Murray Wagnon

“On the beach at Carmel-by-the-sea”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:56:53 +0000

“On the beach at Carmel-by-the-sea”
by Murray Wagnon
18″ x 12″
Oil

My friend Sibyl Johnson and I spent the morning here, on the beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue in Carmel. It was one of those days with an almost timeless quality.

“Ocean View at 9th Street, Pacific Grove”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:46:30 +0000

“Ocean View at 9th Street, Pacific Grove”
by Murray Wagnon
24″ x 12″

Oil

Pacific Grove has a Coastal pathway that runs along the coast from the harbor in Monterey, to the beach at Asilomar. There is not an inch along this path that doesn’t offer a spectacular view, and an immense variety of coastal wildlife.

From time to time, I offer myself up as part of that ‘coastal wild-life’, as I often set up my easel along this well traveled route, to capture scenes like this.

“R.L.Stevenson House, Monterey”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:31:25 +0000

“R.L.Stevenson House, Monterey”
by Murray Wagnon
16″ x 16″
Oil

Due to the flagging economy, the Park Management has been forced to close many of the historic buildings in Monterey. The gardens however, which fall under a different management category, are open to the public. This painting is an amalgamation of an ‘on scene’ image, and an old black & white photograph from around 1906.

“Almaden Valley, Fall”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:16:36 +0000

“Almaden Valley, Fall”
by Murray Wagnon
16″ x 16″
Oil

I joined up with some painters from the Los Gatos Art Association one day. They had chosen this site which was only a mile or so from my house. This group of trees were in the Los Alamitos Creek, about seventy five yards from McKean Road, in the Almaden Valley.

“Moss Landing Power”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:05:48 +0000

“Moss Landing Power”
by Murray Wagnon
16″ x 16″
Oil

I was painting with MBPAPA at Moss Landing. When I got there, I wanted to do this painting, but opted for a view of the boats in the harbor. . .it was OK. . .but I scrubbed it off, and did this painting of the power plant. . . This was the correct image for me, on that day.

“The Silo Barn, Hollister”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:56:58 +0000

“The Silo Barn, Hollister”
by Murray Wagnon
16″ x 16″
Oil

My eye was captured by this structure as I was driving up to paint at the “Pietra Santa Winery” in the hills south of Hollister. It went to the top of my mental list of “things I have to paint”.

I went back a few weeks later, and had a great time painting, and playing “Fetch” with the ‘farmyard dogs’.

“Elkhorn Slough”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:45:07 +0000

“Elkhorn Slough”
by Murray Wagnon
24″ x 10″
Oil

I had about an hour or so one morning, before the MBPAPA Board meeting, and managed to get this view of Elkhorn Slough, looking in a northwesterly direction.

“Half Dome”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:37:42 +0000

“Half Dome”
by Murray Wagnon
9″ x 12″
Oil

I have always loved this classic view of Half Dome from the Sentinel drive bridge, reflected in the Merced River. It began to snow again, as I was capturing this image, and, having no chains, I had to retreat from the valley or be stranded. . .should have stayed. . .

“Odd Fellows, Big Oak Flat”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:08:52 +0000

“Odd Fellows, Big Oak Flat”
by Murray Wagnon
10″ x 8″
Oil

Typical of most Gold Rush era mining camps, Big Oak Flat closes tightly around route 120 as it winds it’s way up to the Yosemite Valley. As you enter Big Oak Flat, The left shoulder of the Highway is crowded by some typical ‘mining camp’ buildings, made of stone, with tall iron shutters in the doorways. This one, with a second floor, and outbuildings of corrugated metal, is the meeting place for the local chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

“Monitor Pass”

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:28:58 +0000

“Monitor Pass”
by Murray Wagnon
24” x 12″
Oil

As I was driving up through the canyon into Monitor Pass, I was entranced by the ’splash of color’ amongst the darker trees and rocks across the creek from the road.