Briones Skytrail

"Briones Skytrail", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Started this painting at Briones Regional Park in Northern California. As I continued to work on it in my studio the skytrail started to appear.  Feels right.

Round Valley Reimagined

"Round Valley Reimagined", acrylic on linen 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Painted the day after Thanksgiving with friends at Round Valley Regional Preserve in Northern California.   On this crisp, sunny day the rolling hills were draped in soft greens and golds, and a pop of Autumn red glowed in the distant grape vines.

Black Diamond Terraforms

"Black Diamond Terraforms", acrylic on linen 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I started this while painting with friends at Black Diamond a few weeks ago.  As I continued to develop it in my studio the terrain transformed into this colorful, terraced tapestry and a luminous ribbon appeared in the sky. Happiness!

Benicia Spirit

"Benicia Spirit", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's my personal spin on a classic Benicia vista, painted near the historic Clock Tower. With its bustle of bridges and industry, Carquinez Strait panoramas and views toward Mt. Diablo and the Contra Costa hills, this beautiful location always inspires me.

Black Diamond Gold

"Black Diamond Gold", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's one of my favorite spots, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Northern California. This time of year the hills are a rich patchwork of flaxen gold and dusty greens. Pure joy!

Gourd Arbor

"Gourd Arbor", Acrylic on Gessobord 14" x 11", © Nancy Roberts

I painted this inside a gourd arbor -- a tunnel-shaped trellis covered with vines -- at the historic Hagemann Ranch in Livermore, CA. Gourds of every size and shape hung overhead and created a magical space. I felt like I'd fallen through the rabbit hole and discovered Wonderland!

Inside the secret garden!

Filoli Unknotted

"Filoli Unknotted", acrylic on linen 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I painted this at Filoli, a beautiful historic estate in the woodlands south of San Francisco. My spot was the Knot Garden where mounds of herbs are planted in complex, intertwining designs, but I decided to untangle the knots and create this serpentine hedge in their place.

Mythic Garden

"Mythic Garden", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's another desert gardenscape I started at the beautiful Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California. The title is inspired by a lovely piece by Canadian composer Howard Shore I listened to while finishing this painting in my studio.

Shipyard Special

"Shipyard Special", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Started this at the Western Railway Museum near Rio Vista, and finished it in my studio today. Built in the late 1800's, this classic streetcar started life as an elevated train in New York City. It was brought to the San Francisco Bay Area during WWII to transport workers to the shipyards. I was attracted to its jaunty stripes and intricate railings, and the design of the electrical wires in the sky above. So fun to paint!

Desert Tapestry

"Desert Tapestry", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I started this at the U.C. Botanical Garden in Berkeley, CA and finished it in my studio today. This spectacular garden has plants from all over the world growing in zones landscaped to re-create their native environments. I fell in love with the "Deserts of the Americas" area, with its stony, terraced terrain and glorious collection of cacti. I can't wait to go back and explore the rest of the world!

Carnegie Library, Livermore

"Carnegie Library, Livermore", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's the historic Carnegie Library in Livermore, California. This beautiful building is now the home of the Livermore Art Association Gallery and the Livermore Historical Museum. Well worth a visit if you haven't been there yet!

Third and J, Livermore

"Third and J, Livermore", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I've really been enjoying exploring and painting the older neighborhoods in Livermore, in Northern California. Here's a pretty pair of vintage homes just down the street from the historic Carnegie Library building.

Hagemann Homestead

"Hagemann Homestead", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

This lovely farmhouse and garden are part of the historic Hagemann Ranch in Livermore, California. In the midst of a bustling suburban neighborhood this peaceful oasis feels like a step back in time.

Hagemann Ranch Corn

"Hagemann Ranch Corn", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Painted this at the historic Hagemann Ranch in Livermore, California. This beautiful sunflower and vegetable garden is lovingly tended by a local group of young adults.

Delta Spirit

"Delta Spirit", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I love the twirling, rippling reflection of shoreline trees in the quiet waters of Big Break Marina along the San Joaquin River in Northern California. Here they are expressed in joyful, vibrant color!

