edge of the bay. Old Town sits on mud flats and fill. My studio is located on the 2nd floor of a 100 year old wooden two story building. I was in my studio with two other artists when the earthquake hit. While the quake registered 6.5 we were so close to the epicenter that it literally felt like an 8 or more. As one of my artist friends wrote in an e-mail after the event: "HOLY CRAP!". I think that says it all.

I'm a native Californian. I've been through many earth quakes including the big ones here in 91, one of which registered 7.3 and set a couple of towns on fire. With this quake, I and everyone else I spoke with felt it was the most powerful quake we had ever felt. Being on the 2nd floor of a wooden building certainly added to the sway created by the shaking. But our whole section of town experienced equal shaking, to the extent that some of the older buildings (1850's and above) received broken windows & structural damage. Luckily, like many wooden structures (just felt an after shock!) …… this building bent and moved violently, but maintained the integrity of its structure, gas lines, water pipes and all. My studio was a mess, but intact with little permanent damage. We were all very lucky. Below are some photos of the results of the quake in my studio.

Standing on the street (outside of our building) immediately after the quake, I and other artist's, and folks from the gallery below us, talked about things we should have done, and shouldn't have done to be prepared for such a disaster. So in a way this was a wake up call too. Its been so long since a good shaker. We've become complacent.

So while the terror and destruction are fresh in my mind, I'm going to change some things: Secure things better to keep things from falling, or coming open during the shaking; move breakables to a lower level; keep a flashlight, portable radio close at hand; maybe a drop down ladder to exit my 2nd story location; and put important things I need as I exit the building afterwords (like purse, cell phone, coat, etc.) in an easy to locate, 'grab and go' location.

Now that the shaking is (mostly) over, and my heart rate and adrenalin levels have returned to normal - its back to work, preparing for participation in some upcoming exhibitions, my small pieces for the daily painter's blog, up dating my web site, making travel plans for painting and photographing trips around California, and painting, painting, painting.

STUDIO AFTER THE QUAKE

2010-01-11T10:36:00.001-08:00

TWO NEW PAINTINGS FOR "SUNRISE-SUNSET" EXHIBITION FEBRUARY AT THE ELLIOTT FOUTS GALLERY, SACRAMENTO, CA

2010-01-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

"Sunset In The Sierras" 24 x 36, Oil on Canvas

"Sunrise Over Genesee Valley", 16 x 20, oil on linen covered panel.

N E W W O R K

2010-01-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

Since my show in November at the Elliott Fouts Gallery, I have been working on several new paintings. Some of them are entries for upcoming competitions, a couple of commissions and other paintings for upcoming exhibitions. Below are 3 new pieces I've completed in the last couple of months.

As we move into 2010 I am beginning to make plans for my travels this year to find and paint new images, mostly around California. Once my plans are solidified I will post my itenerary on this blog.

"Ranch Lands Under Stormy Skies"

2010-01-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

9 x 12, Oil on Panel

"Vineyard Palms In Late Light"

2010-01-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

16 x 20, Oil on Linen covered panel.

"Last Light On The Oaks"

2010-01-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

11 x 14, Oil on canvas covered wood panel

EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK FEATURED IN NOVEMBER AT THE ELLIOTT FOUTS GALLERY IN SACRAMENTO

2009-11-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

These paintings are part of my NEW WORK being featured this month, November, at the

ELLIOTT FOUTS GALLERY,
4749 J St., Sacramento, California. The 23 paintings include both studio work, and plein air (on location) pieces. Everyone is invited to the artist's reception: Saturday, November 14, 6 - 9 pm.

Feather River Land Trust Paint Out

2009-10-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

This is the great old historic barn at the 'Heart K Ranch', near Taylorsville, California. The ranch is part of the Feather River Land Trust, and was the site of a fundraiser and paint out in September. I painted the barn from a distance in the early morning, and up close in the mid afternoon. The ranch is located in a beautiful valley, once the tribal home of the some of California's original people, the Mountain Maidu, and then by pioneer rancher in the late 1800's. I was thrilled to be able to participate in raising funds to ensure that the land is always protected from developmet.

GARDEN PATH-SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

2009-10-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

This plein air painting, done in 2007, has just been purchased from my Sacramento gallery - Elliott Fouts Gallery, as a gift for the the Governor of Baja, Mexico. I have painted at the mission several times, and always find the old adobe architecture and the many well cared for gardens & plazas great fun to paint.

"CALIFORNIA ART CLUB EXHIBITION - "Capturing California's Preserved Lands and Historic Districts, Paintings from the Southern Sierra Foothills"

2009-09-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

"Morning Glow - Sierra Foothills"
6 x 8, oil on Panel

These paintings will be included in the upcoming exhibition sponsored by the California Art Club at the Old Mill Gallery in San Marino, California. Its an exhibition of the work done by California Art Club members during a week long paint out hosted by the Sequoia Riverlands Trust in the Southern Sierra Foothills.

