Watercolor Wildflowers is studio artist business. John Meng-Frecker is a retired civil engineer surveyor - I make resin art ornaments, lighthouses, nightlights, geometric art, resin paintings, and I do other graphic arts related services like framing and hanging installations. My resin slab designs are geometric themes and color compositions. Art pieces are transparent, colorful and illuminated with LED by AC or battery power. Shipping of online purchase is free and local Installation in Omaha area is included with purchase.My resin art is unlike any other and will look incredible in your home or business. My paintings are planned, well constructed, and beautiful. Hang them on your wall or in front of a window. I've built LED backlighting which shines brightly through the colorful resin. Made-to-order and Commissions 4029437516.
East of Fresno, California there are many, many orange orchards. What I found fascinating is that the farmers trim the trees flat on all sides. I’m sure there is a reason for that but it’s an interesting landscape to see cubes of trees as far as the eye can see. Well, almost as far.
What is stunning in Winter is the deep blue sky and the snow capped mountains.
The two together makes for a curious fantastic view of Winter in California as I have illustrated below.
California Winter, watercolor 14″ x 10″, Arches 140 lb
I took this concept and made larger painting with a different look. Which one is your favorite?
Watercolor painting of converging orange orchard rows to focal point at base of snow capped mountains.
20″ x 25″ watercolor on paper. Landscape piece illustrates the rows in orchards of oranges ready for shipping back east before Christmas over the snow capped Sierra Mountains in the background. Framed painting is strong on perspective drawing the viewer into the scene.
As a landscape subject lighthouses are very popular. You’ve got oceans, cliffs, colors, and the romance of sailors at sea in search of land.
There are many lighthouses and many facts to go with the construction, use, and history of lighthouses. Many of them have seen their day to be replaced with digital tones (fog horn) and strobe lights. Sailors have satellite navigation now so lighthouses have become historical relics.
The great thing about painting is that you can modify the period by adding old ships, buggies, or a fresh coat of paint to remind us of yesteryear.
With so many beautiful possibilities and a limited time budget, how do I plan this trip? First, it was clear that I should work from south to north so that I was working the warmest state in the coldest months. Second, I want to see alpine wildflowers in Oregon. That locked in the middle months of March, April, and May for Oregon. Allowing three months per state put Washington complete in August.
The choice between coast and crest has a lot to do with the weather. I was able to see Mt Laguna east of San Diego because of zero snow and temps no lower than 30° F. We have had El Nina weather in Los Angeles area which means rain in December. That also means snow in the mountains. It’s easy to see that happening with weather radar and snow coverage apps on you smartphone.
While I would like to see Mt Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states, the temperature and road conditions prevent me. I’m working the coast in California from Point Conception north until a January thaw happens.
Snowing on the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range
The remainder of my planning is done with paper state maps, Google Maps, and AllTrails app. The AllTrails app as well as Google Maps will show me terrestrial photographs of the area. I was surprised to learn that Google even shot Streetview images along the beaches I’m looking for structure of the topography, interesting geology, lighthouses, wildflowers, and natural scenery without man’s improvement (wilderness).
Scene choices take into consideration my personal watercolor painting goals:
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