Portraits of National Parks - #3 Big Sur, CA

Big Sur is not a national park. Not even a national monument, it's a stretch of land of California’s central coast between Carmel and San Simeon. I still included it in this series for its beauty and the emotional attachment that I feel towards this lovely seascape.

Bordered to the east by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the west by the Pacific Ocean, it’s traversed by narrow, 2-lane State Route 1, known for winding turns, seaside cliffs and views of the often-misty coastline. The sparsely populated region has numerous state parks for hiking, camping and beachcombing. 

I visited this area some 17 years ago, for the first time. I found the view very peaceful and inviting. It is now that I finally got a chance to paint what I saw then.

"Big Sur" Seascape

Oil

2016

Here are the details of the oil painting. 

Blobs of fresh paint, delight to painter

Light against dark, perspective through colors

A view of the palette

The painting is sitting to dry. Once it does, I will varnish it and possibly, frame it. Its been added to my website and soon will be updated on my online gallery and storefront.

What is your favorite nature destination? I would love to hear about it.

 

Upcoming Series : Portraits of National Parks

Art has given wings to my imagination and opened up the windows of limitless possibilities! Without art and creative outlet, I had never known the beauty and intrigue a simple piece of nature can hold. I feel very fortunate to have a life surrounded by the natural beauty and a gift to be able to express it into my way of interpretation.

 Color Study for the Upcoming Series - Portraits of National Parks

As I move along my new series here is the tentative plan. I would choose some of the national parks and a few other landscapes that I admire. There is no particular order but some of the shortlisted landscapes will include:

1. Big Horn Mountain, Wy
2. Glacier National Park, Mt
3. Big Sur, Ca
4. Echo National Park, Ut
5. Joshua Tree National Park, Ca
6. Grand Teton National Park, Wy
7. Denali National Park, Ak
8. Yosemite National Park, Ca
9. Grand Canyon National Park, Az
10. Acadia National Park, Me

Portraits of National Parks - #2 Glacier National Park, Mt

 

Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mi. wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It's crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Among more than 700 miles of hiking trails, it has a route to photogenic Hidden Lake. Other activities include backpacking, cycling and camping. Diverse wildlife ranges from mountain goats to grizzly bears. (Source: Wikipedia)

Its amazing beauty, colorfulness, and grace is impossible to miss among the landscape of national parks. I used a limited palette of colors as the vibrant natural contrasts capture the eye and bring a sense of calm.

"Glacier National Park"

Oil

12 x 16 approx

2016

I would love to know what's your favorite national park, here in US or anywhere else in the World?

Portraits of National Parks - #1 Bighorn Mountains, Wy

 The Summer has an elixiric effect on the creatives. Bleaching sun, longer days, and overload of inspiration - makes a perfect recipe to get outdoors and paint. This summer is especially generous and I could devote myself to some of the most beautiful national parks.

Growing up in the mountainous region, I have special bond and affinity for the beauty of grandeur and enormity that mountains offer us.

"Bighorn Mountains" - Portrait of National Park #1

Oil

12 x 16 unframed

2016 

This is a landscape of Bighorn Mountain range in northern Wyoming and southern Montana, forming a northwest-trending spur from the Rocky Mountains extending approximately 200 miles northward on the Great Plains.

Conveniently located halfway between Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, the Bighorns are a great vacation destination in themselves. No region in Wyoming is provided with a more diverse landscape - from lush grasslands to alpine meadows, from crystal-clear lakes to glacially-carved valleys, from rolling hills to sheer mountain walls.

 Lush brushstrokes of cad yellow, cerulean blue and a mix of violets

Purple, pinks, and sienna in different proportions

Crimson, Rose accented on sienna and lemon yellow

I took artistic liberty to paint the scene with the colors that I saw, not the ones that were there. Painting nature made the heart sing, go wild, and be one with the nature.