"Still Morning-Sierra Pond" 12 x 16

The show will include many beautiful works of art of some of the state's best artists, and I encourage anyone passing through that area, or who lives there to see the exhibition

The Opening Reception will be, Thursday, October 1, 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Old Mill, 1120 Old Mill Road, San Marino, CA

SHASTA SOJOURN OPENING RECEPTION

2009-09-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

"Mt. Shasta From Castle Lake", Oil on panel, 9 x 12
Friday, Sept. 11th, five other women artists and myself, greeted a large crowd at the exhibition of work from our week's long artistic exploration of the Mr. Shasta Region. Joseph Wilhelm, the show's curator, did a superb job hanging the show. Beyond the work however, I think the experience of 6 artists sharing a week of friendship and artistic creation was what sparked the most interest. And, that the work was not only the expression of the physical experience of traveling through the Mt. Shasta region, but also reflected, the non tangible experience of the women's friendship and support of one another. SOLD

NAPA VALLEY ART FESTIVAL

2009-09-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

These are some views of my booth at the Napa Valley Art Festival. It was a hot day, but luckily we were protected by a huge tent above us to keep the sun off. The attendance was good, giving the artists a chance to talk with past collectors and meet new ones. This being my first year, it was great meeting some really talented artists, and showing my work to a public who were not familiar with it and selling to two new collectors in the process.

SHASTA SOJOURN

2009-08-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

This is another painting hanging in the current exhibit "Shasta Sojourn" at the Umpqua Upstairs Gallery in Arcata California. This piece is oil on panel, 11 x 14 and available for purchase at the show.

ZION

2009-08-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

"Morning Light-Zion Canyon" 11 x 14, Oil on Panel

Immediately after Mt Shasta, I went to Colorado, to visit family and stopped at Zion National Park for 4 days to
paint. It was hot, but stunningly beautiful, and I was able to get 6 paintings out of the experience.

"Last Light On Zion Cliffs"
11 X 14, Oil on panel

One day my husband and I stumbled upon, Maynard Dixon’s summer home, and got to visit his house, and studio, and the marker where his ashes had been scattered. I’ve always loved Dixon’s work, and it was a thrill to be in his studio space and view some of his work, along with other plein air painters of his day, and some of the best of contemporary plein air pieces as well.
His home is now a foundation, which allows artists to stay and paint for several days at his property and surrounding regions. I and some artist friends are discussing such a trip for ourselves.

NAPA VALLEY ART FESTIVAL

2009-08-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Along with these painting trips, I have been preparing to take part in the NAPA VALLEY ART FESTIVAL, which takes place August 15, in Younteville, CA. It’s an opportunity to show my work to a new audience, while contributing a portion of sales to the Napa Valley Land Trust. At my booth I will be displaying approximately 22 paintings, about 1/2 of which will be plein air, and the rest, small to medium size studio pieces. SOLD

DAILY PAINTER'S BLOG

2009-08-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

My daily painter’s blog: lostcoastdailypainters.blogspot.com, with 4 other artists is doing quite well. Our readership continues to grow, and sales through e-bay are very good for the small pieces we offer there. CHECK IT OUT, if you haven’t already seen it.

NOVEMBER SHOW IN SACRAMENTO

2009-08-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

Through out all of my other activities, I have been continuing to prepare for my show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery, in Sacramento, in November. It will be a 2 person show with another of the Gallery’s artists. I will have both medium & large studio pieces as well as plein air work from this year’s travels. I will post images of some of the work as the time draws closer.

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB PAINTOUT

2009-04-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

PLEIN AIR WORK FROM
THE CALIFORNIA ART CLUB PAINTOUT
March 21-27

These paintings were done on location (en plein air) during a recent trip (March 21-27) to a California Art Club paint-out in the Southern Sierra Foothills, in Tulare County. The paint-out happened thanks to the Sequoia Riverlands Trust. They provided access to three working ranches that the public doesn’t normally have access to.

There were over 40 of us painting daily on location for 5 days, thru both snow and sun. The landscape of rolling hills, valleys, streams, was particularly wonderful given that it was Spring, and a great year for wildflowers. The landscape included lots of wildflowers, particularly Popcorn flowers (white), Fiddle necks (gold), & Lupine on the lower hills and valley floor, and Poppies (shades of dayglow organge & red/orange) in giant swaths across the tops of the hills. Various shades of green, and trees like Sycamore and Oak just beginning to leaf out.

More paintings will be posted at a later date.

An exhibition of our work from this trip, is planned for sometime during the coming year. It will most likely occur in the southern part of the state, possibly Pasadena.