"Light & Shadow"

"Light & Shadow"
12" x 36" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Driving past groves of trees often brings on one of those, "Honey stop the car!" moments. This particular scene was at the side of the road overlooking the Pacific Ocean off La Jolla Shores Drive. In the life of an artist, a simple Sunday drive to brunch can bring on an entire series of paintings.

"Light & Shadow" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. Bring the cool hues of a coastal morning into your home! You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $495 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

Pt. Lobos Memory

Pt. Lobos Memory
36" x 36" Oil on Gallery Canvas
© Monique Straub

Traveling to Carmel this summer provided many opportunities to capture beautiful images of the California coast line. Many of my favorite painting scenes are found along the rugged cliffs of Big Sur and points north. The distinctive shapes of the trees, along with the beautiful colors of the coastal vegetation always provide vivid memories for me.

"Pt. Lobos Memory" is offered ready to hang and enjoy on 1-1/2" gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio/gallery in Spanish Village, and I will refund the shipping.  Updated 2/18/16: Sold...to a new San Diego collector!

New Art - "Forest Walk"

"Forest Walk"
30" x 48" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

A leisurely walk along the Seventeen Mile Drive in Carmel last week prompted me to pull this photo from my "gotta paint it" box and go to work. Gazing up at the trees and hearing the leaves rustle in the fall wind just puts me in the mood for everything orange and gold. A tall pumpkin latte maybe?

"Forest Walk" is offered ready to hang and enjoy on 1-1/2" gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio/gallery at Art on 30th in North Park, and I will refund the shipping. $1450 + $50 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 11/28/16: Sold...to a new collector from Encinitas, CA. 

"Summer Sundown"

"Summer Sundown"
12" x 16" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub

Tick-tick-tick...the clock is ticking down to this weekend and I'm really looking forward to seeing you at this years La Jolla Festival of the Arts. Held annually on Warren Field at the UCSD Campus, it is a great weekend of food, music, fun and art! Click here for more details ljfa.org.

"Summer Sundown" is framed in a wide, dark brown, plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio in Spanish Village, Balboa Park and I will refund the shipping fee. $365 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Updated 8/28/15: Sold...to a lovely couple from Switzerland!

Pt. Loma Light #6

"Pt. Loma Light #6
12" x 16" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub

The old Pt. Loma Light stood watch at the entrance to San Diego Bay for 36 years. At dusk on November 15, 1855, the light keeper climbed the winding stairs and lit the light for the first time. What seemed a good location 422 ft. above sea level, however, had the serious flaw of obscurity when fog and low clouds rolled in. On March 23, 1891, the light was extinguished and the keeper moved to a new lighthouse located closer to the water at the tip of the Point.

"Pt. Loma Light #6" is framed in a wide, dark brown, plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio in Spanish Village, Balboa Park and I will refund the shipping fee. $365 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Updated 10/4/15: Sold!

Torrey Trail #2

Torrey Trail
12" x 16" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub

It's another trip to Torrey Pines today. I'm feverishly preparing and framing new works for my next show at the La Jolla Festival of the Arts on June 20-21. My Torrey Pine images are always a favorite, and you can check this one out live at the festival...that is, unless someone snaps it up here first :)

"Torrey Trail" is offered framed in a wide, dark brown, plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass, ready to hang and enjoy. $365 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US, or you can pick it up at my studio in Spanish Village, Balboa Park, and I'll refund the shipping fee. Updated 10/25/15: Sold!

"California Cypress"

"California Cypress"
14" x 18" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub

The look and smell of the cool morning mist, and the graceful Cypress trees are two of my favorite things to photograph as we tour through the "17-Mile Drive" in Carmel, California. I'm already looking forward to another visit and lots more inspiration this coming summer!

"California Cypress" is framed in a wide dark brown, plein air style frame with gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass, ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price $525 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 6/21/15: Sold!

"Touch of Torrey Pines"

"Touch of Torrey Pines"
36" x 24" Oil on Gallery Canvas
© Monique Straub

We're off for a hike through Torrey Pines State Park today, one of my local favorite outdoor getaways. I'm so intrigued by the distinctive trees that make this park a special place.

Here is a little info on the naming of these "Dr. Seuss" shaped oddities:

Because groves of trees were not common along the Southern California coast, early Spanish explorers (1500-1700 AD) referred to this area as Punto de Los Arboles, which literally means "Point of Trees." They used this area both as a landmark and as a warning that they were too close to the shore in the fog. The trees themselves were referred to as Soledad Pines (Solitary Pines) by the first non-Native Americans to visit the area. The name remained until 1850.

