Impassioned Landscapes of Treasured Places "Big Sur, Edge of a Continent" oils, 36" x 36" by Laurel Sherrie I'm happy to announce this painting is accepted in the Brushstrokes 2016 show, juried by Robert Burridge. In selecting 76 paintings from 149 submissions, Mr. Burridge indicated he was looking for work that was original and imaginative and that surprised him in some way. Happily, my painting fit his concept for this exhibition.  Brushstrokes 2016 opens at Art Center Morro Bay on May 19, 2016. The reception is Sunday, May 22 from 2 to 4 PM. There is, of course, a story to this painting. It started several years ago when I was determined to find "the perfect spot" for painting Big Sur, and saw an article in the paper showing a photo by a bicyclist in this great location! I tried to find out where it was, but the location was not stated anywhere.    So, hubby and I and our 2 big black furbabies took off on a day trip up the coast in search of it.  The venture included painting on location at two different spots. This one, a view of Big Creek Bridge, and one at the Sea Otter Reserve further north. This is the painting I did on location at that time.  And it's true, the water really WAS that brilliant turquoise!  See it in the photo of me painting? Because I was so inspired by this spot, I did a larger painting in the studio of the scene as well. "Big Sur, Big Creek Bridge", oils 24" x 24" by Laurel Sherrie Then I wanted to make a large painting that really says "Big Sur".  I am so inspired by that coastline with cliffs crashing into the ocean the little 2-lane Highway 1 perched so precariously.  I wanted to capture a really iconic view of this coastline.  When going through my reference photos and going back to Big Sur, I again returned to this site of Big Creek Bridge. I often paint a scene more than once: sometimes it takes several paintings to quench the inspiration that flows from a scene, or it may take several paintings for me to feel I really captured what I want to capture.  With "Big Sur, Edge of a Continent" I feel I accomplished that! Of course I will not promise to never paint Big Sur again! Last month I told you about my most recent painting, large-scale canvas: "Guadalupe Dunes Nightfall" oils, 30" x 48" and here it is. by Laurel Sherrie. See it larger at http://laurelsherrie.com/…/2016752/guadalupe-dunes-nightfall. This is the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park in Guadalupe, CA, where the Santa Maria River is a huge watershed to the ocean. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is the largest remaining dune system south of San Francisco and the second largest in California. It encompasses an 18-mile stretch of coastline on the Central Coast of California and extends from southern San Luis Obispo County to northern Santa Barbara County. This Dunes Complex is home to a unique ecosystem as well as many endangered and threatened species of plants and animals. To protect the dunes environment, much of the Complex has been set aside for conservation. In addition, it is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. Please call or email me if you have any questions about anything! Email Me     Go to My Website     Facebook     805-473-4640 All images and text © 2014 Laurel Sherrie. Please contact me if you would like to reproduce this newsletter in any form.

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