The Road To Ojai

It was a gloomy day in March and I had a brand new canvas but not yet a subject to paint on it. I had in mind a section of road G and I often drive past on the road to Ojai, but when we got there it was shrouded in fog so we went home empty-handed. But something about the scene lingered in my mind and so, come afternoon, we headed back out there and just as we rounded a bend in the road the coastal clouds began to lift to reveal this wondrous sight; the deep purple slashes of shadows on the mountains contrasting so strikingly with the warm yellow of the sharp peaks; the tapestry of trees in the centre blown sideways by the constant ocean breeze; the quirky avocado plants stretched out in the foreground like little characters in a cartoon. The entire mesmerizing landscape seemed set ablaze beneath the warm light of late afternoon and I knew then what had drawn me back. What an absolute joy it was to paint!

This painting is featured in the curated collection Whimsical Wall Art.