Ocean Boulevard

"Ocean Boulevard"
14" x 18" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub

My yearly trek to Carmel, California always serves to recharge my creative battery. A week in the ocean air, surrounded by some of the finest scenery in the world for inspiration, results in ideas galore. This is the scene facing west down the main street in this beautiful coastal art mecca. With more art galleries per capita than any other location in the country, it's not surprising that this is a magnet to plein air artists. Being the sissy that I am...I settled on going wild with my camera, and returning to the comfort of my studio to express my joy!

"Ocean Boulevard" is offered framed in a wide, dark brown, plein air style frame with antique gold liner and 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 Pt. Loma/Liberty Station studio and I will refund the shipping. $525 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 2/2/13: Sold...and on its way to League City, Texas!

"Holiday at La Jolla Cove"

"Holiday at La Jolla Cove"
12" x 16" Pastel on Sanded Board
© Monique Straub
 

A rare site...La Jolla Cove without the swimmers! That's one of the best things about November here in San Diego. Once the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is over, and the tourists are safely winging their way home, our local beaches are somewhat deserted. The crisp, clear sky and pounding surf are all that remain of a week of too much turkey, too much shopping, and too much traffic. It's the perfect time to stroll the boardwalk and do a little tidepooling...

"Holiday at La Jolla Cove" is offered framed in a wide, dark brown plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio at Liberty Station and I'll refund the shipping. $365 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 11/29/13: Sold to a new collector in Garden Plain, Kansas!

"Coastal Walk #5"

"Coastal Walk #5"
12" x 12" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub
 

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 is framed in a wide, black plein air style frame with gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it here and have it shipped, or buy it here, pick up at my Liberty Station studio, and I'll refund the shipping charge. $295 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 4/27/13: Sold!

Confetti Sunset

"Confetti Sunset"
8" x 8" Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
Monique Straub
 

With summer coming to a close, and the cool evening breezes of fall just around the corner, the colorful sunsets are very special this time of year. The warm hues give way to the cool grays of fog drifting over Pt. Loma, and the ocean takes on a very glassy, mirror like glow. I've really been enjoying the change of season in my new studio here at Liberty Station. The coastal weather is such a change from the inland clear that I usually see.

"Confetti Sunset" is framed in wide black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Purchase here and have it shipped, or purchase here, save the shipping and pick up at my new studio during Friday Night Liberty open studios night on Friday, October 5th from 5-10pm. Buy it now $185 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.
Updated 11/2/12: Sold at Friday Night Liberty!

Daily Painters "Peaceful La Jolla Cove"

"Peaceful La Jolla Cove"
Soft Pastel on Sanded Board"
12" x 16"

It's so rare that we see our favorite tourist attractions without the tourists here in San Diego. An early morning (that's 6 a.m. for me) stroll in La Jolla presented an opportunity to see the cove "at rest." With only the barking of a distant seal, and the sound of the waves breaking on the rocks, it was a very special moment.

This piece is offered framed in wide, dark brown wood with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now: $365 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US, or pick up at my studio in Spanish Village, Balboa Park, and I'll refund the shipping charge. Stop in for a visit. Updated 6/13/12: Sold...to a local collector...thank you :)

Happy New Year! - "Carmel Afternoon"

As another year of pastel dust on my fingers comes to a close, I would like to sincerely thank all of you that enjoy taking a moment to follow my progress in the studio. Without the support of my collectors, it would not be possible for me to continue to do what I love most. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The new year in the studio brings renewed goals, and exciting new challenges. I invite you to stop by my studio at Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, San Diego whenever you are in the area. My new working days in the studio will be Sundays and Wednesdays, beginning January 8th.

My final painting of 2011 was inspired by an afternoon walk down Ocean Blvd. in Carmel, California. Towering trees and clear blue skies make this location tops on my list of one of the most beautiful places in the U.S.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 12" x 16", and is framed in wide dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass, ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it here: $365 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada.  Thanks again...Happy New Year!
Updated 12/31/11: Sold...to my top collector...thank you!

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 "Torrey Pine Moon"

Hiking along the cliff trails at Torrey Pines State Preserve will always get the creative juices flowing. I've painted this, one of my favorite scenes, in a few different ways. Since this scene of the moon glowing over the ocean would probably occur here in California somewhere around 4 a.m., and long after this party animal has hit the sheets, creative license plays an important role.
Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 12" x 9" and is framed in wide dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price $260 + $30 to ship anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. Updated 12/3/11: Sold!

Daily Painters "La Jolla Daybreak"

My husband and I were attending a car show in La Jolla a few months back and decided to play "tourists in our own town" for the weekend. We stayed at the La Jolla Cove Suites, with a room overlooking the Cove. Wow...what a trill for this "inland girl" to fall asleep listening to the sound of pounding surf on the rocks below. Early the next morning, we walked along the cliffs and enjoyed our city before the tourists were awake. This is a scene from the back side of the cove, with the cliffs in deep shade as the sun rose. Such a peaceful sight with no one else around...

This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, and measures 12" x 12". It is framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Updated 7/7/11: Sold to one of my top collectors!