The first modern account of the Torrey pine occurred with the renaming of the tree in 1850. It was "officially" discovered by Dr. Charles Christopher Parry. Parry was in San Diego as botanist for the US - Mexico Boundary Survey. The purpose of the survey was to determine the boundaries between Mexico and California. Parry was a medical doctor with an interest in botany: specifically, why plants grew where they did and how Indians used plants. Parry named the tree for his friend and colleague, Dr. John Torrey, of New York. Torrey was one of the leading botanists of his time. He had co-authored A Flora of North America, and was the sole author of A Flora of New York State.

"Touch of Torrey Pines" is offered ready to hang and enjoy, on 1-1/2" gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black. $980 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or pick up at my Art on 30th studio and I will refund the shipping fee.

"Torrey Pines Walk Two"

"Torrey Pines Walk Two"
12" x 16" Pastel on Board
© Monique Straub

The cliffs and trails at Torrey Pines State Park are a never ending source of inspiration for many artists. There is just something special about the California coastline that has drawn artists to this location for many years. I've been visiting and painting scenes from many of San Diego's local parks in preparation for upcoming summer shows. It's a tough job...but someone's got to do it!

Framed in wide dark brown wood with UV/non-glare museum glass, this piece is ready to hang and enjoy. Purchase here and have it shipped, or pick up at my Pt. Loma studio and I will refund the shipping cost. $365 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 8/17/14: Sold...at ArtWalk NTC!

"Pt. Loma Lighthouse #5"

"Pt. Loma Lighthouse #5"
14" x 18"
© Monique Straub
 

It is only fitting that with a studio/gallery located at NTC/Liberty Station, I should have a painting of the Pt. Loma Lighthouse hanging at all times. The old Pt. Loma Light stood watch at the entrance to San Diego Bay for 36 years. At dusk on November 15, 1855, the light keeper climbed the winding stairs and lit the light for the first time. What seemed a good location 422 ft. above sea level, however, had the serious flaw of obscurity when fog and low clouds rolled in. On March 23, 1891, the light was extinguished and the keeper moved to a new lighthouse located closer to the water at the tip of the Point.

"Pt. Loma Light #5 is framed in a wide, dark antique brown, plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio/gallery and I will refund the shipping. $525 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 8/16/14: Sold...at Artwalk NTC!

"Pacific View"

"Pacific View"
12" x 12" Pastel on Board
© Monique Straub
 

Views of the Pacific Ocean along the California coast can keep an artist busy for an entire lifetime. I never tire of the changing sky and shadows of this area along Torrey Pines State Park. The brilliance of the sky after a light rain makes this stroll up the hill all worthwhile!

"Pacific View" is offered framed in a wide, black plein air style frame with gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my Pt. Loma studio and I'll refund the shipping cost.
$295 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 4/27/15: Sold!

"Torrey Shadows"

"Torrey Shadows"
12" x 12" Framed Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

An early afternoon stroll along the cliffs at Torrey Pines is great inspiration for another series of coastal paintings. Usually rendered in soft pastel, this time I've decided to recreate favorite scenes in oil on canvas.

"Torrey Shadows" is offered framed in a gold crackle finish float frame, ready to hang and enjoy, and available here. You can have it shipped to your door, or pick up at my studio in Pt. Loma and I'll refund the shipping. $275 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.

"Coastal Walk - Carmel"

 

"Coastal Walk - Carmel"
24" x 24" each, Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

My husband and I take a yearly trek to the Monterey, California area each August for "Historic Car Week." It's a fun filled week of everything vintage auto. One of my goals this year was to take photos of the vintage cars on the track, in the pits, and at the various car shows for studio painting projects. It is always fun to mix it up a little and paint a few cars and rusty old trucks amongst the landscape and botanical works that usually occupy my focus. Well, I took the photos, but just couldn't resist the beautiful scenery along the coast in Carmel. This scene was one of those "Honey stop the car!" moments. Taken along the road just behind the Carmel Mission, it was truly a painters paradise. The car and truck paintings are coming along...I promise :)

This panoramic scene has been painted in oil across two canvases, sides painted black, no framing necessary, ready to hang and enjoy! You may purchase "Coastal Walk - Carmel" here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio/gallery at Liberty Station, Pt. Loma, and I will refund the shipping. $1050 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 12/1/13: Sold...to a local collector...thank you!

