Gwen Meyer Pentecost - Santa Monica Mountains

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

This national park is a huge park composed of parcels owned by a pastiche of agencies, all amounting to some of the best southern California wilderness you can find, yet located in a densely populated area. Much of my painting here was done on "paint-outs" with the Allied Artists of the Santa Monical Mountains, a group dedicated to plein air painting and aligned with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Foundation. For Seascapes, click here.

Mossy River The Peter Strauss Ranch is lovely no matter the season, or even, as in this case, with overcast winter skies. The ranch is located off of Mulholland Drive, and is owned by the National Park system. One of my favorite paintings. Plein air 12" x 16" Contact Joyous Lake Gallery

Trail Junction, Ahmanson Ranch The Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains, on a paintout at this newly-opened park. Just us, the bugs, and 80 Sierra Clubbers asking directions. Plein air 12" x 16" Contact Joyous Lake Gallery

Topanga Creek I was curious about the creek running along the roadside and screeched across traffic to take a peek. Wet toes from wading made me irresistible to some very persistent sand bees. But I had a solution .....and a friend posted it. (Bees Be Gone) ....plein air 11" x 14" SOLD

Farmhouse, Headwaters Corners Headwaters Corners and the surrounding parkland in Calabasas is the Mountains RestorationTrust's project, newly turned park. This plein air sketch is rough, but it said what it had to say. City of Calabasas and the Mountains Conservancy Trust agreed. They selected it for the invitation image for their March 28, 2004 exhibit, "Inspirations: 25 years in the Santa Monica Mountains." 9" x 12" Contact Joyous Lake Gallery

Bluff Park, Malibu A fine, sunny-hazy day at Bluff Park (the Michael Landon Center) in Malibu. Nothing wrong with a day like this! Plein air. 9" x 12" Contact Joyous Lake Gallery

Coreopsis, Pt. Dume plein air: SOLD

Rushes, Peter Strauss Ranch Peter Strauss Ranch in Calabasas is one of my favorite places in the world during winter and early spring. 18" x 22" SOLD

Malibu Creek State Park Plein air: Also selected as cover image for "Day Hiking In Los Angeles County." SOLD