There is a place near me here in Tulare County that is fantastical for spring-time hiking, particularly in a wet year. The views, green, trees, flowing water, and wildflowers are utter perfection, unless you try to get a good photo. Then, all the beautiful things that you remember end up in different pictures.

What’s an artist to do? Why, use Photoshop Junior, of course! (My attempt is a mess, so I am not going to show you. . . something about watching sausage being made comes to mind here. . .)

Because the photos are on my laptop, I can make specific areas as large as necessary to pick out the various textures and colors.

I moved across from left to right on those distant hills, and then I decided that the lupine were calling my name.

The final step at the end of the painting session used up various greens on the palette.

I love walking up there. Nope, I’m not giving the location. It really frosts me when people publicize nice quiet local places all over the interwebs and then there is traffic, a parking problem, and too many people. Tell your friends if you want, but WHY do you have to tell the WHOLE WORLD??

The painting isn’t any one exact location up there. This is the way I want to remember the place.

I might want to keep this painting. That has been happening lately; I’ll take it as a good sign.