"California Coastal"

"California Coastal"
12" x 12" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub
 

My inspiration today looks forward to an upcoming trip to the Carmel/Monterey Bay area. Each summer my husband and I spend a week in Carmel during "Monterey Car Week." It's a fun filled week of auto shows, auto rallies, and historic auto racing. I've always been a car girl, and really enjoy these events, but an artist in Carmel? Yup, he's at the track and I'm in the galleries and studios mingling with fellow artists. It's my once a year opportunity to actually smell the oil on a Ken Auster painting, and visit the works of some of my favorite artists. The scenery is spectacular, and I always return with lots of sketches and photos. This scene of "California Coastal" is located along the Pt. Lobos trail, looking north toward Carmel. Craggy rocks, interesting trees and color streaked skies are everywhere!

Offered in a wide, brown, plein air style frame with gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass, this piece is ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it here and have it shipped to your door, or buy it here and pick up at my Liberty Station studio and I'll refund the shipping fee. $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 5/13/13: Sold...and on its way to Alberta, Canada!

Blue Horizon

"Blue Horizon"
9" x 12" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub
 

The grasses of fall have begun to show their colors, and here in San Diego the first rain of the season is lightly sprinkling my studio window today. Ambitious as I was this summer about doing more painting outdoors, I realize I've surrendered to the comfort of my new digs.

I would like to thank all of my Facebook friends, neighbors and collectors that stopped by my new studio for Friday Night Liberty. My little studio/gallery was wall to wall with art lovers and I look forward to next month when we do it all again on November 2nd. Speaking of Facebook, I invite you to join my community for art updates and Liberty Station news.

"Blue Horizon" shown above, is offered framed in a wide, gold, plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio and I will refund the shipping cost. Thanks for looking :) $225 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 10/20/12: Sold...and on its way to College Station, Texas!

"Torrey Pine Trail"

"Torrey Pine Trail"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
12" x 16"

The cliffs and trails at Torrey Pines State Park are a never ending source of inspiration for many artists. There is just something special about the California coastline that has drawn artists to this location for many years. I've been visiting and painting scenes from many of San Diego's local parks in preparation for my show at the Mission Trails Regional Park Gallery later this year. It's a tough job...but someone's got to do it!

Framed in wide dark brown wood with UV/non-glare museum glass, this piece is ready to hang and enjoy. Purchase here and have it shipped, or email for pick up in my studio at Spanish Village in Balboa Park. $365 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Thanks for stopping by :) Updated 9/20/12: Sold...and on its way to Los Angeles!

"Puddles #2"

"Puddles #2"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
12" x 16"

Today I'm revisiting an image that was my first painting of 2012. The first time I painted this scene it was 8" x 10", and it was so much fun I figured I would try another a bit larger, with a similar color palette. I spied this scene on a rainy day as I pulled into the parking lot of Best Buy in La Mesa. Cell phone cameras are really a handy thing...I just rolled down the window of the car and snapped away!

Framed in wide dark wood with UV/non-glare glass, this piece is ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it here and have it shipped or stop by my studio at Spanish Village Art Center and pick it up there :) $365 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 6/6/12: Sold!

Daily Painters "Just around the Bend"

"Just Around the Bend"
12" x 12"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper

Now in the thick of the holiday season, a new year is just around the bend. The road to grandma's house will lead us to sweet ham, fruitcake, caroling and warm nights beside the fire. I'm busily framing new pieces for my annual holiday showing...more on that later.

Framed in wide black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready for gift giving to that someone special! Buy it now price $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 6/24/12...sold to a new local collector!

Daily Painters "Coastal Walk Four"

I'm revisiting one of my favorite images today. This is a scene from the path along Torrey Pines State Park. The smell of sage on a dusty trail, the sound of the surf pounding the cliffs...memories of a summer walk.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 12" x 12" and is framed in wide black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now $325 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 2/17/12: On hold...check for availability, drop me an email :)

Daily Painters "Autumn Skies"

Dark clouds are swirling high in the sky,

shadows grow longer as days go by.

A cool breeze blows through late in the day,

crows caw in trees to hold cats at bay.

Sunflowers droop from the August heat,

leaves crackle loudly beneath my feet.

We're bidding adieu to Summers long scorch,

soon seeking a pumpkin to dress the front porch.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 8" x 8" and is framed in wide, black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price $165 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 3/28/12: Sold, and on its way to Boise, Idaho...thank you!