Thursday, June 18, 2026

Update for 2025-26, better late than never

I wasn't able to get to my annual update for the start of 2026, but it wasn't because of snow. We had a light winter but we still traveled to warmer climates. We spent several weeks in Hawaii in January and later in the spring also in Baja Sur, Loreto. Each location provided art making opportunities and here are my efforts. Enjoy

In October, here at home in the glorious Eastern Sierra, I participated in my first ever "Plein Air Paint Out". This was sponsored by the Mono Arts Council and 43 artists attended. It was a 4 day event starting with our materials being dated, then 3 days of painting anywhere in Mono County. the fall color was on target and we had some snow flurries, gusty winds and rain to keep us all on our toes. At noon on the 4th day, we turned in 2 of our paintings ready to hang for the judges and to be exhibit for a one night show. I really enjoyed meeting several artists and plan to participate in the event this Sept.

The next day of the paint out, it snowed and I spilled the whole box of pastels

on the ground! I persevered and kept going, and completed this one of

Mt Morgan from Rock Creek Lake

SOLD

McGee Canyon during the Paint out, where I met the amazing

duo of Jessica and Becky who took prizes in the judging.

Fabulous Fall Foliage

Feeling empowered by the paint out event energy, I pulled out my pastels

easel etc and did this one from our driveway.

Mixed media of the brilliant aspens in our

Even quick watercolor sketches at a local campground brought

me joy and I was dazzled by the brilliant warm colors.

SOLD

Our local Plein Art group had a show at the Bristlecone pines

Sherman Grove visitors center, both were displayed, one sold.

The gallery is at 10,000 ft elevation and only open in summer.

Wet Dog

Our dear friend’s beloved dog Luke passed and I did my best to portray his youthful energy and loyalty. Challenging but rewarding experience.

HAWAII January on the Big Island

Definitely my happy place and I love painting Plein air anywhere on the island. Sand and distractions from people watching me, are tolerated because it’s such a magical place. I experimented with gouache in a tiny sketchbook with mixed results, It was a delight to be playful making postcards and in my sketchbook.

gouache study of the State of Hawaii flower, yellow hibiscus

9x12 Plein air at Hapuna Beach.

My feet were in the sand and the surf was my background music

Emma Parker Woods Cottage build in the 1930's. I paint this every visit and have sold a few right off my easel. This was my perch in the lava at the shoreline this year.

My favorite from this trip on an overcast day on the north shore, Keokea Beach Park.

Black Sand Beach, in the morning light. Always a fav spot to paint,

love the sound of the palm fronds in the breeze.

I in February I joined a new online pastel group and we were challenged to do 15 that month. Here are a few of my efforts. I had fun and was brave in my choice of subject.

Zabriskie Point, Death Valley

Photo reference Susie Johnson

Owens River Valley, Fall

Photo reference Laure lee Kimmel

Sunset, Holoholokai Beach

Big Island Hawaii

my photo reference

Maynard Dixon was my inspiration for this one. Captured the

shadows on my phone from the car driving home from Bishop.

Pinon Juniper with snow from my studio window

Blowing snow off the Bishop range looking west from the Buttermilks

A golf trip to Carefree Arizona, provided me with time paint and to listen

to the desert birds at dawn. Sculptural cactus were growing everywhere.

Phoenix AZ Botanical Garden

Pineapple Barrel Cactus, Plein air

Returned home to another atmospheric river of moisture; this was reference photo capture by a friend at Buckley Ponds, south of Bishop. Tule Grasses, water reflection, and weather drama inspired me.

I am honored to be the featured artist at the Mono Arts Council this summer. I hope to video tape the show and add it here. If you are in the eastern Sierra June 20 - Sept 17, 2026

I hope you will stop at MAC in Mammoth Lakes and see the show in person.

Please contact me for sizes and prices

debbcampbell@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

WELCOMING 2025, Looking back at 2024, part 2

After we returned from our big anniversary trip to New Zealand and Tasmania, I return to the studio but of course there are more paintings I want to do from the photos I took there, just not enough time!
In August I took a week trip to Point Lobos, CA, a beautiful marine preserve near Carmel. It was a challenge to lug my pastel because of the very limited parking, but I completed one plein air pastel.

China Cove, Point Lobos

9 x 12 Plein Air pastel

In late September I traveled with a local art friend to Lucca Italy for a 10 day oil painting workshop. We ate very well, but the weather was very wet, which isn't suitable for outdoor painting. I do have a good number of photos from travels after the workshop in Spello a small village near Assisi, and Perugia. I'll be doing some studio pieces soon.

Agriturismo stay in Calci, near Pisa

Plein air watercolor

We had a marvelous garden and I painted a few watercolor vegetable portraits. Both sketches are direct watercolor from life, no pencil, no photo references, so fresh home grown still lifes.

Jim has also be successful in growing a perennial azalea, named Northern Lights. Although the bloom is fleeting, the fragrance and color are captivating.

Northern Lights Azalea

Plein air pastel

8 x10

I packed up my painting and sketching equipment after the snow melted and into the fall to do more plein air. Some are small and mighty others are large.

Carson Peak from Silverlake

watercolor

Rock Creek Ridge

pastel on suede

Leaves of Gold, Birchm Lane Bishop

pastel

I ended the year soaking in the warm sunshine at Danzante Bay on the Sea of Cortez, Baja Sur, Mexico. The weather was great and when not playing pickleball,golfing or learning how to make cocktails, I was able to paint plein air. Such a dramatic land and seacape.

Low Low Tide, Danzante Bay, Baja

plein air pastel

Sunset at Danzante, Baja

pastel

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Midsummer Art Update, July 2024

This year 2024, began with many glorious travels that inspired new art pieces, so I've decided to share them in an update to my blog.

We spent 3 weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii, so I was able to do several plein air pastels and watercolors.

One rainy afternoon, I set down and painted a few watercolor postcards to send to grand children and friends.

We returned to the quiet reef area in Puako several times. Early in the trip the weather was calm and safe for swimming, but High surf conditions made for county beach part closures. I carefully switched to doing plein air pastels safely from the beach.

watercolor plein air, Mahukona Beach Park

watercolor plein air, Anaeho'omalu Beach

Journal entry on a very high surf day. This is the 15 acre historic beach home of Francis H Ii Brown, on Keawaili Bay. High humidity caused by the sea spray from the surf made this a challenge.

NFS 6x9

Green turtle (honu) breeding area, Puako in late afternoon

I spread my moms ashes here in this

serene and beautiful for her final resting place.

Gouache plein area near the Mauna Lani Beach Club

plein air study of the surf, with a whale spout in the distance

6 x8

SOLD

plein air pastel at 49 Black Sand Beach

6x8

my personal favorite, plein air pastel looking toward north along the Kohala Coast

9 x12

plein air pastel at Waialea Beach (Beach 69)

5x7

plein air pastel, Waialea Beach (Beach 69)

9 x12

Evening at the Mauna lani with Haleakala, Maui in the distance

9 x12

New Zealand and Tasmania

A magical 5 week trip to the South Island of New Zealand and Tasmania was so full of adventures that I wasn't able to do any large plein air painting. BUT I was inspired to work for memory and my own reference photos in the studio when we came home.

watercolor of the Owen River in the morning

Owen River Fishing access

We spent several nights a Trout fishing Lodge on this river. Catch and release, sight fishing with a wonderful guide Stephano; we caught BIG rainbows and browns. Thrilling!