"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 Blush"

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

Hiking the local bluffs at Torrey Pines State Preserve is a favorite activity this time of year. Cool, clear mornings give way to beautiful views of the Pacific, looking south to the shores of La Jolla. Fresh greens are sprouting through the warm browns of summer, and the air is sweet with the smell of pine. A plein air painters paradise, I plan on breaking out the oil paints at this very location soon!

"Torrey Blush" 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/gallery at Liberty Station, Pt. Loma, and I will refund the shipping. $365 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 7/17/13: Sold...to a new collector in Sandpoint, Idaho!

"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!

"Storm Warning"

"Storm Warning"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
8" x 10"

I woke to a blazing pink sunrise this morning, and now only eight hours later, the National Weather Service has issued a storm warning. We're gearing up for high winds and rain overnight, after two summerlike days in a row. Weird weather here in San Diego. Now where did I stash that umbrella...?

"Storm Warning" is offered framed in wide dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. $175 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 4/29/12: Sold...at ArtWalk!

Daily Painters "Sunset Glow"

"Sunset Glow II"
12" x 12"
Pastel on Archival Sandpaper

I'm revisiting one of my favorite scenes today. The last glimpse of sunlight as it disappears beneath an incoming blanket of fog. The inspiration for this piece was a sunset photo I took along the Sunset Cliffs area of San Diego. Seems funny that I only live about 14 miles from the beach, but I rarely go there. I must add that to my "To Do" list. This piece was difficult to photograph, and is really more striking in person. I used metallic pastel in the water and cloud areas, really pretty!

Framed in wide black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Start your collection $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.

Daily Painters "Coastal Walk #3"

Since my "brick and mortar" gallery is located in a tourist area of San Diego, I frequently paint local landscapes. This is one of my favorite trails along Torrey Pines State Park. I'm particularly drawn to the shapes of the windblown trees and shrubs in this area. They look very "Dr. Seuss" to me.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 12" x 12" and is framed with UV/non-glare glass, in a wide, gold crackle finish frame with black liner...very striking! I'm trying out these new frames for my square pieces and they look great. Buy it now: $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Thanks for looking. Updated 4/13/11: Sold...to a new collector in La Grange Highlands, Illinois!

Daily Painters - La Jolla Cove

Even with choppy surf and blustry winds, La Jolla Cove is a beautiful place to visit. Recent storms provided local artists with many wonderful cloud formations and sunsets at the coastline. Since clear sky or light fog is the usual routine, we all get a little excited when we have a few clouds and some weather to work with.

This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, and measures 12" x 16". Framed in wide dark wood with UV/Non-glare museum glass, it is ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price: $350 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. and Canada. Thanks for looking.
Updated 1/20/11: Sold! To a local collector...thank you :)