Diablo from Benicia



"Diablo from Benicia", acrylic on canvas 8" x 24", © Nancy Roberts

I painted this from the shoreline in Benicia, California, looking toward Mt. Diablo. I always love the views from this beautiful area along the Carquinez Strait.

Cranes

"Cranes", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I painted this view from the Alameda shoreline, looking across the estuary to the Port of Oakland. Love these magnificent cranes!

Garden Baroque



"Garden Baroque", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's a playful plantscape I started in the Ruth Bancroft Garden and finished in my studio while listening to some glorious Baroque music. The flowering stalks are Puyas and the rest is pure fantasy!

Garden Song

"Garden Song", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's a song of joyful summer color inspired by Ruth Bancroft's glorious garden!

Solstice

"Solstice", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

A joyful, glowing morning in the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Celebrating the first day of summer!

Curry Point Vista

"Curry Point Vista", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Painted last week at Curry Point, a switchback in the winding road that climbs Mt. Diablo in Northern California. The views from this location are spectacular in all directions. I decided to look up toward the summit, enjoying the gentle zig-zag of a cool, cascading valley.

Marsh Creek Trail



"Marsh Creek Trail", acrylic on canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

This lovely spot is just off Delta Road in Brentwood, CA.  I started the painting on location a while ago and finished it up today.

Garden Tapestry

"Garden Tapestry", Acrylic on Canvas 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Another joyful day in the Ruth Bancroft Garden!

Dream Garden

"Dream Garden", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I love painting at the beautiful Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California. With its amazing collection of cacti and succulents the garden is an ever-changing palette of glorious color, shapes and patterns. An artist's dream!

Flowerfall

"Flowerfall", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I painted this on a quiet afternoon at Filoli, a beautiful historic estate in the woodlands just south of San Francisco. The meadow was a sea of yellow wildflowers, and in my mind's eye a cascade of flowers came rushing down the hills to meet them. A flowerfall!

Orchard Morning

"Orchard Morning", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12" © Nancy Roberts

Every Spring these gnarly old peach trees come to life with the most glorious pink blossoms.  It's always a joy to paint in this orchard in Brentwood, California.

Spring Orchard

"Spring Orchard", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's my favorite cherry orchard on Eureka Avenue in Brentwood, California.  On this crisp, sunny first day of Spring the trees were decked out in sparkling white blossoms and the gentle hum of bees created a zone of perfect peace.

Garden Party

"Garden Party", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Here's another painting inspired by the beautiful Ruth Bancroft Garden.  With its joyful color and fun, lively shapes this one feels like a party!

Purple Cows

"Purple Cows", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

Well, they weren't really purple...   I painted this at Los Vaqueros Watershed last weekend on a gloriously sunny day.

E Ticket

"E Ticket", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I started this at a paint-out last Saturday at Black Diamond Mines.  It was the first clear day after weeks of rain and the sunshine felt fantastic.  When my friend John Tullis saw my painting he exclaimed "That's an E ticket!"

Garden Spirit selected for Grand Theatre exhibit



"Garden Spirit", acrylic on canvas 12" x 12", © Nancy Roberts

I'm honored that my painting "Garden Spirit" has been chosen to be part of the special Expressions! Selections exhibit coming up this Spring at the beautiful Grand Theatre Center of the Arts in Tracy, California!

This is an exclusive group of paintings selected by gallery curator William Wilson from the much larger collection of work comprising the Expressions! exhibit opening later this month at the Tracy Community Center. I'll have four paintings in that show as well, including "Garden Spirit."  Here are details of both exhibits:

2017 Expressions! Exhibit
hosted by the Tracy Art League
Tracy Community Center
February 18 - 24
Details at http://www.tracyartleague.org/

Expressions! Selections
Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
March 25 - April 29
Details at http://atthegrand.org/MapDirections/

Theresa

"Theresa", Acrylic on Canvas, 16" x 8", © Nancy Roberts



Theresa is a beautiful model who posed for our group at the Lafayette Studio in December.  It was a joy to paint her.